3. Constitutional Monarchy: Reforming France 1789-92 Flashcards

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1
Q

When were changes made to the local government, and what were they?

A

Dec. 89, Feb. and May 90.

  1. France was divided into 83 departments.
  2. Departments were subdivided into 547 districts and 43,360 communes.
  3. Communes were grouped into cantons, where primary elections were held and JPs had their courts.
  4. These administrative divisions were run by elected councils.
  5. In Paris, the local government of the city was reformed into 48 Sections.
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2
Q

How were voting qualifications reformed by the assembly?

A

A law in December 1789 introduced the concept of active citizens. The three tiers were:
1. Men over 25 who paid the equivalent of three days labour in taxes. It was estimated that in 1790, almost 4.3 million were in this category.
2. Electors - citizens who paid the equivalent of ten days labour in taxes. About 50,000 met this and could qualify as elected members of the canton and department assemblies.
3. To be eligible to become a deputy in the National Assembly, an active citizen had to pay the qui liner of 54 days labour in direct taxation.
The electoral system was therefore based on wealth. Due to these reforms, by 1790, there were no government officials at the local level - elected councils had totally replaced them.

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3
Q

What did the councils have control over?

A
  1. To assess and collect direct taxes
  2. Maintain law and order
  3. Carry out public works
  4. See to the upkeep of churches
  5. Control the national guard.
    Later legislation:
  6. To administer the clerical oath of loyalty
  7. Register births, deaths and marriages
  8. Requisition grain
  9. To keep watch of those opposing the revolution.
    Administration was done badly in rural areas due to a lack of citizens who were literate.
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4
Q

How did the assembly get money in the short term, and why did they need it?

A

The assembly needed money after royal administration collapsed in 1789, and they decided to compensate venal office holders for the loss of their offices. A new tax system would require a great deal of planning, so the existing system of indirect and direct taxation was continued until 1791. This led to outbreaks of violence in places that were heavily taxed (eg. Picardy). Therefore, the government gave way and abolished the gabelle in 1790. Within that year, nearly all unpopular indirect tax was abolished.

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5
Q

When and why was church land nationalised?

A

2nd November 1789.

  1. To provide money for the state in the period of a fairer taxation system
  2. To guarantee the success of the revolution, because those who buy church land would have vested an interest in revolutionary changes.
  3. The clergy may also support the new regime, as they depended upon it for their salary.
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6
Q

How was the sale of church land distributed amongst the classes?

A

All of church land in Nord was sold by 1799. Of this, peasants had bought 52% and the bourgeoisie had bought 48%.

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7
Q

What did the assembly abolish before reforming the taxation system?

A
  1. Indirect taxes: aidas, traites, octrois and gabelle.
  2. The state monopoly on growing, distributing and selling tobacco.
  3. The old direct taxes: taille, capitation, vingtieme
  4. Tax farming.
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8
Q

What three new direct taxes were introduced in January 1791?

A
  1. The contribution foncière: a land tax from which there were no exemptions or privileges.
  2. The contribution mobilière: a tax on movable goods (eg. Grain), payable by active citizens.
  3. The patente: a tax on commercial profits.
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9
Q

Why did the new system of taxation introduced in January 1791 not work well?

A
  1. Because there wasn’t a systematic valuation of land, which was needed for fair taxation. This could not have been completed, because a large number of officials were needed, which would cost the assembly too much.
  2. The new tax rolls were based on those of the ancien regime, so great regional differences remained. For example, those in Seine-et-Marne department payed 5 times that in tax of those in Ariège. It was also quite easy to conceal incomes, and therefore avoid direct taxation.
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10
Q

Who did the new taxation system benefit?

A

The poor, because the abolition of indirect taxes put the burden on the producers, instead of the consumers. In addition, all property and income were taxed on the same basis, so it was fairer.

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11
Q

What inhibited economic development in France?

A

The restrictive social structures and internal barriers.

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12
Q

How was the economy improved in the constituent assembly’s economic reforms?

A

The Assembly introduced free trade in grain in August 1789 and removed price controls. However, the people wanted the price and distribution of food to be controlled to reduce scarcity, starvation and high prices. In October 1790, internal tariffs were abolished, so a national market was created for the first time.

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13
Q

How were employer-worker relations changed?

A

Guilds were abolished in 1791, so anyone could enter any trade. Trade unions were banned by the passing of Le Chapelier Law in June 1791.

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14
Q

How did the assembly failed with providing relief to france?

A

It was regarded the duty of the state to provide relief for the poor. In the past the church had offered this, but couldn’t anymore after losing income and land. The assembly set up a committee which, in 1791, found the extent of the problem to be that 2 million supported themselves by begging. Because the problem was so big, nothing could have been done, as tax could not cover the problem.

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15
Q

How was the legal system changed?

A

On 16th August 1790, the following were removed: different law systems in the north and south; different types of law courts and the lettres de cachet.
The following were introduced: justice of peace was placed in each canton; serious civil cases were dealt with in a district court; a criminal court was located in each department, held in front of a jury; judges in a Court of Appeal were elected by department assemblies and all judges were elected by active citizens.
Penal code was made more humane: torture and mutilation was abolished and anyone arrested had to be taken before court within 24 hours. In March 1792, a more efficient method of execution was approved by the Legislative Assembly: the guillotine. In two years, the French legal system had been transformed from being the most corrupt to the most enlightened in Europe.

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16
Q

What sort of church did the constituent assembly want to create?

A

One that was:
Free from abuses (ie absenteeism and plurality)
Free from foreign (papal) control
Democratic
Linked to the new system of government
Linked closely to the state to strengthen the revolution.
Deputies weren’t anti-religious, they just wanted to extend reforms they applied elsewhere.

17
Q

How did the Assembly reform the church? (Pre civil constitution)

A

The tithe, annates and plurality was abolished in August 1789 and so was their ability to choose the extent of their taxation. Parish priests supported the nationalisation, because they would receive more than they did under the ancien regime.
In February 1790, a decree distinguished between monastic orders that helped communities (eg charity) and those that didn’t; the latter were abolished.
These changes didn’t cause too much tension.

18
Q

What happened under the civil constitution of the clergy?

A

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy on 12 July 1790 adapted the organisation of the church around the administrative framework of the local government. The number of bishoprics were reduced from 135 to 83 and clerical posts (other than parish priests and bishops) ceased to exist. Although there was no intention of ending the Catholic Church as the state church in France, democracy was extended across all areas of the church.
Civil constitution of the clergy:
Each department would form a single diocese
Bishops and priests were elected to their posts by an absolute majority
Bishops and priests had to be approved by the French state
They were paid by the state
All titles and offices were abolished
No bishop could be away from his diocese for more than 15 consecutive days.
The clergy requested a national synod to submit the reforms, but because this would put the church in a privileged position, so the Assembly didn’t agree to this.

19
Q

What caused the oath of loyalty and what happened because of this?

A

The clergy needed the verdict of the pope, which was delayed because of issues regarding land in South france. This meant that the assembly decreed, on 27 November 1790, the clergy should take an oath to the constitution. This split the clergy as only a third in France took the oath and many retracted the oath after the pope condemned the civil constitution in March and April 1791.

20
Q

What did the civil constitution of the clergy result in?

A

Two churches: one was a constitutional church accepted by the revolution, but rejected by the pope. The other was a non-juring church of refractory priests, accepted by the pope, but regarded by patriots as rejecting the revolution. On 27th May 1792, the LA passed a measure against these priests allowing their deportation as long as 20 citizens denounced him.
This led to mass support for counter revolution for the first time (before it was only supported by émigrés and a few royalists). Villagers felt betrayed as it was perceived as an attempt to change their religion. This, along with other factors (eg conscription) caused open revolt in areas like the Vendee in 1793.
This was one factor in the disaffection with the revolution.

21
Q

When was the constitution finally agreed and what were the kings constraints under it?

A

On 14 September 1791.
Could appoint his ministers and military commanders (as long as they weren’t members of the assembly);
Had a suspensive veto (although this couldn’t apply to constitutional or financial matters);
Was dependant on the assembly for his foreign policy (couldn’t declare war without their consent);
The king’s office was subordinate to the law.

22
Q

What was characteristic of the Jacobin club? (7)

A

They had high entrance fees, so we’re the wealthiest sections of society.
1200 members by July 1790.
They began with associating themselves as thinking that landowners should pay the bulk of taxes and they raised no serious objections of free trade and the abolition of guilds in 1791.
They came to reject the notion of monarchy and favoured a centralised government to defend the Republic.
Leader was Maximillion Robespierre.
A national network of jacobin clubs grew up linked to the club in Paris: by the end of 1793, there were 2000 clubs.
This club enabled, for the first time, large numbers of people becoming directly involved with the political life of their country.

23
Q

What was characteristic of the Cordeliers Club?

A

Founded in April 1790 and had no entrance fee.
Supported measures favoured by the sans culottes: the right of insurrection (rebellion - if the government acted against the people’s wishes), direct democracy where voters chose for deputies and the recall of deputies, if their actions went against the wishes of the people.
Leaders included Desmoulins and Danton who were bourgeoisie lawyers; Hébert, who was an unsuccessful writer who became a journalist when the freedom of press was introduced; Brissot was also a journalist and Marat was a radical journalist (who hated privileges under the old regime).
During the winter of 1790-1, cordelier societies spread across France (in every district of Paris and many provincial towns). In 1791, a central committee was drawn up.

24
Q

Why was there popular discontent at the start of 1790?

A

The peasants realised in spring that their feudal dues were not abolished outright, but would have to brought out. A rural revolution started in Brittany, central and south-East France until 1792. Peasants fixed the price of grain,mat tacked the châteaux and called for the sale of church land in small lots. The rising in the Midi was as big and destructive as any in 1789. Feudal dues weren’t completely abolished without compensation until the jacobins did in 17th July 1793.
Sans culottes were responsible for the storming of the Bastille and the October days, but had received little in return. Many were passive citizens (so didn’t have the right to vote) and had suffered badly from inflation (caused when the government printed more assignats). Riots from falling wage prices occurred in 1791. Grain prices rose by 50% in 1791.

25
Q

How did popular societies harness discontent?

A

They skilfully linked economic problems and grievances with the demand for a republic.

26
Q

After the radicalisation of the political clubs, how was the revolution attempted to end?

A

Barnave, Du Port and Lameth sought to heal the divisions between the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie that had emerged in 1789. They feared the revolution because of the new clubs and the popular movement, but needed a compromise with the king to finish the revolution. The flight to varenne dashed their hopes of a compromise.

27
Q

What happened between 20th - 22nd June 1791?

A

Louis decided to flee to Montmédy, where he would have the protection of the military commander so he could negotiate with the Assembly of parts of the constitution he disliked. However, Louis was recognised on the night of 21-22 June by a postmaster and was brought back to Paris. Significance:
Louis had failed to recognise the popularity of the reforms in 1789;
Having renounced the revolution, many didn’t want him as head of state;
The credibility of the constitution had been undermined before it had been fully implemented;
Support for the Republic grew and for the king declined.

28
Q

What was the result of the flight?

A

The king lost his remaining support, which depended on his supporting the revolution.
The deputies acted calmly; they didn’t want a republic because it could lead to a civil war in France and a war with European powers.
CONSTITUTION’S ACTIONS: On 16th July, the Assembly voted to suspend the king until the constitution was drawn and the king swore to observe. This wasn’t enough for some and it went to far for others.
SPLITTING OF THE JACOBINS: Radicals were appalled when the king wasn’t dethroned or put on trial, therefore believed that the NCA didn’t represent the people. The cordeliers persuaded some jacobins to join them in petitioning for the king’s deposition, but some didn’t. Those who didn’t (the majority of deputies) set up the Feuillants, which had control of the Assembly. However only 72 of the provincial clubs defected from Paris and most drifted back.
ACTIONS OF PARISIANS: on 17th July 1791, 50,000 flocked to the Champs de Mars to sign a republic petition on the alter of the fatherland. The commune (under pressure from the assembly) sent Lafayette with the national guard and declared martial law, firing on the unarmed crowd. 50 were killed. This marked the success of the moderates, who could compromise with the king without mob violence. The power of the Feuillants (who controlled Paris) depended on the cooperation of the King.
ÉMIGRÉS: by the end of 1791, nearly 6000 of army officers had emigrated. The Assembly passed a law in November that said that any émigrés not returned to France by January 1792 were regarded traitors and had to forfeit their land.

29
Q

What marked the end of the Constituent Assembly?

A

The acceptance of the constitution on 13th September 1791. The first meeting of the Legislative Assembly was on the 1st October. This came about because:
The king didn’t accept some measures of the constitution;
Suspicion on whether the king supported the revolution;
Fear of counter revolutionary plots.

30
Q

What were the problems with the Legislative Assembly?

A

The deputies no longer were cooperative;
Robespierre passed the self denying ordinance to prevent political opponents dominating the next assembly, this meant that the new deputies had little experience.
In the elections for the new assembly (29-5 September) only a quarter of the active citizens voted. Of the 745 members, most were bourgeoisie, 23 were clergy and there were no peasants or businessmen. Therefore the new assembly was not representative.