3. Constitutional Monarchy: Reforming France 1789-92 Flashcards
When were changes made to the local government, and what were they?
Dec. 89, Feb. and May 90.
- France was divided into 83 departments.
- Departments were subdivided into 547 districts and 43,360 communes.
- Communes were grouped into cantons, where primary elections were held and JPs had their courts.
- These administrative divisions were run by elected councils.
- In Paris, the local government of the city was reformed into 48 Sections.
How were voting qualifications reformed by the assembly?
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.
What did the councils have control over?
- To assess and collect direct taxes
- Maintain law and order
- Carry out public works
- See to the upkeep of churches
- Control the national guard.
Later legislation: - To administer the clerical oath of loyalty
- Register births, deaths and marriages
- Requisition grain
- To keep watch of those opposing the revolution.
Administration was done badly in rural areas due to a lack of citizens who were literate.
How did the assembly get money in the short term, and why did they need it?
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.
When and why was church land nationalised?
2nd November 1789.
- To provide money for the state in the period of a fairer taxation system
- To guarantee the success of the revolution, because those who buy church land would have vested an interest in revolutionary changes.
- The clergy may also support the new regime, as they depended upon it for their salary.
How was the sale of church land distributed amongst the classes?
All of church land in Nord was sold by 1799. Of this, peasants had bought 52% and the bourgeoisie had bought 48%.
What did the assembly abolish before reforming the taxation system?
- Indirect taxes: aidas, traites, octrois and gabelle.
- The state monopoly on growing, distributing and selling tobacco.
- The old direct taxes: taille, capitation, vingtieme
- Tax farming.
What three new direct taxes were introduced in January 1791?
- The contribution foncière: a land tax from which there were no exemptions or privileges.
- The contribution mobilière: a tax on movable goods (eg. Grain), payable by active citizens.
- The patente: a tax on commercial profits.
Why did the new system of taxation introduced in January 1791 not work well?
- 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.
- 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.
Who did the new taxation system benefit?
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.
What inhibited economic development in France?
The restrictive social structures and internal barriers.
How was the economy improved in the constituent assembly’s economic reforms?
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.
How were employer-worker relations changed?
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.
How did the assembly failed with providing relief to france?
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.
How was the legal system changed?
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.
