Attempts to establish constitutional monarchy

Question 1

August decrees

Answer 1

• 5th-11th August 1789
• feudal dues were abolished, exclusive rights to own pigeons was abolished, tithe abolished, no more venality, same taxes on everything and all specific privileges to be abolished

Question 2

Positive and negative elements of the August decrees

Answer 2

Positives :
Civil equality
Equal taxation
End of Noble power

Negatives :
Fear of an aristocratic plot
lack of uniformed administration
Bourgeoisie had the most advantages

Question 3

DOROMAC

Answer 3

• Declaration of rights and man
• Passed on the 26th august 1789
• Based on enlightenment principles eg Separation of powers and social contract
• All men born free and equal, power with the people, freedom of expression and freedom to own property
• Not approved by the king

Question 4

Religious changes :

Answer 4

• August 1789-June 1790
• nationalisation of church lands : Nov 1789
• Pluralism was abolished
• Tithe and Don Gratuit abolished
• Payment of agnates was abolished
• religious orders were dissolved unless they could prove they were contributing to society

Question 5

The civil constitution of the clergy

Answer 5

• 12th July 1790
• Admin of the church would be reorganised, clergyman would become paid state officials and Bishops and priests were to be elected
• The church was made subservient to the state

Question 6

Oath to the civil constitution

Answer 6

• 27th Nov 1790
• Clerics had to swear to the nation, law and king
• If they failed to do so then they were deprived off their offices
• 7/160 Bishops swore it
• The pope suspended those who took the oath and in response a year later (Nov 1791), all refectory priest were considered anti-revolutionaries

Question 7

Impact of Church reforms

Answer 7

• Large no. of clergy fled abroad
• For 50% of the population, their fear of eternal damnation proved greater than their commitment to the revolution
• The CCC proved very divisive

Question 8

Political reforms

Answer 8

• Aug 1789 DOROMAC
• Debates over a new constitution :
  King given a suspensory veto after 4 years it would automatically become law
  King of the French rather than King of France
  Distinction made between active and passive citizens (61% of adult males could vote which was the most democratic in Europe at that time)
  Elections held every 2 years
  King retained the right to select and appoint ministers to form a cabinet

Question 9

Administrative reforms

Answer 9

• Nov 1789
• Old provinces were turned in to 83 departments
• Decentralisation was key and each department was to have its own elected council (uniformed administration)
• Government largely fell in to the hands of the bourgeois as there were far too little literate people

Question 10

Judicial reforms

Answer 10

Organisation :

• Hierarchy of courts was established
• Jurors were to be drawn by the lot
• To eradicate venality, judges were to be paid salaries rather than fees from who they served

Legal rights :

• Torture, branding and hanging were outlawed
• Sentences were to be fair and proportionate for all and the accused were to be assisted by a lawyer

Question 11

Fiscal and economic policies / reform

Answer 11

• Assignats (Gov bonds) could be exchanged for church lands however excessive assignats were printed causing inflation and increased issues
• Initially old taxes were retained eg tobac was retained until 1791
• A one off patriotic contributions of 25% of income was to be paid over 2 years (those who exceeded 400 livres a year
• Internal tariffs disappeared eg grain was deregulated in Aug 1789
• no drop in price of food and the peasants lost out

Question 12

Changes to society

Answer 12

• Venality and privilege were to be abolished in the August decrees
• In theory everyone enjoyed social equality
• Men had more rights than women and active citizens had more rights than passive ones
• under le Chapelier law June 1791, workers freedom and rights were restricted