Chapter 6: The attempts to establish a constitutional monarchy

Question 1

What is pluralism?

Answer 1

Bishops holding more than one office

Question 2

What is a refractory priest?

Answer 2

Priest who did not take civil constitution oath

Question 3

Why did the Constituent Assembly try to change the Catholic church?

Answer 3

• Catholic church was very wealthy so could decrease France’s debt
• Enlightenment affected Paris and challenged dogmas

Question 4

Give 3 policies enforced that restricted the church in terms of cultural influence (1789-90)

Answer 4

• (29 Oct 1789) Monastic Vows no longer binding
• (December 1789) Citizenship granted to Protestants
• (January 1790) some Jews granted citizenship

Question 5

Give 4 policies enforced that restricted the church in terms of wealth (1789-90)

Answer 5

• (4 August 1789) pluralism and annates abolished
• (2 November 1789) sell church property and deemed nationalised goods
• (13 February 1790) Govt. closes monasteries and sell off monastic wealth and property
• (June 1790) govt. sells church land and possessions

Question 6

Give 3 policies enforced that restricted the church in terms of political influence (1789-90)

Answer 6

• (26 August 1789) Declaration of rights of man and citizen prevented people being disturbed for their religious opinions so church has no special recognition
• (12 July 1790) Civil Constitution of clergy passed
• (December 1790) Louis accepts Civil Constitution of Clergy

Question 7

What did Voltaire condemn the church for?

Answer 7

• wealth
• land ownership
• corruption & venality

Question 8

What were assignats?

Answer 8

paper bonds for church lands sold to make the govt. money

Question 9

What were some policies of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

Answer 9

• reorganise parish sizes
• salaries of priests fixed
• bishops and priests elected
• clerical oath of loyalty to nation (November 1790 became compulsory)

Question 10

Why were the higher clergymen more reluctant to take the oath?

Answer 10

• conflicts their loyalty with God
• church’s loss of power affected them most
• (April 1791) Pope condemned civil constitution

Question 11

When did Louis XVI accept the new constitution?

Answer 11

September 1791

Question 12

What were some features of the new constitution?

Answer 12

• system of representative democracy (governing body for legislation etc.)
• suspensory veto
• King can still appoint ministers
• ‘King of the French’
• active/passive citizens

Question 13

How was there decentralisation in France administativally?

Answer 13

• France split into departements that had their own council to prevent the return of absolutism
• church and judiciary restructured

Question 14

How the judiciary reformed?

Answer 14

• New hierarchy of courts
• no torture
• jurors have fixed salaries
• fair sentences for cheaper more accessible justice
• JPs elected

Question 15

What were some new fiscal policies in 1789?

Answer 15

• Assembly issues assignats ( excessive printing lead to inflation)
• economic restructuring meant no direct taxes

Question 16

What were some new fiscal policies in 1790?

Answer 16

• salt tax (gabelle) abolished

Question 17

What were some new fiscal policies in 1791?

Answer 17

• municipal tolls and tobacco monopoly abolished

- new land tax & poll tax introduced (difficult to assess taxes)

Question 18

How did society change 1789-92?

Answer 18

• no titles, venality etc. due to August Decrees
• still divisions (gender, employers>employees, active citizens>passive)
• bourgeoisie benefit most