Chapter 6: The attempts to establish a Constitutional Monarchy

Question 1

What about the church did the NA want to change?

Answer 1

• Philosophes disapproved of the churches power.
• Finances - wanted to take the churches money.
• Church’s temporal power.

Question 2

Biens nationaux.

Answer 2

Church goods now national goods.

Question 3

Assignats.

Answer 3

Revenue from church land used as paper money.

Question 4

What reforms were made leading up to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

Answer 4

• Churches feudal rights abolished.
• Abolished 1st and 2nd estates tax privileges.
• Church property seen as biens nationaux - nationalised.
• Monastic vows not legally binding.
• Tithe and church tax abolished.
• Full citizenship granted to Protestants.

Question 5

Civil Constitution of the Clergy date.

Answer 5

12th July 1790.

Question 6

Civil constitution of the clergy.

Answer 6

• 1 bishop per departement.
• Clergy’s salaries paid by gov.
• Bishops elected- DON’T HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC.
• Clergy had to swear oath of loyalty to king,nation law and NA.

Question 7

What was the initial reaction to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

Answer 7

• Pope disagreed but didn’t publicise views as didn’t want to lose his territory.
• Conservative/ higher ranked clergy also disagreed.
• Louis reluctantly accepted it Dec 1790.

Question 8

When was the Oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy decreed?

Answer 8

November 1790.

Question 9

Juring/constitutional clergy.

Answer 9

Took the oath.

• 50%-60% of parish priests.
• 7/160 bishops.

Question 10

Non-juring/refractory priests.

Answer 10

• Didn’t take oath.
• Removed from posts.
• Mainly higher up clergy.

Question 11

What were the consequences of being a refractory priest?

Answer 11

• Removed from posts.
• Income stopped.
• Eventually could be deported.

Question 12

What were the consequences of being a juring priest?

Answer 12

Suspended by the pope (who was against rev) unless renounced oath.

Question 13

What were the impacts of the civil constitution of the clergy and other reforms to the church?

Answer 13

• Clergy fled abroad.
• Conservative Catholics wrongly thought NA trying to change their faith so hated them.
• Increased counter-rev.
• Destroyed national unity.

Question 14

What impacted the writing of the 1791 constitution?

Answer 14

• Enlightenment.

- American revolution and constitution.

Question 15

What did the NA set up to write the constitution?

Answer 15

Preliminary constitution committee.

Question 16

What 2 groups did the preliminary constitution committee divide into?

Answer 16

• Monarchiens - wanting King to have a lot of power (eg/ absolute veto).
• Group led by Sieyes - wanting the King to have very limited power.

Question 17

Who was given the right to vote according to the constitution of 1791?

Answer 17

Active and passive citizens were established; only active citizens (male and pay an annual tax equivalent to 3 days labour) could vote.

Question 18

What role was Louis given in the constitution of 1791?

Answer 18

• ‘King of the French’ not ‘King of France’.
• Could appoint ministers.
• 5 year suspensory veto.

Question 19

How did Louis betray the constitution?

Answer 19

Fleeing too Varennes.

Question 20

What powers do the elected assembly have due to the constitution of 1791?

Answer 20

• Make laws.
• Collect taxes.
• Decide on wars.

Question 21

From the end of 1789, how was France administratively organised?

Answer 21

83 departements,
then divided into districts,
then into communes.

Question 22

What was a council responsible for?

Answer 22

• Law and order.
• Collecting taxes.
• Construction of roads.

Question 23

From the end of 1789, how was France governed (on a local level)?

Answer 23

• 1 local gov per commune.

- 1 elected council per département.

Question 24

What was the problem with decentralisation?

Answer 24

Not always enough educated people to fill offices, especially in rural communities.

Question 25

Canton.

Answer 25

Group of communes.

Question 26

How were courts organised?

Answer 26

• JP’s - minor civil cases.
• District courts - more severe civil cases.
• 1 court w/ jury per département for criminal cases.
• 1 central high court.

Question 27

Tribunal de cassation.

Answer 27

Central high court of appeal.

Question 28

What were the legal rights for criminals?

Answer 28

• Accused had to be brought before a judge within 24hrs of arrest.
• Whole case public info.
• Accused assisted by a lawyer.
• 1792 - Guillotine only form of capital punishment.
• Every accused treated fairly and equally.

Question 29

What did the 1791 economic restructuring programme involve?

Answer 29

• Land tax.
• Poll/ property tax.
• Limited commercial activity tax.

Question 30

What were the main economic changes made by the NA in 1789-91?

Answer 30

• Price of wheat up to market not central controls.
• All corporal bodies abolished eg/ monopolies.
• Church wealth turned into assignats.
• One off 25% income ‘contribution’ paid over 2 years.

Question 31

What changes were there to society during 1789-91?

Answer 31

• Individual rights protected by law.
• People generally considered equal. eg/ called each other ‘citizen’ instead of lower class saying ‘master/mistress’.
• Strikes forbidden.
• Bourgeoise benefitted most.