failure of constitutional monarchy Flashcards
intro
context- at beginning of rev, summer 1789, changed to governance of France came swiftly
- by oct, position of king severely curtailed as France moved from absolute to a constitutional monarchy
factors- outbreak of war cicil constitution of clergy role of Louis role of nat assembly activities of emigres
loa- civil constitution most important
outbreak of war
k- many believed, secret “Austrian committee” surrounding the queen and she was in touch with Austrians and passing on military secrets
k- Brunswick manifesto issued to support and help royal family but did opposite, people of France rushed to arm themselves and in aug 92, stormed Tuileries palace for second time
a- increased suspicion and calls to abolish the monarchy, ultimately leading to imprisonment of royals, suspension of Louis from power and the declaration of French Republic 21st sept
a+- war with Austria 92, less sig in bringing rev as kings respect already destroyed after his flight to Varennes
outbreak of war ev
single factor
criteria - made everyone choose where they stood and highlighted Louis’ position
Louis lukewarm support of CM and dubious loyalty surely to France, made clear France could not be ruled by someone who had loyalties to enemies of france
civil constitution of clergy
k- declared that catholicism was no longer the official religion of france that allowed the selling of church lands to aid Frances ongoing financial crisis
k- also demanded bishops be elected rather than appointed by the pope
a- Louis refused to accept these changes and caused outrage amongst radicals who took is as proof that Louis was anti revolution and couldn’t be trusted
a+- oath of the clergy went way beyond cahiers demanding religious reform and completely split the country and church. devout French citizens were outraged by actions against the church and approved of Louis’ opposition, fully supporting his role within the constitutional monarchy
civil constitution of clergy ev
criteria - CCC vital as pushed Louis to flee france, destroying hopes of the continuation of the constitutional monarchy
up until mid 1790, king truly planned to work with the constituent assembly, kings confidence in the assembly collapsed only in summer of that year with the CCC, the insistence of the church constitution can therefore be seen as most important factor as caused Louis to confront his opposition to the monarchy
role of louis
k- after august decrees and declaration of rights of man 89, louis fails to publicly announce his support for the reform and builds up armies around Versailles
k- held a lavish anti- revolutionary banquet for soldiers returning from Flanders while people starved only miles away and during which the tricolour had said to be trampled
a- through his actions, shows he was unsupportive of CM from the start, this event also contributed to October days when the mass distrust of Louis led him and fam to be moved from Versailles to Paris
a+- king did accept the constitution in sept 91, and was willing to work with assembly, make sensible reforms that would benefit france
role of Louis ev
criteria- by running away led people to see him as an enemy, provoked public outrage on a much more visible level than before
cordelier club presented petition, by fleeing king had abdicated and should not be replaced unless the majority of people were in favour of doing so. 30,000 people signed petition not eh champs de mars.
CCC still more important as it was the underlying reason for his flight, actions against the church was the turning point in Louis not wanting to work with assembly anymore
role of national assembly
k- constitution drawn up by assembly curtailed kings power, no longer had absolute power, can now veto but not ban bills
k- following flight to varennes, Jacobin club made a petition calling for the end to the reformed monarchy
a- weakness in the constitution and gov threatened stability of CM, had controversial methods to deal with ongoing financial problems and difference between wings, undermined strength of new system
a+- nat assembly largely supported the idea of CM and displayed little desire to rid france of its monarchy
activities of the emigres
k- declaration of pillintz (aug 91) in which Austria and Prussia had threatened to intervene in the revolution in france, had been inspired by kings emigre brothers
k- emigres may have averaged about 100,000 and had about 6000 army officers and refractory clergy
a- as supporters of the king fled abroad, suspicion grew that they were trying to enlist support of foreign kings, damaged CM as moderate revolutionaries became radical
