reforms of the nca Flashcards
political: decentralising govt
Political reforms: Government was decentralised, diluting absolute power away from the mon archy and devolving it to local governments called communes. This made it harder for louis to recover the power he once had
BUT
This arguably fulfilled demands of decentralisation laid out in the declaration of the rights of man and of citizen. However, these reforms were limited as although govt was decentralised, Louis retained most of his powers like the power to propose legislation, appoint ministers (which negated demands of meritocracy in the august decrees) and retain nis suspensory veto.
political: electoral reform
Could also be argued that the right to vote was evidence of equality in france. In 1789 the National Assemby introduced the concept of ‘active citizens’ whereby men over 25, who paid the equivalent to 3 days of labour in local taxes were enfrancised (4.3 million Frenchmen). France at once became the largest franchise in europe with 61% of french men able to vote.
However, this electoral reform was clearly heavily weighted in the favour of the wealthy. The 49% who were unable to pay 3 days worth of taxes were unfairly excluded from the franchise. This also excluded women from the franchise which clearly shows that the reforms were heavily fragmented and did not ensure full equality in france. DRM promised universal male suffrage
Though the largest franchise in europe at this time, the reforms simply transferred power from the aristocracy to the wealthy bourgoise.
social reforms- legal rights and social mobility
Legal rights granted: every accused person to be brought before a judge in 24hs, tials were open to the public, torture hanging and branding was outlawed and sentences were to be fair and just. LAWS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE PENAL CODE SEPTEMBER 1791 clarified some of the detail and made fewer crimes punishable by death
Overall it brought about the prospect of cheaper and more accessible justice. Individual rights and liberties were more protected in law than ever before
State charities set up
Removal of venality and education enabled more social mobility
social reforms- limitations (replaced gender and wealth disparities with disions based on birth)
However, divisions of gender, welth and office rapidly replaced those based on birth. It created a system where:
Men had more rights than women, employers more than their employees, active over passive
Although workers enjoyed greater freedom of opportunity, it was decreed they must all carry a livret (record of employment)
Under le chaplier law of june 1791, freedom of association was limited and workers were forbidden from conducting strikes or forming trade unions to protect themselves
Overall, the social winners of the reforms were the bourgeoise; benefitted most from new opportunities to gain land, official positions and political influence
fiscal policies
- December 1789 the assembly began issuing assignats (government bonds) where the ouchssor loaned money to the the government buy could exchange the money for church lands
- quickly replaced paper money, to which the assembly used to pay off debt BUT IT CAUSED INFLATION
the deputies tried to retain many of the old taxes (gabelle) it was not abolished until march 1790
- municipal tolls and state monopoly on tobacco all survived until 1791
weakness of fiscal policies
aroused popular discontent; ordinary artisans and peasants had expected their tax liability to fall once the rich were taxed like everyone else, but it did not happen
in september 1789 the assembly voted to date the liability of those who had been exempt back to june 1789
though they ordered one off ‘patriotic contributions’ of 25% to be paid over 2y for those to received 400+ livers, this was insufficient to allow for a reduction in taxes for the poor
