The Formation of the Constitutional Monarchy Flashcards
What did the National Assembly do on 9th July 1790 and why did it do that?
On 9th July, the National Assembly took a resolution to call itself the ‘Constituent Assembly’.
This was because its purpose was to draw up the new constitution.
What is the difficulty with this, and when did it end?
Title used by some historians; others retain the use of ‘National Assembly’.
Many (as in this book) simply use the word ‘Assembly’, or the full title ‘National Constituent Assembly’.
This Assembly ceased on 30 September 1791.
What was the intent behind the 1789 constitution?
This constitution would curb the powers of the monarchy and provide ‘Liberty and Equality’.
Why was the church the first target of the reforms of the Assembly?
One of first ‘victims’ of assembly’s desire for change was the church.
Its links with Ancien Régime and privileges of 1st estate made it obvious target
Philosophes often scathing in the criticisms of church power, influence and tolerance.
1782, the writer Louis-Sebastien Mercier had complained that Paris ‘was full of priests and tonsured clerics who serve neither the church nor the state’.
Monks and nuns who devoted themselves to prayer and contemplation were seen as ‘wasters’ who contributed little to society.
Philosophes also disapproved of binding religious vows, often taken by those barely mature enough to understand their meaning.
Some of those most vehemently for reform clergy themselves.
Abbé Sieyes, Archbishop Talleyrand and Abbé Gergoire all believed temporal power of church should be removed.
This would allow it to concentrate on its spiritual function.
Attack on church power from 18th century anti-clerical literature and long-running issue of conflicting powers with the Pope and state provided further motives for reform.
Why was the financial position of France by the end of 1789 so dire?
In end of 1789, France in dire financial position.
Nothing done to solve problems that EG had been called to solve.
It had instead gotten worse, as peasants refused to pay their taxes.
Why were conditions favourable to taking wealth from the church at this point?
Wealth of Church tempting prospect of financial gain.
In excitement of August Decrees, clergy agreed to give up tithe and allow state to take over church funding.
Conditions therefore favourable to confiscate church riches.
Who was Abbé Gregoire?
Abbé Henri Gregoire (1750-1831) elected to estates general for 1st estate, but a convinced reformer.
Supported formation of National Assembly and reform of church abuses.
First cleric to undertake the oath under the CCC.
Became a ‘constitutional’ bishop.
Refused to renounce Christianity at the festival of reason in 1794.
Forced to resign his bishopric when Napoleon made a concordat with the Pope in 1801.
What other steps weakened the power of the church in the early months of the revolution?
Pluralism (holding of more than one ecclesiastical office at a time to receive income in excess of 3000 livres, which produced ‘absentee’ clerics) abolished.
Payments of Annates (year’s revenue paid to Pope on appointment of abbot, bishop or archbishop).
Tithe, church tax and right of clergy to decide own taxation with Don Gratuit abolished.
Separate church assemblies (synods) abolished.
All church property nationalised (2 November 1789).
Full citizenship granted to Protestants (December 1789).
This extended to some Jews in January 1790, though most had to wait until September 1791.
All religious orders were dissolved, unless they could prove that they were contributing to the community, for example by providing for the poor or the sick.
How did the assembly begin to use church wealth to relieve the state of financial debt?
From February 1790, state began to sell off monastic wealth and property.
From June, it sold Church lands and possessions.
This became the main means by which the new government was able to keep the economy of the revolutionary state afloat.
When was the Constitution of the Civil Clergy introduced?
This accomplished by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy of 12 July 1790.
What did the CCC decree?
Administrative structure of church reorganised; boundaries of diocese redrawn to correspond with administrative divisions of the state and every département was to have a bishop (this replaced 135 with 83 Bishoprics).
Clergymen would become paid state officials; a new salary structure would be put into force and clergy would be required to register in their dioceses.
Bishops and priests were to be elected; this would give French ‘Citizens’ control over their spiritual (as well as political) leaders.
The CCC effectively made the church subservient to the state.
Papal power to confirm (accept/reject) bishops also outlawed.
Why was the Pope, Pius VI, in a difficult position to negotiate this, and how did he initially respond?
Pope, Pius VI, in no position to object to any of this, as he was engaged in rather delicate negotiation with the French State about his Papal enclave at Avignon.
He didn’t want to jeopardise his chances of retaining his territory.
Nevertheless, he gave no support to the CCC.
What was the initial response from the clergy to the CCC, and Louis himself?
Some of the more conservative clerics in the Assembly, as well as the higher-ranking clergy within France, were highly critical of the measure.
The Assembly, dismissed a proposal by French Bishops and Clergy to hold a National Synod to discuss the matter.
This was on the grounds that these had been abolished.
In December 1790, a reluctant Louis was forced to accept the CCC.
What did doubt about the church’s support for the CCC lead the assembly to do on 27th September 1790?
Doubts about church’s support for CCC led the assembly on 27 September to demand an oath.
This would make all clergy swear “to be faithful to the nation, the law and the king and to maintain with all their power the constitution decreed by the National Assembly.”
Clerics who didn’t swear this oath would be deprived of their offices and salaries.
Oath trying to determine which clerics were loyal to the revolution.
How many clergy supported this measure through their actions?
The results showed that a large number were not, or at least not principally.
Of 160 bishops, only 7 swore.
Of Parish clergy, only 55% (varied by region) took the oath.
What did the Pope do in April 1791, and how did many clergy respond?
When Pope finally declared against CCC, in the Papal Bull ‘Charitas’ of April 1791, some retracted their oaths.
Pope suspended those who took the oath.
How did the Assembly express its displeasure at the Pope’s actions?
Occupied Avignon and (after plebiscite) annexed it to France.
Declaring in November 1791 all non-juring or refractory priests (those who didn’t take oath) were ‘counter-revolutionaries’.
Income stopped, forbidden from using religious buildings.
April 1792, all forms of religious dress banned to emphasise clergy were ordinary ‘citizens’.
May 1792, refractory priests could be deported.
What was the response of many clergy to the CCC?
Large numbers of clergy fled abroad.
These joined swelling numbers of nobles who sought refuge in foreign countries.
How did the CCC divide France, and why?
Those living in central areas of France around Paris and those on border with Italy/Austrian largely for CCC.
However, those in strongly catholic, conservative parts of France – west, north, north-east and south of Massif-central- alarmed.
They wrongly feared that the Assembly was trying to change their faith.
How did this undermine support for the Revolution?
Many who had seen the revolution positively now opposed it.
For roughly half of population (especially women) fear of damnation proved greater than commitment to the revolution.
The CCC thus helped to destroy national unity.
It led to counter-revolution and civil war.
According to the historian J.F. Bosher, the CCC ‘was fated to divide the nation more than any other single measure.’
On what one point were designers of the new constitution of France united?
Wanted a constitutional monarchy.
What did the Assembly decide to ensure the king’s absolute power was destroyed?
July/August 1789: system of representative democracy in which…
Elected governing body the legislative.
The King/Royal Ministers the Executive.
Judiciary independent.
What did the Assembly decide about whether the governing body have two chamber or one?
September 1789: Vote for one chamber (an Assembly).
What did the Assembly decide about whether the King be able to veto or merely suspend enactment of laws?
September 1789: decision taken for suspensory veto; after three consecutive legislatures (4 years), a measure would automatically become law.
Feared that rule by an Assembly alone would be rule in the deputies’ interests; King’s suspensory veto granted to balance out power.
