History: SAC 4 AOS 4

August Decrees

4th-11th August 1789, NCA drafted 19 decrees, with 18 becoming adopted

• Signalled Ancien Regime was gone, and that liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty was replacing old structure.

• Decrees 5-11 claimed “Louis XVI” monarchical power would be untouched, however severely reduced.

• Decree 1: NA abolishes feudal regime in its entirety

Did the August Decrees fulfill their purpose?

For peasants: Harvest dues had not been abolished, Tithes remained in force until 1793.

• All the National Constituent Assembly was offering was a chance to buy out feudal dues.

• Privileged orders did not abandon Seigneurial claims, and land owned by Second Estate needed to be paid out for compensation, which was 25% - 30% of a peasants wages.

Declaration of rights of man and Citizen: DORMAC

Adopted by NCA, was a foundational statement of principles and natural rights to precede governing constitution.

• Included enlightenment of ideas/ abolishment of Ancien regime

• Included 17 articles, becoming adopted 26th August 1789.

• Written by 40 deputies, including Sieyes

“Above all a statement of bourgeoisie idealism” - McPhee, Jones, Rude.

Constitutional positions

Conservatives: Wanted King to have absolute veto over legislation, and wanted to limit radicalism.

• Supported by Necker

Moderates: Accepted two-house legislation, but demanded power of King to veto legislation should not dismiss assembly.

• Supported by Mirabeau

Radicals: Wanted no royal veto, so that assembly had the power to make constitutional checks

• Supported by Sieyes

Voting for constitutional power of King.

September 10 1789, and led to defeat of conservatives, 849 votes to 89. Meant King Louis lost power to:

• Appoint judges

• Declare war or negotiate

• Sign Treaties

• Veto laws regarding constitution and taxation.

Louis given royal allowance of 25 million frances per year.

Woman’s march to Versaille

October 5 1789, around 6000 - 10,000 woman began protesting about high price of bread at Hotel de ville in Paris. Then began marching to Versaille demanding:

• Bread

• Passing of August decrees (louis had not signed yet)

Reached Versaille by 5pm, entering hall of NCA, and 6 woman allowed in private audience to discuss with King.

Outcome of woman’s march to Versaille

Delegates received written declaration from King, which satisfied many woman, breaking up the protest.

• Louis then received Lafayette and commune delegates, agreeing to ratify August Decrees and Declaration of man and citizen.

Changes to citizenship qualifications

NCA argued that citizens needed to possess a certain level of wealth to exercise electoral rights.

• 20-29th of October 1789, Sieyes proposed to create two categories -active and passive- of citizens which was then adopted.

• Active = men with voting rights

• Passive = woman, children, domestic servants

Over 60% of French men had right to participate in elections.

Changes to Municipal communes/ Military

December 1789, new Municipal officers were elected by active citizens. Reforms continued into february of 1790, and France was then divided into 83 administrative departments, replacing confusing borders of Ancien Regime.

• Municipal Communes: collected direct taxes, maintained law and order, and controlled the National Guard.

• Military men were promoted by merit

Fiscal, Economic, and Corporate reforms

January 1791, new tax system implemented and all citizens would pay taxes according to their ability.

• etc. ‘Contribution Fonciere’ = Land tax with no special privileges.

June 14 1791, NCA passes ‘Le Chapelier Law’ which forbade association/ meetings of workmen, in response to strikes for higher wages.

Changes to weight and measurement

March 1791, NCA adopted a new decimal system.

• Introduced the use of the ‘metres’ as a unit for distance as well as a new ‘metric system’

• Prior to revolution France had more than 100 different ways of dividing/ measuring land.

Changes to church

Church property was nationalised (taken ownership of), which made up 10% of the wealth France.

• Around 700,000 nobles and bourgeoisie purchased church land, which was 1 in 8 families.

• February 1790, religious orders dissolved except for those involved in teaching children or helping the sick.

Civil construction of clergy

May 1790, NAC proposed that the no. of diocese (local district churches) would be the same as the no. of departments, reducing from 130 to 83.

• Pope’s role as head of church was replaced by the state

• Pope’s right to appoint clergy was replaced by elections.

Clerical Oath/ Pope’s response

November 27 1790, NCA introduced ‘clerical oath’ which meant members of clergy had to:

• Swear to be faithful to law, and nation

• Those who didn’t could be deprived of their job/salary.

• 54% from lower clergy took oath, 36% didn’t

1791, Pope Pius VI told French Catholics to not abandon their religion for the state.

Political/ Religious Factors that led King Louis to leave France

Political:

• Escaping France, and reaching Austria, meant he could ask for help from other monarchs to restore monarchical rule in France

• Austrian Emperor Leopold II, and King of Spain Charles IV were willing to help

Religious:

• Although he signed Civil construction of clergy, Louis privately opposed it as he was very religious.

King Louis and his family attempt to escape Versailles

June 20th, planned to leave ‘Tuileries Palace’ in 2 carriages, heading to Montmedy (borders Luxembourg) to meet troops and be smuggled across the border.

• Lasted 24 hours until they were recognised/ captured

• Brought back to Paris 25th of June 1791.

Outcomes of Louis XVI’s escape

Illustrated Louis was not prepared to be King of revolutionary state, or renounce religious beliefs.

• 1791 Constitution giving the King power to veto legislation was renounced, and NCA was given full power over legislation.

• His monarchical power was suspended