reforms of the assembly

the new constitution

• accepted by L 1791

• est constitutional monarchy (compromise)

• monarch powers -

  • right to appoint own ministers

  • 25m livres given to him/fam

  • suspensive veto (to delay/suspend laws) - for 4yrs

• only elected assembly cld initiate new laws/taxes (⭣ L leg powers, ⭡ demo)

electoral system

• franchise expanded - vote any male citizen over 25

  • france = ⭡ enfranchised than any other european state

• had to pay equivalent of 3 days unskilled labour in taxes to vote (to be ‘active citizen’)

  • vote for electors (had to pay 10 days labour in taxes) in local assemblies

    • vote for deputies (1 silver mark in taxes) in secondary assemblies

• criticism - requiring payment, limited lower class rep, active vs passive citizenship

  • 10% pop cld afford deputy, 50% elector, 70% vote

• many deputies = against universal suffrage

  • x wanted popular protest playing role in govt

• assembly’s pol reform gave illusion of equality w/o ⭣ own power

assembly 3 values

• equality

• brotherhood

• freedom

state finances

• abolition of 3 estate taxation system

  • allowed lower classes to accumulate wealth + break cycle of poverty

• by end of ‘89 taille, gabelle + feudal dues = abolished

• tax farming abolished

• assembly nationalised + sold cath church land

  • + sold emigre, nobility + clergy land who had begun fleeing summer ‘89

  • to deal w money deficit during period w/o tax system

  • controversial, seen as attacking religion/god

  • ⭣ health/edu services (church = main provider)

• confiscated land = called biens nationaux

  • sold 400m livres worth of land

  • lots sold to peasants

• ‘91 new tax system est

  • direct taxes proportional to wealth

  • ⭡ equal + efficient

  • new taxes incl universal land tax

civil constitution of the clergy

• july ‘90

• most divisive religious reform

• put church under state control

  • priests/bishops paid by state + elected by citizens (prev decided by pope)

• undermined authority of pope (gods rep on earth) + monarch (threatened divine right of kings - appointed by god)

  • if assembly have authority over religion they have authority over king

• many viewed it as sacrilegious

oath of allegiance

• nov ‘90

• all clergy ordered to take oath of allegiance to assembly/constitution

  • in response to opposition to religious policy

• 50% priests agreed

• those who x took oath became known as refractory priests

  • many emigrated + preached against rev

• oath → conflict (politicised religion)

  • split pop between those who supported ‘constitutional church’ vs the ‘refractory church’

    • latter ⭡ assoc w counter-revolution