the reforms of the national constituent assembly

what form should the constitution take, to ensure that the King’s absolute power was destroyed?

july/august 1789: a system of representative democracy in which:

• an elected governing body acted as the legislative

• the King and royal ministers made up the executive

• the judiciary was made independent

should the governing body have two chambers or one?

september 1789: vote taken in favour of one chamber (the Assembly)

should the king be able to veto law or merely suspend their enactment for a limited period?

sept 1789: decision taken in favour of a suspensory veto; after 3 consecutive legislatives (four years), a measure would automatically become law | feared that rule by an Assembly alone would be rule in the deputies’ self-interest | king’s suspensory veto granted to balance out power

what other powers should the king have?

the King retained the right to select n appoint ministers to form a cabinet (they werent allowed to sit in the assembly howev)

what title should the king hold?

oct 1789: ‘king of the french’, not king of france, = power from people n law not divine right

how was the king to be supported?

retained private income. granted ‘civil list’ of 25mill livres. reduction of ~20mill livres on pre-revolution spending

how often should elections be held and how should they be organised?

elections held every 2 years, municipal elections annually, used indirect system of electoral colleges

who should have the right to vote? should every subject be given equal rights (as the declaration of rights of man seemed to promise) or should there be some restrictions?

dec 1789: a distinction was upheld between

• active citizens - males 25+, had lived in one place for a year, spoke French and paid direct taxes = to 3 days’ labour - given political rights

• passive citizens » only received civil rights, not vote (opposed by Robespierre)

what powers should the elected Assembly have?

the Assembly would have the power to make laws, collect taxed and decide on issues of war n peace

local govt

• provincial governors - become dynasties - take power for themselves (before rev) » got rid of provinces and divided france into 83 sections of roughly equal sizes, then sub-divided into parishes n communes

• intendants = didn’t work (before rev)

• power should go to a council in each province - different roles for each person

• governors from other provinces would observe and report back to paris

• devolved powers and sharing of responsibility

• provincial differences will go - all will follow the same system

• venality = no - system based on how active they are in their community

• should get a wage but not too much so they don’t get rich

• centralised in paris = too close to the ancien regime. devolved govt with efficient people means things will run more smoothly

• provincial governors’ power n role based on bloodline rather than merit = echoes of pre-revolution structure

• Equal representation for each department    

• Elected councils ensures the people are represented by politicians they agree with 

• Less power concentrated in Versailles 

• Bourgeoisie rep = better understanding of lower class within politics and their struggles (however still detached from the more common struggles) 

• People with better understanding of all walks of life now have chance to run for office = beneficial and impactful change for the French people 

• More class-related diversity means rural people are better represented 

• More accountability for political actions since they should know better 

• Department specific ruling so law and order can be better-kept 

• Less power to highest class means there’s less power that can be abused 

finance

• taxes - not equal

• everyone would have to pay - system based on income. land tax based on their assets - church no longer allowed don gratuity

• more people paying taxes = more money = reduce debt

• tax farmers - will be paid a wage instead of negotiating what they pay

• penalty for tax farmers stealing - accounts - these will be checked

• No more hierarchy within system = more equality 

• No privileges within land tax = peasantry was more able to improve their status within the country eg. Going from peasants to buying land etc. 

• 1^st & 2^nd Estate lost lots of their wealth (+ Church) 

• Improved economy of France 

• More efficient taxation system 

• Came through on their promise for change = more trust in the new government 

• Less burden on 3^rd estate overall 

• No gabelle, indirect taxes, & tax farming 

• Decreased debt: everyone was paying the taxes 

• Less exploitation via merchants: can’t skip paying the taxes for entering the country w goods 

economic

• problem of bad harvests - investment in modern farming techniques - look at Britain eg enclosure, investment, selective breeding

• land split too far - encourage land being put together by having minimum you can split and an award system

• no consistent measuring system - implement one generic system - fines for not following this

• internal trade barriers, tariffs and guild - abolish trade barriers and guilds

• creating wealthy middle classes because of new system of govt - might lead to more investment in farming

• industry - look at britain for ideas. reward system for setting up new industries

1. Risky behaviour – excessive printing caused inflation ended up staving than solving France's economic problems– however some debts were paid off 

2)short term solution because food prices did not go down as merchants wanted to keep profits for themselves (POPULAR DISCONTENT) 

3)didn’t reduce tax a lot because the new wage bill for local govt, judges and clergyman put more strain on finances 

4)was difficult to assess these taxes justly however – tax burden on land owners in the end and varied around France – although fairer system , it wasn’t necessarily lighter tax, just assessed differently 

5) Removed power from the king and nobility but did not lower food prices in the long term, and allowed merchants to gain much more in profits. 

6)These economic changes created a new class of capitalists – further dividing society  

justice

• nobles had their own courts - lighter punishments

• feudal landlords in charge in villages = peasants punished badly - also dependant on your landlord

• nobles in versailles - not in the countryside to enforce law and order

• church courts - own punishments which are lighter

• change so punishments fit the crime and not the status - will have a main court in paris that makes the decision for big issues and then smaller courts in the regions where everyone will be tried

• list of crimes n punishments

• use the national guard as your police force and to enforce this

• no venality - positions will be paid and on merit

• everyone will have the right to a lawyer - legal aid

• Courts were not overwhelmed with cases, each case dealt with by appropriately skilled people. 

• Trials were fair and less biased, jury more motivated and less biased by people that they served.  

• One of the most Enlightened systems in Europe- leading the way in progressive attitudes and setting an example 

• As more was open to the public, people couldn’t hide behind money or status so there was more transparency and accountability. 

• Previously guillotine had only been for the nobles- now punishment was fairer for all, symbolised equal status of classes 

• As family would not face consequences and property could not be seized, less people would continue and go down a pathway of crime 

• A fairer system gave more opportunity and power to poorer citizens of France reduced gap in the hierarchy. 

religion

• church is too wealthy and powerful has too much influence

• religion and state = separate

• bishops and priests would be elected by citizens so they have control over their spiritual leaders

• people took vows too young and didn’t understand - would have to live in a monastery for a year, take a test and then take your vows

• monks and nuns - inspections of religious communities and would dissolve them if not

• wealth - if they fail inspections - land, property and possessions could be confiscated

• get rid of venality and pluralism - people have to pass tests if they want to hold positions

• Reduced levels of corruption within Church 

• Reduced powers of the Church over local communities 

• The people had greater power over their local Chruch divisions 

• More property available for the people to own 

• Religious equality = more people could freely express their views + be heard from 

• More wealth in the economy (not hoarded by the Church) (reduces debts) 

• Religion could not be as easily used to control the actions of smaller communities 

• The Church becomes subservient to the state 

• Large numbers of the Clergy fled abroad – fears of the Assembly attempting to change their faith (large numbers of the population turned against the revolution due to fears of eternal damnation)