The Reconstruction of France

1789 -1791

• The beginning of the revolution was conservative in nature.

• The nobles, clergy and bourgeoisie in the NCA wanted to protect property and legal equality.

• They were wary of social equality and too much democracy.

Political Changes• The Constitution of 1791 created a

constitutional monarchy and unicameral Legislative Assembly

• Only 50,000 (all male) out of 26 million were allowed to vote.

• The French provinces were replaced with 83 departments. Courts were standardized and reformed.

Economic Changes• The NCA suppressed guilds and the Chapelier Law

forbid worker’s associations

• deregulated the grain trade

• Established the metric system

• Peasants had to compensate landlords for feudal dues

Religious Reforms• The debt was paid down by confiscating and

selling church lands.

• They used these sales to guarantee assignats, bonds that were used as money. Their value soon fell and caused inflation.

• Freedom of religion was given to Christians and Jews

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

• Made the Catholic Church a branch of the state

• Reduced bishoprics and organized dioceses around departments.

• Priests and bishops now had to be elected

Civil Constitution of the Clergy pt. 2

• Clergy were made to take and oath to support the constitution. Only ½ did and the other half was labeled refractory.

• The pope condemned the CCC and the Declaration of the Rights of Man

• Louis XVI also supported the refractory clergy

Counterrevolutionary Activity• In the summer of 1791 Louis XVI tried to flee

and was caught.

• Leopold II of Austria issued the Declaration of Pillnitz