MODULE - 4
Louis, XVI
• Louis XVI, finally accorded recognition to the National Assembly.
• Accepted the principle that his powers would from now on be checked by a constitution.
4 August 1789
• Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes.
• Members of the clergy too were forced to give up their privileges.
• Tithes were abolished.
• Lands owned by the Church were confiscated.
• Government acquired assets worth at least 2 billion livres.
FRANCE BECOMES A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
1791 Which was
indirectly elected
• National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution.
• Main object was to limit the powers of the monarch.
• The constitution of 1791 vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly.
• Citizens voted for a group of electors.
Who in turn chose
• Not all citizens, had the right to vote. the assembly
• Only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal
to at least 3 days of a labourer’s wage were given the
status of active citizens.
• Remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens.
• Constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of
Man and Citizen.
To qualify as an elector and then as a member of the Assembly, a
man had to belong to the highest bracket of taxpayers.
Rights such as the right to life, freedom of
speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law,
were established as ‘natural and inalienable’
rights, that is, they belonged to each human
being by birth and could not be taken away.
FRANCE ABOLISHES MONARCHY AND BECOMES A REPULIC
• The situation in France continued be tense.
• Louis XVI had signed the constitution.
• He entered into secret negotiations with the King of Prussia.
• Rulers of other neighbouring countries too were worried by the developments in France.
• National
Rulers ofAssembly voted
neighboring in April
made plans1792 to declare
to send troopswar against Prussia and Austria.
to put
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• Patriotic songs they sang was the Marseillaise.
Thousands of volunteers thronged from
• Composed by the poet Roget
the provinces to join the army. de L’Isle.
• Marseillaise is now the national anthem of France.
• Revolutionary wars brought losses and economic
difficulties to the people.
• Men were away fighting at the front.
• Women were left to cope with the tasks of earning a
living and looking after their families.
Large sections of the population were convinced that the revolution had to be
carried further, as the Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the
richer sections of society.
• Political clubs became an important rallying point.
• Most successful of these clubs was that of the Jacobins.
• Members of the Jacobin club belonged mainly to the less prosperous sections of society.
Which got its
They included small shopkeepers, name such as
artisans
shoemakers, pastry cooks,from the former printers,
watch-makers,
as well as servants andconvent of St.
daily-wage Jacob
workers.
in Paris.
• Leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
• Large group among the Jacobins decided to start
wearing long striped trousers similar to those worn
by dock workers.
This was to set themselves apart from the fashionable
sections of society, especially nobles, who were knee
breeches.