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