How were the French affected by the reforms of the National Assembly?

Sans-Culottes

able to vote for electors -> all men (had more of a say than they had before)

the active citizens were most of the population and they were the ones who took the Bastille, but still don't get much of a say in matters

guilds abolished - more equal

able to vote as pay by taxation

King

King could appoint his own ministers and military commanders

losing his status as an absolute monarch

  • losing Divine Right -> given powers by god
  • King of the French -> the people embodied France now, not the King

with his income, he gets 25 million livres LESS than he received before

now a citizen like everyone else -> subject to the law

Catholics

created 2 Catholic churches in France

fear of eternal damnation - the Church became subservient to the state

May 1792 -> LA states priests could be deported if they didn't swear by the oath

Protestants

given civil rights in December 1781

Women

most womens unhappy about CC

a lot of women feared eternal damnation

the concept of 'popular sovereignty' did not extend to women

couldn't hold office

couldn't vote

Urban & Rural Poor

end of lettre de cachet

price controls removed -> price fluctuates a lot

Emigree

emigrees land gets seized and can be sold off

Wealthy/Bourgeois

at the top of the voting -> had the last say

price controls removed (bourgeoisie very happy -> the ones who get the profit from it)

could be lawyers for 5 years and then could be elected

become landowners (make more money) -> nationalisation of Church lands and confiscation of emigre lands

wealthy -> the more money they had, the more powerful they were

No strikes/trade unions (Le Chapelier Law)

Laissez-faire

Assignat lost value

'Active' citizens - political participation dependent upon wealth

745 members of LA - opportunity for role in government

Came to dominate local administration

Abolition of noble titles - 'citizen' emphasised new status of bourgeoisie

lands confiscated - property sold

End of Ancien Regime (and absolute monarchy), based on feudalism and privilege

suspensive veto (not on finance or the constitution)

Now equal with other people - a French citizen, subject to the law, like everyone elsde

Split over Civil Constitution of the Clergy

Condemnation of the Pope

Removal of ecclesiastical courts

Nationalisation of Church lands

Salaried officials by the State, elected by ballot

Bishoprics reduced from 135 to 83.

denied role in government (passive citizens)

Le Chapelier Law

c.f. urban poor

intention to retain AR taxes until 1791

'passive citizens'

Le Chapelier Law

Free and humane justice for all

State charities

Social mobility a possibility via public education