The Establishment of the French Constitutional Monarchy

The Establishment of the French Constitutional Monarchy

The establishment of the French Constitutional Monarchy represented a profound transition from the absolutist rule of the monarchy to a system governed by a constitution. The financial crisis that plagued King Louis XVI's reign reached a climax when the French Treasury ceased payments on 16 August 1789, effectively declaring the state bankrupt. This fiscal emergency compelled the king to summon the Estates-General on 5 May 1789, an assembly representing the three traditional estates of the realm. The Third Estate's subsequent self-proclamation as the National Assembly on 17 June 1789 marked a decisive step towards curtailing the monarch's authority. The Tennis Court Oath, taken by the Assembly on 20 June 1789, underscored their determination to draft a new constitution. The transformation of the National Assembly into the National Constituent Assembly on 9 July 1789, coupled with the symbolic storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, were pivotal events that hastened the transition to a constitutional monarchy.

The Formation of the National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath

The National Assembly was born out of a financial crisis and the Third Estate's quest for equitable representation. The Third Estate's demand for a voting system based on headcount, rather than the traditional estate-based system that favored the First and Second Estates, was a democratic move that challenged the status quo. When King Louis XVI closed their meeting place, the Assembly members reconvened in a nearby tennis court, where they took the historic Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to disperse until France had a written constitution. This act of defiance against royal authority was a clear statement of their resolve to establish a constitutional government.

The National Constituent Assembly and Its Reforms

The National Constituent Assembly, succeeding the National Assembly, undertook the task of creating a new constitution amidst the revolutionary fervor. The Assembly implemented sweeping reforms, including the modernization of the legal system to guarantee fair and transparent trials, the abolition of torture, and the reduction in the number of capital offenses. Economic reforms were also significant, with the introduction of a more equitable tax system and the elimination of fixed prices for goods. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in 1790, was a contentious act that redefined the relationship between the Church and the state, mandating that clergy swear an oath of loyalty to the state. This measure saw only partial compliance, with about 55% of clergy taking the oath.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted by the National Assembly on 26 August 1789, was a seminal document influenced by the Enlightenment and the American Declaration of Independence. It asserted that all men are born with equal rights and that social distinctions can only be based on common utility. This declaration laid the philosophical foundation for the French Constitution of 1791 and redefined the role of the monarch, positioning him as the guardian of these rights rather than a sovereign ruling by divine right.

The French Constitution of 1791 and the Legislative Assembly

The French Constitution of 1791, crafted by a committee representing a spectrum of political perspectives, established a constitutional monarchy grounded in the principles of equality, freedom of expression, and fair taxation. It also created the Legislative Assembly, which succeeded the Constituent Assembly with the mandate to perpetuate reforms and confront challenges such as the resistance of non-juring clergy and the issue of émigrés. The Assembly introduced the guillotine as a humane method of execution and passed laws to liberalize divorce, reflecting the evolving social attitudes of the time.

The Downfall of the Constitutional Monarchy

The constitutional monarchy in France faced numerous challenges and ultimately proved unsustainable. The Flight to Varennes in June 1791 exposed King Louis XVI's lack of commitment to the constitutional framework and his desire to reinstate absolute monarchy, which severely undermined the new political structure. The declaration of war against Austria in April 1792 further destabilized the monarchy. The Legislative Assembly's proclamation of the First French Republic on 21 September 1792 marked the formal end of the constitutional monarchy. The failure of this political experiment was due to the deep-seated conflict between the revolutionary ideals and the traditional monarchical institution, signaling a definitive end to constitutional monarchy in France.