Simone Lawson
France had a brief period of constitutional monarchy from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792, when it was replaced by the French First Republic. This constitutional monarchy was established by the National Constituent Assembly, which forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thereby limiting the king's powers and turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional one. The constitution was influenced by Enlightenment ideas of equality and the doctrine of natural rights, and it abolished the nobility, declaring all men equal before the law. However, the king still retained certain powers, including the ability to veto legislation. The constitutional monarchy in France was short-lived due to the ongoing French Revolution, the involvement of foreign powers, and the king's controversial use of his remaining powers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Period | 3 September 1791 – 21 September 1792 |
| Previous monarchy | Absolute monarchy |
| Monarch | King Louis XVI |
| Constitution | First written constitution in France |
| Declaration | Rights of Man and Citizen |
| Voting | Universal male suffrage |
| Active citizens | Males over 25 who owned property and paid taxes |
| Monarch powers | Veto legislation |
| Monarch status | King remained under constitutional monarchy |
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolution
During the Revolution, the National Assembly, elected by universal male suffrage, sought to limit the powers of the king and establish a constitution that would protect the rights of citizens. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, passed in August 1789, was a fundamental document in this process, outlining the universal rights that all citizens should enjoy. It was influenced by the doctrine of natural rights and became the basis for a nation of free and equal individuals.
The National Assembly's efforts to create a constitution led to the French Constitution of 1791, which established a constitutional monarchy. This constitution abolished the nobility, declared all men equal before the law, and gave the king a limited role, with his decisions subject to Royal Assent. However, King Louis XVI still retained certain powers, including the ability to veto legislation he did not approve of.
The period of constitutional monarchy was short-lived due to ongoing revolutionary sentiment and the involvement of foreign powers in the conflict. The King's use of his veto powers to protect non-juring priests and his refusal to raise militias in defence of the revolutionary government further alienated radical revolutionaries. The August 10 Insurrection in 1792 marked the fall of the monarchy, with the Legislative Assembly suspending the monarchy and later voting to abolish it on September 21, 1792. This led to the establishment of the French First Republic and the end of Bourbon rule in France.
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The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
France was a constitutional monarchy from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792. During this period, King Louis XVI enjoyed only a fraction of the power he had as an absolute monarch. The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was a fundamental document of the French Revolution and the history of human and civil rights. It was passed by France's National Constituent Assembly in August 1789 and was the first step toward writing a constitution for France. The declaration was influenced by the doctrine of natural rights, stating that the rights of man are universal. It became the basis for a nation of free individuals protected equally by law.
The declaration asserted the principles of popular sovereignty, in contrast to the divine right of kings that characterised the French monarchy. It also asserted social equality among citizens, stating that all citizens are "equal in the eyes of the law" and are "equally admissible to all public dignities, places, and employments, according to their capacity and without distinction other than that of their virtues and of their talents". This eliminated the special rights of the nobility and clergy. The declaration also called for the destruction of aristocratic privileges by proclaiming an end to feudalism and exemptions from taxation, and called for freedom and equal rights for all, as well as access to public office based on talent.
The declaration also included freedom of speech and press, and outlawed arbitrary arrests. It stated that any citizen summoned or arrested by virtue of the law must submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offence. It also stated that the law shall provide for punishments only when strictly and obviously necessary, and that no one shall suffer punishment except by virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offence.
The declaration was inspired by the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the spirit of the Enlightenment. It has been a reference text since its inception, with the Fifth Republic explicitly stating its attachment to it, citing it in the preamble of its Constitution.
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The Flight to Varennes
The escape was to be made in two light carriages, but Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette rejected this plan as they did not want to split up the family. Instead, they decided to use a single heavy coach drawn by six horses. This decision, along with a series of misadventures, delays, misinterpretations, and poor judgments, contributed to the failure of the flight. The king's flight was traumatic for Paris, inciting reactions ranging from anxiety to violence and panic.
The royal family was eventually stopped and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, about 150 miles (240 kilometres) from Paris and 50 kilometres short of their destination. The king was arrested at 11 pm on June 21 and dispatched back to Paris at 7 am the following morning. A large contingent of Royalist troops arrived as the king’s carriage was about to depart Varennes but refused to attack, fearing a massacre of the king and his family.
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The National Assembly
France was an absolute monarchy until 1791, when the National Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, establishing a constitutional monarchy. The National Assembly was the legislative body, with the king and royal ministers forming the executive branch, and the judiciary independent of the other two branches.
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. It was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The constitution aimed to address issues in taxation, finance, and society, and was based on Enlightenment ideas of equality. It abolished the nobility of France and declared all men equal before the law.
The constitutional monarchy was short-lived, lasting from 1791 until 21 September 1792, when it was succeeded by the French First Republic. The king's use of his veto powers to protect non-juring priests and his refusal to raise militias in defence of the revolutionary government proved unacceptable to radical revolutionaries. This led to the August 10 Insurrection, which effectively ended the constitutional monarchy.
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The Constitution of 1791
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was formed after the National Assembly, which had gathered in 1789, decided to draft a constitution as its primary objective. The Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation is reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The National Assembly was the legislative body, the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, and the judiciary was independent of the other two branches.
The main controversies early on surrounded the issues of what level of power to be granted to the king of France and what form the legislature would take. The Constitutional Committee proposed a bicameral legislature, but the motion was defeated in favour of a unicameral legislature. The committee also proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was defeated in favour of a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures. The king was allowed this suspensive veto to balance out the interests of the people, as the representatives in the assembly might otherwise be ruled by their self-interest. However, this representative democracy also weakened the king's executive authority.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, France had a constitutional monarchy from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, played a crucial role in this transition. The National Assembly, formed during the Revolution, aimed to create a constitution to limit the king's powers and establish a constitutional monarchy.
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, passed in August 1789, was a fundamental document during the French Revolution. It outlined the universal rights that all citizens should enjoy and served as a basis for limiting the monarchy's power.
The constitutional monarchy in France was short-lived due to various factors. The king's liability to the security of the Revolution, the onset of the French Revolutionary Wars, and the rise of radical republican ideologies all contributed to the monarchy's demise. On 21 September 1792, the Legislative Assembly abolished the monarchy, ending the Bourbon rule in France.
