Jonah Patel
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 National Assembly, which was both a legislature and a constitutional convention, was tasked with drafting the constitution. The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers. It abolished the previous feudal geographic divisions and established a system of recurring elections. The constitution also distinguished between active citizens, who had political rights, and passive citizens, who only had civil rights. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, was a law that sought to give the French government complete control over the Catholic Church in France. It caused a schism within the French Church, dividing the clergy into juring and non-juring factions. The juring priests swore an oath of loyalty to the state, while the non-juring priests remained loyal to the Pope.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date passed | 12 July 1790 |
| Purpose | To reorganise the Roman Catholic Church in France on a national basis |
| Main features | To reduce the number of bishops from 135 to 83, to have each diocese correspond to a département, to have enfranchised citizens elect bishops and parish priests, and to have the state pay the clergy’s wages |
| Other measures | Abolition of feudal dues, confiscation and sale of church lands, suppression of tithes |
| Effects | Division of the church into "juring" and "nonjuring" clergy |
| Other effects | Creation of an illegal and underground French Catholic Church loyal to the Papacy, and a "constitutional church" that was subservient to the State |
| Condemnation | Pope Pius VI issued an encyclical condemning the Civil Constitution and threatening to suspend all clergy who took the oath |
| Legislative body | The National Assembly |
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What You'll Learn
- The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first written constitution
- The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed in 1790, provoking opposition from clerics
- The Pope condemned the Civil Constitution in 1791, deepening the divide between loyalists and constitutionalists
- The Civil Constitution allowed the state to control some aspects of religion, including clerical salaries
- The Constitution of 1791 established the legal presence of the National Assembly in the French government
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first written constitution
The French Constitution of 1791 redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of government power. It retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The Legislative Assembly was composed of "'active' citizens" who paid a minimal sum in taxes, and about two-thirds of adult men had the right to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly.
The constitution also established a system of recurring elections and separated powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. 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. On a local level, the previous feudal geographic divisions were abolished, and the territory of the French state was reorganised.
In terms of the impact of the 1791 Constitution on the church, it is important to consider the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed by the Assembly on July 12, 1790. This was an attempt to reorganise the Roman Catholic Church in France and place it under the control of the state. It included measures such as reducing the number of bishops, having each diocese correspond to a département, having citizens elect bishops and parish priests, and having the state pay the clergy's wages. The Civil Constitution provoked opposition from many clerics who disagreed with the subordination of the church to the state and the limitation of the pope's jurisdiction.
The conflict between the church and the state escalated when the National Constituent Assembly ordered the clergy to take an oath of loyalty to the nation's constitution in November 1790. By the spring of 1791, the Catholic church in France was divided between clerics who swore loyalty to the nation (known as "jurors" or "constitutional priests") and those who remained loyal to the pope (known as "nonjurors" or "refractory priests"). Pope Pius VI condemned the Civil Constitution in March 1791 and threatened to suspend all clergy who took the oath, further deepening the schism within the French church.
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The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed in 1790, provoking opposition from clerics
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed on July 12, 1790, during the French Revolution. It was an attempt to reorganise and regulate the Catholic Church in France, reducing corruption, abuse, and political influence. The number of bishops was reduced from 135 to 83, with each diocese corresponding to a département. Bishops and priests were elected locally, with electors signing an oath of loyalty to the constitution. The state took control of clerical salaries, education, and charitable works, effectively making the clergy paid employees of the government.
This reorganisation provoked opposition from clerics, who disagreed with the strict subordination of the church to the state and the limitation of the pope's jurisdiction to spiritual affairs. The National Constituent Assembly ordered the clergy to take an oath of loyalty to the nation, indirectly declaring their support for the reorganisation of the church. However, many clerics refused to take this oath, facing the dilemma of accepting the Civil Constitution or losing their parishes. The church in France became divided between nonjurors (refractory priests) and jurors (constitutional priests).
The pope's open condemnation of the Civil Constitution further hardened opposition among the local clergy. Some clerics who had taken the oath renounced it, following the pope's orders. By the spring of 1791, the Catholic Church in France was split between clerics loyal to the nation and those loyal to Rome. Non-juring priests defied the national government by remaining in their parishes and fulfilling their duties. They often enjoyed the support of their parishioners, who objected to secular interference in spiritual matters.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy created a schism in the French Catholic Church, with an illegal underground church loyal to the Papacy, and a "constitutional church" subservient to the state. This schism persisted until 1801, highlighting the divisive nature of the Civil Constitution and its impact on church-state relations in France during the Revolution.
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The Pope condemned the Civil Constitution in 1791, deepening the divide between loyalists and constitutionalists
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on July 12, 1790, was an attempt to reorganise the Roman Catholic Church in France on a national basis. It aimed to reduce the number of bishops, make each diocese correspond to a département, elect bishops and parish priests through enfranchised citizens, and have the state pay the clergy's wages. The Constitution soon provoked opposition, with many clerics disagreeing with its strict subordination of the church to the state and the limitation of the pope's jurisdiction to spiritual affairs.
On November 27, 1790, the National Constituent Assembly ordered the clergy to take an oath of loyalty to the Constitution, indirectly declaring their support for the reorganisation of the church. This created a divide between nonjurors (refractory priests) and jurors (constitutional priests). The former refused to take the oath and were removed from their posts, while the latter accepted the Civil Constitution.
Pope Pius VI's condemnation of the Civil Constitution in 1791 deepened this divide. The Pope, already hostile to the French Revolution, publicly condemned the Constitution in March 1791, criticising the revolution and the National Assembly. He issued an encyclical, "Charitas", in April 1791, condemning the Civil Constitution, claiming that Louis XVI had signed it under duress, and threatening to suspend clergy who took the oath. This hardened opposition among the local clergy, with many refusing to take the oath or renouncing it if they had already taken it.
The Pope's condemnation solidified the split between loyalists and constitutionalists, with those who sided with the Pope and the church becoming known as loyalists, and those who supported the French government's involvement in religious matters becoming known as constitutionalists. This division caused disruption in the new French society, with the Assembly attempting to moderate the growing schism by allowing non-juring priests to continue performing ceremonies as long as they did not agitate against the Constitution.
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The Civil Constitution allowed the state to control some aspects of religion, including clerical salaries
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed on 12 July 1790, was a law that gave the French government control over the Catholic Church in France. It was part of a series of measures taken by the National Assembly against the church, including the abolition of feudal dues, the confiscation and sale of church lands, and the suppression of tithes.
The Civil Constitution allowed the state to assume control of some aspects of religion, including the funding of clerical salaries, as well as responsibility for education and charitable works. The state now paid the clergy's wages, and bishops and clergy were required to swear an oath of loyalty to the state. This oath caused a great deal of controversy, as many clerics refused to take it, resulting in a schism within the French Church. The church was now split between the "nonjurors" (refractory priests) and the "jurors" (constitutional priests). The Pope, Pius VI, also condemned the Civil Constitution and claimed that Louis XVI had only signed it under duress.
The constitution reduced the number of bishops from 135 to 83, with each diocese corresponding to a département. Enfranchised citizens were now to elect bishops and parish priests. These changes were an attempt to reorganise the Roman Catholic Church in France on a national basis, creating a new administrative and financial framework.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was part of a broader shift in France towards constitutionality and popular sovereignty during the French Revolution. The French Constitution of 1791, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy, was the first written constitution in France. It established the National Assembly, the king and royal ministers as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, respectively. The constitution also distinguished between "active citizens" with political rights and "passive citizens" with only civil rights.
In addition to the French Constitution of 1791, there was also the Constitutional Act of 1791, which was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain. This act divided the Province of Quebec into Lower Canada and Upper Canada, each with its own parliament and government. It also included provisions related to clergy reserves and the rights of English and French speakers in the region.
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The Constitution of 1791 established the legal presence of the National Assembly in the French government
The Constitution of 1791, also known as 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 was the product of long negotiations and was reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI in September 1791.
The National Assembly, the legislative body, played a crucial role in establishing its legal presence in the French government through this constitution. The Assembly's primary objective was to draft a constitution that embodied the ideals of the French Revolution, including constitutionality and popular sovereignty. The resulting document outlined the organization of the government, defined citizenship, and set limits on the powers of the government.
One of the key aspects of the National Assembly's work was addressing the role of the church. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, passed in 1790, was an attempt to reorganize the Roman Catholic Church in France and place it under state control. This caused significant controversy and led to a schism within the church. The National Assembly's policies included the abolition of feudal dues, the confiscation and sale of church lands, and the suppression of tithes.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy required all clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the state. However, many clerics refused, creating a divide between “juring” and “non-juring” priests. The former took the oath and were known as constitutional clergy, while the latter refused and were dubbed refractory priests. The pope's condemnation of the Civil Constitution further exacerbated the schism.
The National Assembly's presence in the French government was solidified through its role in drafting and implementing the Constitution of 1791, which established a new framework for the nation's governance and affirmed the Assembly's legislative power.
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Frequently asked questions
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution. It sought to give the French government complete control over the Catholic Church in France.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy brought about several changes, including:
- Reducing the number of bishops from 135 to 83.
- Making each diocese correspond to a département.
- Allowing enfranchised citizens to elect bishops and parish priests.
- Having the state pay the clergy's wages.
- Abolishing feudal dues.
- Confiscating and selling church lands.
- Suppressing tithes.
The response of the clergy to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was mixed. On 27 November 1790, the National Assembly required the clergy to sign an oath of loyalty to the Constitution. Many clerics refused to take the oath, with only about 60% of parish priests agreeing to it. Those who took the oath became known as 'juring priests' or 'constitutional clergy', while those who refused were called 'non-juring' or 'refractory priests'.
Pope Pius VI strongly condemned the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, claiming that it was against the beliefs of the Church and that it destroyed the "true" faith. He also threatened to suspend all clergy who took the oath of loyalty to the state.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy caused a schism within the French Church, dividing it into two groups: an illegal and underground French Catholic Church loyal to the Papacy, and a "constitutional church" that was subservient to the state. This schism was not fully resolved until 1801.
