Malcolm Rivera
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was the second constitution ratified during the French Revolution under the First Republic. It was designed by the Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just, and was intended to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791. The new constitution promised a significant departure from the relatively moderate goals of the Revolution in previous years, with sweeping plans for democratization and wealth redistribution. It proclaimed the superiority of popular sovereignty over national sovereignty and added several new economic and social rights, including the right of association, the right to work, and public assistance. The Constitution of 1793 was overwhelmingly popular, but its radical provisions were never implemented due to the need to employ emergency war powers during the French Revolutionary War.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791 and the Girondin constitutional project |
| Drafted by | Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just |
| Date of submission | 10 June 1793 |
| Date of acceptance | 24 June 1793 |
| Voting method | Universal male suffrage |
| Number of votes received | 1,784,377 |
| Number of new economic and social rights added | 4 (right of association, right to work and public assistance, right to public education, right of rebellion) |
| Who is admitted to exercise the rights of French citizenship | Every man born and domiciled in France, aged 21 or above; every foreigner, aged 21 or above, who has lived in France for a year, earns a living, acquires property, marries a French woman, adopts a child, supports an elderly person, or is considered by the legislative body to be deserving of humane treatment |
| Circumstances under which the exercise of the rights of citizenship is lost | Naturalization in a foreign country, acceptance of offices or favors from a non-people's government, sentencing with punishments that are dishonorable or strip the party of civil rights |
| Circumstances under which the exercise of the rights of citizenship is suspended | Status of indictment, sentencing in absentia |
| Military power | Consists of the whole people; a paid land and marine force is maintained in times of peace |
| Foreign policy | Does not interfere with the affairs of other nations and does not suffer interference from them; does not make peace with an enemy occupying its territory; serves as a refuge for those banished from their native country due to liberty |
| Equality | Guaranteed to all Frenchmen, along with liberty, security, property, public debt, free exercise of religion, general instruction, public assistance, absolute liberty of the press, the right of petition, the right to hold popular assemblies, and the enjoyment of all the rights of man |
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What You'll Learn
- It replaced the constitutional monarchy of 1791
- It guaranteed rights to equality, liberty, security, property, and freedom of worship
- It expanded upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789
- It outlined the rights of French citizens and the conditions for citizenship
- It provided a model framework for an egalitarian, democratic republic
It replaced the constitutional monarchy of 1791
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was designed to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791. The 1791 constitution was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was based on the principles of constitutional monarchy and intended to redefine the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of the government's power.
The 1793 Constitution was drafted by Louis Saint-Just and other deputies following the insurrection and fall of the Girondins. It was intended to supersede the 1791 Constitution, which had become obsolete after the execution of King Louis XVI. The new constitution was designed by the Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just, and included sweeping plans for democratisation and wealth redistribution. It expanded upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, adding several new rights, including the right of association, the right to work, and the right to public assistance.
The 1793 Constitution also provided for universal manhood suffrage, with no property requirements for voting or holding office at national or municipal levels. It emphasised the equal application of the law to all citizens and reiterated the inviolability of personal property. The document guaranteed all Frenchmen equality, liberty, security, property, public debt, freedom of worship, public schooling, public relief, unrestricted freedom of the press, the right to assemble in groups, and the enjoyment of all the rights of man.
The 1793 Constitution was overwhelmingly popular, and its drafting and ratification buoyed popular support for the Montagnards. However, it was never implemented, as the government placed a moratorium on it due to the need to employ emergency war powers during the French Revolutionary War. The Convention suspended constitutional rule in October 1793, declaring a "Revolutionary Government" until a future peace.
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It guaranteed rights to equality, liberty, security, property, and freedom of worship
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was the second constitution ratified for use during the French Revolution under the First Republic. It was designed by the Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just, and intended to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791 and the Girondin constitutional project. The Constitution expanded upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, adding several rights, including equality, liberty, security, property, and freedom of worship.
The Constitution of 1793 proclaimed the superiority of popular sovereignty over national sovereignty. It guaranteed all Frenchmen equality, liberty, security, property, and the free exercise of religion. It also included the right to public education, public assistance, and absolute liberty of the press. The right to equality was also extended to foreigners, who could be considered citizens if they were over 21, had lived in France for a year, lived off their labour, or were deemed by the legislative body to be deserving of humane treatment.
The Constitution of 1793 also introduced universal manhood suffrage, with no property requirements for voting or holding office at national or municipal levels. It emphasized the equal application of the law to all citizens and reiterated the inviolability of personal property. The government was also required to ensure a "right to subsistence".
The Constitution's radical provisions were never implemented, and the government placed a moratorium on it, citing the need to employ emergency war powers during the French Revolutionary War. The Committee of Public Safety used these emergency powers to conduct the Reign of Terror, which culminated in the disgrace and execution of Robespierre and Saint-Just in 1794.
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It expanded upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was the second constitution ratified for use during the French Revolution under the First Republic. It was designed by the Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just, and intended to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791. The 1793 Constitution expanded upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, adding several rights and spelling out the conditions for French citizenship.
The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which preceded the first Constitution of the French Revolution in 1791, offered sweeping generalizations about rights, liberty, and sovereignty. It was ratified on 5 October 1789 by King Louis XVI under pressure from the Assembly and the people. The 1793 Constitution added to this by proclaiming the superiority of popular sovereignty over national sovereignty. It also added several new economic and social rights, including the right of association, the right to work and public assistance, the right to public education, and the right of rebellion (and the duty to rebel when the government violates the rights of the people).
Sections 1 through 6 of the 1793 Constitution spelled out exactly who should be treated as a French Citizen and under what conditions citizenship could be revoked. All males over the age of 21 who worked, owned land or other property in France, lived in France for over a year, or had family ties to a French person, or those specifically named by the legislative body, would be considered citizens. This was a notable expansion of the 1791 Constitution, which had restricted citizenship to men over the age of 25 who paid direct taxes equal to three days' labour.
The 1793 Constitution also reiterated the inviolability of personal property, while also requiring the government to ensure a "right to subsistence". It guaranteed all Frenchmen equality, liberty, security, property, public debt, freedom of worship, public schooling, public relief, unrestricted freedom of the press, the right to assemble in groups, and the enjoyment of all the rights of man.
The 1793 Constitution was overwhelmingly popular, and its drafting and ratification buoyed popular support for the Montagnards. However, it was never implemented, and the government placed a moratorium on it, ostensibly due to the need to employ emergency war powers during the French Revolutionary War.
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It outlined the rights of French citizens and the conditions for citizenship
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was the second constitution ratified during the French Revolution under the First Republic. It was designed by the Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just, and was intended to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791 and the Girondin constitutional project. The Constitution of 1793 made significant additions to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, outlining the rights of French citizens and the conditions for citizenship.
The Constitution of 1793 proclaimed the superiority of popular sovereignty over national sovereignty, a significant departure from the principles of constitutional monarchy that had previously been in place. It added several new economic and social rights, including the right of association, the right to work and public assistance, the right to public education, and the right of rebellion against a government that violates the rights of the people. These rights were guaranteed to all French citizens, regardless of social status or property ownership.
Sections 1 through 6 of the Constitution of 1793 spelled out exactly who should be considered a French citizen and the conditions under which citizenship could be obtained or revoked. According to these sections, all males over the age of 21 who worked, owned land or other property in France, or had lived in the country for at least a year were considered citizens. Foreigners who married a French woman, adopted a child, supported an elderly person, or were deemed by the legislative body to be deserving of humane treatment were also granted citizenship.
The Constitution of 1793 also introduced universal manhood suffrage, meaning that all male citizens, regardless of their property ownership, were granted the right to vote and hold office at the national and municipal levels. This was a significant expansion of political rights and represented a commitment to political democracy. The Constitution also emphasized the equal application of the law to all citizens, reiterating the inviolability of personal property while also ensuring a "right to subsistence" for all.
Overall, the French Constitution of 1793 represented a significant shift towards democracy and egalitarianism, providing a model framework for a democratic republic. However, due to the ongoing French Revolutionary War, the Convention suspended the Constitution in October 1793, opting for a "Revolutionary Government" until peace was achieved.
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It provided a model framework for an egalitarian, democratic republic
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was designed by the Montagnards, principally Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Saint-Just. It was intended to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791 and the Girondin constitutional project. The new constitution promised a significant departure from the relatively moderate goals of the French Revolution in previous years, with sweeping plans for democratization and wealth redistribution.
The Constitution of 1793 provided a model framework for an egalitarian, democratic republic. Firstly, it introduced universal manhood suffrage, with no property requirements for voting or holding office at national or municipal levels. This was a notable commitment to political democracy, as it meant that all male citizens could vote and hold office, regardless of their wealth or social status.
Secondly, the Constitution of 1793 emphasized the equal application of the law to all citizens. This meant that all citizens, regardless of their social standing or privilege, would be treated equally under the law. This was a significant departure from the previous system, which had been based on the three estates of the Estates General, with different rights and privileges for each estate.
Thirdly, the Constitution of 1793 guaranteed certain rights to all Frenchmen, including equality, liberty, security, property, public debt, freedom of worship, public schooling, public relief, unrestricted freedom of the press, the right to assemble in groups, and the enjoyment of all the rights of man. These guarantees built upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, which had been a preamble to the first Constitution of the French Revolution in 1791.
Finally, the Constitution of 1793 provided for a system of popular sovereignty, with the French people divided into primary assemblies according to cantons for the purpose of exercising their sovereignty. This represented a fundamental shift in political priorities, contributing much to later democratic institutions and developments.
While the Constitution of 1793 was never fully implemented due to the ongoing war and the need for emergency war powers, it nevertheless served as an important model for an egalitarian and democratic republic, inspiring revolutionaries and influencing the ideology of the Third Republic.
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Frequently asked questions
The French Constitution of 1793, also known as the Montagnard Constitution, was the second constitution ratified for use during the French Revolution under the First Republic. It was designed to replace the constitutional monarchy of 1791 and the Girondin constitutional project.
The French Constitution of 1793 promised a significant departure from the relatively moderate goals of the previous years of the French Revolution. It included sweeping plans for democratization and wealth redistribution. It also expanded upon the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789, proclaiming the superiority of popular sovereignty over national sovereignty.
The Constitution of 1793 guaranteed all Frenchmen equality, liberty, security, property, public debt, freedom of worship, public schooling, public relief, unrestricted freedom of the press, the right to assemble in groups, and the enjoyment of all the rights of man. It also guaranteed the right to work, the right of association, and the right of rebellion against an oppressive government.
No, the radical provisions of the French Constitution of 1793 were never implemented. The Convention set it aside indefinitely on 10 October 1793, declaring a "Revolutionary Government" until future peace could be achieved. The government instead employed emergency war powers during the French Revolutionary War, enabling the Committee of Public Safety to conduct the Reign of Terror.
