Malcolm Rivera
King Louis XVI was forced to accept the National Assembly's constitution on 3 September 1791, marking a significant turning point in the French Revolution. The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate, had become the effective government and constitution drafter of France following the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1791. The Assembly's constitution transformed the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy, with the king reluctantly accepting his new role. Despite his initial acceptance, Louis XVI continued to resist the Assembly's demands, leading to repeated conflicts and ultimately, the end of his reign.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date King Louis XVI accepted the constitution | 3 September 1791 or 14-25 September 1791 |
| Governing body | National Assembly |
| Type of government | Constitutional monarchy |
| Previous type of government | Absolute monarchy |
| King's role | Constitutional monarch |
| King's ability to veto legislation | Yes |
| King's popularity after accepting the constitution | Increased |
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolution
On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate, consisting of the common people, declared themselves to be the National Assembly, an assembly not of the estates but of the people. They invited the clergy (First Estate) and the nobility (Second Estate) to join them but made it clear that they intended to govern with or without them. On June 20, King Louis XVI ordered the hall where the National Assembly met to be closed, but the Assembly simply moved to a nearby tennis court, where they took the Tennis Court Oath, agreeing to not separate until they had settled the constitution of France. This was a pivotal event in the early days of the French Revolution, as it signified that French citizens formally stood in opposition to the king.
Louis XVI was forced to accept the authority of the National Assembly, signing the death warrant of ancient French feudalism. Despite privately believing that the revolution would soon burn out and the monarchy would be restored, he publicly accepted his new role as a constitutional monarch. On September 3, 1791, the National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thereby turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. The Constitution of 1791 abolished the nobility of France and declared all men to be equal before the law. However, Louis XVI retained the power to veto legislation that he did not approve of, as legislation still required Royal Assent to come into force.
Louis XVI's popularity surged after he publicly accepted the Constitution, especially after he visited Paris instead of remaining isolated in his palace at Versailles. He was even called a "restorer of French liberty". However, he soon began to resist the National Assembly's demands. On June 21, 1791, Louis and his family attempted to escape to Austria, but they were caught and brought back to Paris. This incident undermined Louis' credibility as a constitutional monarch and turned popular opinion further against him. Louis encouraged the National Assembly to go to war with Austria, thinking that the French revolutionary armies would be quickly defeated and his authority would be restored. War broke out in April 1792, and on August 10, 1792, the Tuileries Palace was stormed. The Legislative Assembly suspended the constitutional monarchy, and on September 21, 1792, the National Convention abolished the monarchy, ending 203 years of Bourbon rule over France.
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The National Assembly
On September 3, 1791, King Louis XVI was forced to accept the National Assembly's Constitution of 1791, thereby transforming the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. This event marked a significant shift in the political landscape of France during the French Revolution, which spanned from 1789 to 1799.
On June 20, 1789, the members of the National Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to separate until they established a constitution for France. This oath was both a revolutionary act and an assertion of political authority derived from the people and their representatives. The National Assembly renamed itself the National Constituent Assembly on July 9 and began functioning as a governing body and constitution drafter.
Following the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, the National Assembly became the effective government of France. They ruled until the passing of the 1791 Constitution, which established the Kingdom of the French and instituted sweeping changes. It abolished the nobility, declared all men equal before the law, and guaranteed the rights of citizens, including freedom from arbitrary arrest and protection of religious views.
However, King Louis XVI initially resisted the National Assembly's demands and attempted to sabotage their efforts. He reluctantly declared war on Austria in April 1792, bowing to the Assembly's wishes. Despite his acceptance of the Constitution in 1791, he continued to veto decrees and refused to commit to a new constitution. On August 10, 1792, the Tuileries Palace was stormed, and the Legislative Assembly suspended the constitutional monarchy. The National Convention, the legislative body of the First Republic, abolished the monarchy on September 21, 1792, bringing an end to the Bourbon monarchy that had ruled France for over two centuries.
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King Louis XVI's failed attempts to sabotage the Assembly
King Louis XVI's reign is associated with the French Revolution and the end of the royal era in Versailles. The French Revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799, saw the republicans overthrow the Bourbon monarchy and the radical restructuring of the Catholic Church in France.
On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate, which consisted of the commoners, declared themselves redefined as the National Assembly, an assembly of the people. They invited the clergy and nobility to join them but made it clear that they intended to govern with or without them.
King Louis XVI attempted to resist this unification and keep the three estates separate. On June 20, he ordered the hall where the National Assembly met to be closed. However, the National Assembly simply moved their deliberations to a nearby tennis court, where they took the Tennis Court Oath, agreeing to not separate until they had settled the constitution of France.
The king's attempts to sabotage the Assembly and maintain control ultimately failed, and the Estates-General ceased to exist, becoming the National Assembly. The National Assembly, also known as the National Constituent Assembly, became the effective government and constitution drafter of France, ruling until the passing of the 1791 Constitution, which established a constitutional monarchy.
Despite his initial resistance, King Louis XVI eventually accepted the constitution. From September 14 to 25, 1791, he publicly appeared ready to accept his new role as a constitutional monarch, although it is unlikely that he was satisfied with losing his absolute power. This acceptance followed a period of reluctance and failed attempts to maintain control, during which the king's incapacity to rule and indecisiveness contributed to the challenges of establishing a limited constitutional monarchy in France.
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The Constitution of 1791
The French Revolution marked a significant shift in the country's social and political landscape, with the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy and the restructuring of the Catholic Church. The revolution began with the National Assembly, which was established by the Third Estate, comprising commoners who declared themselves an assembly of the people. On June 20, 1789, the members of the National Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to remain united until a constitution was established. This act signified the first formal opposition to King Louis XVI and forced him to make concessions.
The National Assembly, also known as the National Constituent Assembly, became the effective government and constitution drafter following the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. They worked to draft a constitution that would institute a liberal constitutional monarchy. However, King Louis XVI initially resisted their efforts and attempted to sabotage the Assembly. He even tried to escape to Austria with his family on June 21, 1791, but they were captured and brought back to Paris.
On September 3, 1791, King Louis XVI was forced to accept the Constitution of 1791. This constitution was revolutionary in its content, abolishing the nobility of France and declaring all men equal before the law. It established a constitutional monarchy, where the king still held the power to veto legislation. Despite his public acceptance of the constitution, Louis XVI continued to resist the National Assembly's demands and encouraged them to go to war with Austria, believing that the French armies would be defeated and his authority restored.
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King Louis XVI's acceptance speech
On 3 September 1791, King Louis XVI was forced to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thereby transforming the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.
In a speech, the king expressed his reluctance to accept the constitution, acknowledging the difficulty of governing a large nation under such a system. He believed that his opposition would have prevented the people from properly evaluating the Constitution and that his acceptance would lead to a better order. Louis XVI also recognised the will of the nation for the Rights of Man and chose to join his will to the principles of the Constitution.
The king's acceptance of the constitution was a significant moment in the French Revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799. During this period, the republicans overthrew the Bourbon monarchy and the Catholic Church in France underwent a radical restructuring.
Despite his public acceptance of the constitution, Louis XVI continued to resist the National Assembly's demands. He encouraged the Assembly to go to war with Austria, believing that the French revolutionary armies would be defeated and his authority restored. However, his actions further turned popular opinion against him and ultimately led to the declaration of the First French Republic and the abolition of the monarchy on 22 September 1792.
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Frequently asked questions
King Louis XVI accepted the National Assembly's constitution on 3 September 1791.
The National Assembly was formed by the Third Estate, who declared themselves to be an assembly of the people, inviting the other orders to join them.
The oath signified that French citizens formally stood in opposition to King Louis XVI, and their refusal to back down forced the king to make concessions.
The National Assembly's constitution, also known as the Constitution of 1791, abolished the nobility of France and declared all men to be equal before the law. It turned the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.
King Louis XVI accepted the constitution to avoid war and to allow the people to properly assess the Constitution.
