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 constitution was ratified by King Louis XVI in September 1791, amending his title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. The document redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of the government, and was influenced by the doctrine of natural right and Enlightenment theories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the first constitution | 1791 |
| Date of adoption | 3 September 1791 |
| Date of ratification | 5 October 1791 |
| Date of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen | 26 August 1789 |
| Date of the Storming of the Bastille | 14 July 1789 |
| Date of the Tennis Court Oath | 20 June 1789 |
| Date of the abolition of feudalism | 4–5 August 1789 |
| Date of the August 10 Insurrection | 10 August, year unspecified |
| Date of the end of the monarchy | 22 September 1792 |
| King of France | Louis XVI |
| Type of government | Constitutional monarchy |
| Legislative body | National Assembly |
| Executive branch | King and royal ministers |
| Judiciary | Independent of the other two branches |
| Number of members of the Constitutional Committee | 12 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France
- The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and limits to the powers of government
- The National Assembly wanted to reorganise social structure and legalise itself
- The constitution was inspired by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, became the preamble of the constitution
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France
The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate (the common people) of the Estates-General, played a crucial role in drafting the constitution. On June 20, 1789, the National Assembly gathered in a Versailles tennis court, known as the Tennis Court Oath, and pledged to work tirelessly until France had a functioning constitution. This assembly, composed of moderates, aimed to improve the royal government rather than implement radical changes. The deputies of the Third Estate recognised the importance of a written constitution in outlining and guaranteeing any reforms to the French state.
A twelve-member Constitutional Committee was formed on July 14, 1789, to undertake the challenging task of drafting the constitution's articles. This committee included members from the First, Second, and Third Estates, reflecting a diverse range of perspectives. The committee faced several controversies, including the extent of the king's power and the form of the legislature. The issue of citizenship was also a complex matter, with debates around equal rights for all subjects of the French Crown.
The final constitution, adopted on September 3, 1791, redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers. It abolished institutions that were deemed detrimental to liberty and equality. The constitution established a constitutional monarchy, with the king's role revised to reflect his power derived from the people and the law rather than divine right. This constitution, though short-lived, represented a significant step towards a better form of royal government and the protection of citizens' rights in France.
The First Constitution: Naming the Foundation of Democracy
You may want to see also
The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and limits to the powers of government
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 constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of the powers of government.
The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate (the common people) of the Estates-General, was the legislative body. The king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, with the judiciary independent of the other two branches. The constitution amended King Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to the 'King of the French', implying that his power emanated from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty. The king retained the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers, but his veto powers were limited. The National Assembly asserted its legal presence in the French government by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections.
The constitution also redefined the concept of citizenship. A distinction was made between active citizens, who had political rights, and passive citizens, who did not. Active citizens were defined as those over the age of 25 who paid direct taxes equal to three days' labour. The Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and in equal representation was reflected in the constitutional separation of powers.
The French Constitution of 1791 was influenced by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems. It was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, a group of moderates who hoped to create a better form of royal government rather than something radically new. The deputies of the Third Estate believed that any reforms to the French state must be outlined in and guaranteed by a written constitution. This would become the fundamental law of the nation, defining and limiting the power of the government and protecting the rights of citizens. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, became the preamble to the constitution. It offered sweeping generalisations about rights, liberty, and sovereignty and inspired similar texts in several European and Latin American countries throughout the 19th century.
Georgia's First Constitution: Weaknesses and Limitations
You may want to see also
The National Assembly wanted to reorganise social structure and legalise itself
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, formed by the representatives of the Third Estate (commoners) of the Estates-General, was a driving force behind this. The Assembly renamed itself the National Constituent Assembly on 9 July 1789 and began to function as a governing body and a constitution-drafter.
The Assembly also wanted to redefine the French state and legalise itself by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections. The main controversies early on surrounded the issues of what level of power to grant to the king of France and what form the legislature would take. The Constitutional Committee proposed a bicameral legislature, but this was defeated in favour of a unicameral system. The next day, they proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was also defeated in favour of a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, passed by the National Constituent Assembly in August 1789, was a fundamental document of the French Revolution and in the history of human and civil rights. It was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke and sought to establish a social and political order based on equality before the law, freedom of speech, and representative government. The right to property was also declared inviolable and sacred. The Declaration served as a preamble to the first Constitution of the French Revolution, ratified by King Louis XVI in September 1791.
Founding Principles: Constitution's First Goal Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The constitution was inspired by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems
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 inspired by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems, including the American and British systems. The National Assembly, which drafted the constitution, was influenced by Enlightenment ideas such as popular sovereignty and the separation of powers. The Assembly wanted to redefine the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of the government.
Enlightenment writers such as Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau influenced politicians and heads of state worldwide. Rousseau's Social Contract of 1762, for instance, argued that all government rested on a social contract in which "the assembled people" (democracy) determined everything. He insisted on complete equality between men. Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws (1748) also developed a comparative political analysis of the conditions most favourable to liberty. The American Founding Fathers studied this work closely.
The Marquis de Lafayette proposed a combination of the American and British systems, introducing a bicameral parliament with the king having suspensive veto power over the legislature, modelled on the authority of the President of the United States at the time. The National Assembly considered various options, including modifying the existing unwritten constitution centred on the three estates of the Estates General or starting over with a completely new constitution. They ultimately chose the latter, abolishing the tricameral structure and establishing a unicameral legislature.
The French Constitution of 1791 was also influenced by the American Constitution, which embraced Enlightenment ideas such as popular sovereignty and the separation of powers. The French Assembly, however, remained committed to the idea of a constitutional monarchy, retaining the king but ensuring his executive power was subordinate to the law and the public good. They amended Louis XVI's title to 'King of the French', implying that his power emanated from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty.
The French Constitution of 1791 was a significant step towards constitutional government and Enlightenment ideals in France, inspired by foreign political systems and the theories of Enlightenment thinkers.
The First Western Constitution: A Written Legacy
You may want to see also
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, became the preamble of the constitution
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was driven by the principles of adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty. On August 26, 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted, becoming the preamble of the French Constitution of 1791. This declaration, approved by King Louis XVI on October 5, 1789, was a fundamental text that laid out sweeping generalizations about rights, liberty, and sovereignty. It served as a statement of principles, highlighting equality and providing an aspirational vision for the nation.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was the product of the National Assembly, which was formed by the members of the Third Estate of the Estates-General on June 17, 1789. These members, who were not from the nobility or clergy, declared themselves the National Assembly of France, alarming King Louis XVI. The King attempted to disband the assembly, but it persisted with the support of a significant number of clergy and nobility from the Estates-General. On June 27, the members of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath, swearing to remain united until they had drafted a constitution.
The National Assembly's primary objective was to draft a constitution, and they began by addressing the issue of human rights. On August 4, 1789, the assembly accepted a proposal to include a declaration of human rights at the beginning of the constitution. A committee was elected to merge various proposals, and a document with 19 articles was presented and discussed during parliamentary sessions from August 20 to 26. On August 26, Honoré Mirabeau read the final declaration, which was then adopted.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen included provisions that were considered radical at the time, influenced by the Enlightenment and the American Declaration of Independence. It asserted the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, emphasizing equality and liberty. It provided a foundation for a nation of free individuals protected equally by the law, guaranteeing rights such as the right to property and resistance against oppression.
The French Constitution of 1791, which the Declaration became a part of, was the first written constitution in France. It redefined the organization of the government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers. It abolished institutions that were deemed detrimental to liberty and equality and established a system of recurring elections. The constitution also outlined the separation of powers, with the National Assembly as the legislative body, the king and royal ministers as the executive branch, and an independent judiciary.
The US Constitution's First Sentence: A Powerful Statement
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first constitution of the French Revolution was started in 1791.
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. It redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and the limits to the powers of the government.
The French Revolution (1787-1799) was a violent and tumultuous period in French history. The revolution was caused by factors such as the social structure of the West, the exclusion of the bourgeoisie from political power, and the weakening of the feudal regime. The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate, wanted to draft a constitution that would serve as the fundamental law of the nation, defining and limiting the power of the government and protecting the rights of citizens. On 20 June 1789, the National Assembly pledged not to disband until France had a working constitution.
