Discuss the social and economic impact of the French
Revolution
1. Social Church
Civil Constitution of the Clergy 1790 gave the French government
control over the Church
o Clergy was dependent on the government for their salary
o Tithes and other financial privileges for the clergy were
abolished
o Hierarchy of the Church changed to forbid pluralism
o Transformed the Church into a branch of the State
o Civil rights and toleration were granted to Protestants which
was highly unpopular
Problems with changes to the Church:
o Clerical oath deeply divided Catholics and left a legacy of
church-state conflict
o Just over 1/2 of clergy swore the oath who became known as
jurors, those who refused to became to be known as refractory
priests
o They were associated with royalists and
counterrevolutionaries and had a particularly good following in
the strongly Catholic parts of France such as the west and
south
o Although they had the support of the Pope, they were seen as
enemies of the Revolution and as the revolution grew more
radical, were targeted for their refusal to swear the oath
Over 200 killed in September Massacres in 1792 and over 900
became official victims of the Terror
Anti-Church policies affected the poor
o Church could no longer pay for aid for the poor to be cared for
in Church hospitals
o Revolutionary governments always short of money and
nothing was done
o 1847 number of hospitals in France was 42% lower than in
1789 but population was 7 million higher
o Poor were unable to cope with the economic crisis of 1794-5
and many died from starvation and disease
o In Rouen the mortality rate doubled in 1795 and trebled in
1796
2. Social end to feudalism
July 1789 - National Assembly work to consolidate position in
government
, o Gradual removal of feudalism and the establishment of a
constitutional monarchy
o Meeting on 4th August 1789 concluded with far reaching
social and political pledges from the upper class
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen confirmed the end
of feudal privileges and laid the foundation for the establishment of
a constitutional monarchy
Constitution established a system of indirect elections
o 2/3 of adult males could vote which was hugely progressive
from the old regime
o Political power was still kept in the hands of the middle class
rather than being turned over to the peasants and urban
workers, as only ‘active citizens’ could vote —> men over 25
that paid taxes amounting to 3 days labour
Political reform:
o France divided into 83 departments and 44,000 communes
o More power given to local governments in order to prevent a
royal takeover
Judicial reform
o Previous courts replaced by a uniform system
o Justices of the Peace in each canton
o Trial by jury
o Torture and mutilation abolished
o Justice free and equal for all
King had lost chance to restore order by force by October 1789
Great Fear saw loss of power of nobles
Privilege swept away in the August Decrees
October Days made the King and his family prisoners in Paris
o King’s royal veto only held power for 4 powers - it was clear he
would not share power
3. Social emergence of radical populace and violence
Violence in the streets of Paris out of control even for the National
Guards
o eg. October Days when Parisian crowds heard about the King
stamping on the Revolutionary flag
o Group of 7000 Parisian women marched to the palace of
Versailles - they were supported by around 20,000 troops from
the National Guard
o Forced Louis to approve the August Decrees and the new
Declaration
Division amongst revolutionaries was most clearly seen at the
demonstration at the Champs de Mars in July 1791
o Organised by the Cordeliers Club, it attracted 50,000 who
demanded the King be put on trial
o National Guard opened fire and killed 50 radical protesters
which caused the crowd to disperse
Revolution
1. Social Church
Civil Constitution of the Clergy 1790 gave the French government
control over the Church
o Clergy was dependent on the government for their salary
o Tithes and other financial privileges for the clergy were
abolished
o Hierarchy of the Church changed to forbid pluralism
o Transformed the Church into a branch of the State
o Civil rights and toleration were granted to Protestants which
was highly unpopular
Problems with changes to the Church:
o Clerical oath deeply divided Catholics and left a legacy of
church-state conflict
o Just over 1/2 of clergy swore the oath who became known as
jurors, those who refused to became to be known as refractory
priests
o They were associated with royalists and
counterrevolutionaries and had a particularly good following in
the strongly Catholic parts of France such as the west and
south
o Although they had the support of the Pope, they were seen as
enemies of the Revolution and as the revolution grew more
radical, were targeted for their refusal to swear the oath
Over 200 killed in September Massacres in 1792 and over 900
became official victims of the Terror
Anti-Church policies affected the poor
o Church could no longer pay for aid for the poor to be cared for
in Church hospitals
o Revolutionary governments always short of money and
nothing was done
o 1847 number of hospitals in France was 42% lower than in
1789 but population was 7 million higher
o Poor were unable to cope with the economic crisis of 1794-5
and many died from starvation and disease
o In Rouen the mortality rate doubled in 1795 and trebled in
1796
2. Social end to feudalism
July 1789 - National Assembly work to consolidate position in
government
, o Gradual removal of feudalism and the establishment of a
constitutional monarchy
o Meeting on 4th August 1789 concluded with far reaching
social and political pledges from the upper class
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen confirmed the end
of feudal privileges and laid the foundation for the establishment of
a constitutional monarchy
Constitution established a system of indirect elections
o 2/3 of adult males could vote which was hugely progressive
from the old regime
o Political power was still kept in the hands of the middle class
rather than being turned over to the peasants and urban
workers, as only ‘active citizens’ could vote —> men over 25
that paid taxes amounting to 3 days labour
Political reform:
o France divided into 83 departments and 44,000 communes
o More power given to local governments in order to prevent a
royal takeover
Judicial reform
o Previous courts replaced by a uniform system
o Justices of the Peace in each canton
o Trial by jury
o Torture and mutilation abolished
o Justice free and equal for all
King had lost chance to restore order by force by October 1789
Great Fear saw loss of power of nobles
Privilege swept away in the August Decrees
October Days made the King and his family prisoners in Paris
o King’s royal veto only held power for 4 powers - it was clear he
would not share power
3. Social emergence of radical populace and violence
Violence in the streets of Paris out of control even for the National
Guards
o eg. October Days when Parisian crowds heard about the King
stamping on the Revolutionary flag
o Group of 7000 Parisian women marched to the palace of
Versailles - they were supported by around 20,000 troops from
the National Guard
o Forced Louis to approve the August Decrees and the new
Declaration
Division amongst revolutionaries was most clearly seen at the
demonstration at the Champs de Mars in July 1791
o Organised by the Cordeliers Club, it attracted 50,000 who
demanded the King be put on trial
o National Guard opened fire and killed 50 radical protesters
which caused the crowd to disperse
