French Revolution notes Part -4
The French Constitution
The constitution began with the declaration of rights of man and citizens.
Some fundamental rights given in this constitution which were considered natural rights of the citizens.
- Right to life.
- Freedom of expression and opinion
- Equally before law
According to this citizens were divided into two types.
a) Active citizen
. citizens who had been given the right to vote.
.above 25 years of age.
. People who could pay tax equal to 3 days wages of labourer.
b) Passive citizens
.not given the right to vote.
.below 25 years.
.woman (no voting rights).
*power was divided between legislative, executive and judiciary.
King did a secret treaty with the king of Russia and Austria. Those kings were also worried of the development in the revolution in France.
But,in April 1792 National Assembly voted to declare war against Prussia and Austria.They considered the war as people against monarchy in all over Europe.
Thousands of volunteers took part in the war. They sang a patriotic song Marseilles, Marseillaise is now the National Anthem of France.
A lot of people were in the support of the war because a large section of the third estate who were not from high-tax payers were denied the right to vote.
So shoemakers, watchmaker, small peasants,labours etc who were denied the right to vote formed a political party known as Jacobin club. Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
Activities
in the summer of 1792, they attacked the palace of king, killed the guards and made king hostage.
France abolishes monarchy
New election-A new election was helled, this time everyone above 21 years got the right to vote regardless of wealth, the new government was called convention.
The king and queen were sentence to death, this is how France became a Republic.
The reign of terror (1793-94)
The reign of Maximillian Robespierre is known as the reign of terror because he punished the Clergy, Nobles, even member of his party who disagreed with him.
Guillotine, a device, named after inventor Dr. Guillotin, was used to behead a person at that time. It consists of two poles and a blade. Guilty persons were beheaded using guillotine.
Peasants were forced to sell their grains on fixed price in cities. Citizens were forced to eat equality bread, white flour which was costlier was forbidden.
He closed the church and corvereted them into barrack.
He was ruling so mercilessly that even people from his political party were fed up with him.
Finally, Robespierre was arrested and guillotined in July 1794. Reign of Terror ended with the end of Robespierre.
A Directory Rules France
After the fall of Jacobins the power was again seized by wealthier middle class.
In this rule Non propertied section of the society had no right to vote.
Two elected legislative councils would run the government.
Two elected legislative councils would appoint an executive committee of five members, called Directory which would finally run the government.
These new provisions were brought to prevent the concentration of power in one person.
The fight between Directory and member of councils led to political instability, which opened the door of military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte became the emperor of France in 1804.
){kind=link}
0 Comments