The period between the summer of 1790 and the convening of the Legislative Assembly in October 1791 marks a transitional phase of the French Revolution, during which the constitutional monarchy was solidified and then dismantled, and a series of political, social, and institutional reforms were enacted.
Key Developments (Summer 1790 – October 1791)
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| July 1790 | Civil Constitution of the Clergy adopted by the National Constituent Assembly (NCA). | Reorganized the Catholic Church in France, placing it under state control, requiring clergy to swear allegiance to the nation. It generated deep division between juring (constitutional) and non‑juring (refractory) priests. |
| August 1790 | Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen incorporated into the new constitutional framework. | Reinforced principles of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty, serving as a foundation for subsequent legislation. |
| September 1790 | Women's March on Versailles (also known as the October 5‑6 “October Days”). | Demonstrated popular unrest; the royal family was forced to move from Versailles to Paris, placing Louis XVI under the watch of the Parisian populace. |
| February 1791 | The Champ de Mars Massacre (July 17). | National Guard troops fired on demonstrators demanding the abolition of the monarchy, resulting in dozens of deaths and intensifying political polarization. |
| June 1791 | Flight to Varennes (June 20‑21). | Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee Paris but were captured, severely damaging the king’s credibility and accelerating republican sentiment. |
| July 1791 | Declaration of the French Constitution of 1791 (June 3). | Established a constitutional monarchy with a separation of powers; created a Legislative Assembly to replace the NCA. The constitution limited the king’s authority to a veto and required ministers to be responsible to the legislature. |
| September 1791 | Dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly (September 30). | The NCA formally ended its work, passing remaining reforms to the newly elected Legislative Assembly. |
| October 1 1791 | First meeting of the Legislative Assembly. | Marked the official start of a new parliamentary period; the Assembly inherited ongoing crises (financial, foreign, and internal). |
Institutional Changes
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From National Constituent Assembly to Legislative Assembly
- The NCA, originally convened in 1789 to draft a constitution, transitioned to a body focused on legislative duties after the constitution’s adoption.
- The Legislative Assembly comprised 745 deputies elected by active citizens (male property owners meeting the tax qualification). It operated under a constitutional monarchy framework but faced increasing radical pressures.
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Constitutional Monarchy
- The 1791 Constitution sought to balance royal authority with legislative power. The king retained executive functions but could be overridden by the Assembly through a veto and legislative supremacy.
- The establishment of ministries independent of the king’s personal household reflected the shift toward bureaucratic governance.
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Secularization and Reforms
- The Civil Constitution of the Clergy reorganized dioceses to align with the administrative départements, introduced state salaries for clergy, and mandated a loyalty oath.
- Legislative actions addressed feudal remnants, abolished noble privileges, and began systematic rationalization of the legal and tax systems.
Political Climate
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Moderate vs. Radical Forces
The period witnessed tensions between the Feuillants (moderate constitutional monarchists), the Jacobins (radical republicans), and the Girondins (liberal republicans). Debates centered on the extent of the king’s power, the pace of reforms, and the handling of foreign threats (particularly the War of the First Coalition that would begin in 1792). -
Public Opinion and Popular Mobilization
Popular societies (e.g., the Club des Jacobins, Société des Amis de la Constitution) and the press played an increasing role in shaping political discourse. Demonstrations, petitions, and the circulation of pamphlets intensified public engagement with revolutionary politics.
International Context
- Diplomatic Tensions
The revolution’s radical reforms, especially the attack on the clergy and the king’s attempted flight, alarmed neighboring monarchies. Diplomatic relations deteriorated, leading to the formation of coalitions that would later precipitate the Revolutionary Wars (beginning in 1792).
Conclusion
The summer of 1790 through the establishment of the Legislative Assembly in October 1791 represents a pivotal phase in the French Revolution. It encompassed the codification of revolutionary ideals into a constitutional framework, the redefinition of the relationship between the monarchy, the state, and the citizenry, and the emergence of political factions that would shape the ensuing revolutionary trajectory.
