The French Constitution of 1791 was the second written Constitution of France. It was an important result of the French Revolutionand adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen as its introduction.

This Constitution meant the creation of a French constitutional monarchy. The main controversy was the level of power to be granted to the King of France in such a system. After very long negotiations, the long expected first Constitution was brought in September of 1791.

Although it helped make the Constitutional Monarchy, the King fled to Varennes due to the radicalism of Jacobins.

The principle of Separation of powers was the basis for the Constitution. The National Convention was the legislative body, the King and the Ministers made up the executive branch and the judicial branch was independent from the other two. However, the French Revolution still continued after this document was signed.

The constitution attempted to establish aliberal bourgeois constitutional monarchy, but this did not work out. On 10 August 1792 the monarchy of France ended...

The Constitution of 1791 was a document that established a constitutional monarchy in France during the French Revolution. It was implemented on September 3, 1791, and was the first written constitution in French history. The constitution had several key features that changed the political landscape of France.

Features of the Constitution of 1791

1. Division of powers: The constitution established a separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. This division of powers was intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

2. Limited monarchy: The king was granted limited powers under the constitution. He was still the head of state, but his powers were limited by the legislature. The king had the power to veto legislation, but the legislature could override his veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

3. Property rights: The constitution protected property rights and allowed for the free exchange of goods and services. It also abolished feudalism and the privileges of the nobility.

4. Religious freedom: The constitution granted religious freedom to all citizens, but it also established the Catholic Church as the state religion.

5. Voting rights: The constitution limited voting rights to men who owned property. This left out a large portion of the population, including women and the poor.

Impact of the Constitution of 1791

The Constitution of 1791 marked a significant shift in the political system of France. It established a constitutional monarchy and limited the power of the king. However, it also had its limitations, such as the limited voting rights and the establishment of the Catholic Church as the state religion.

The constitution was also met with opposition from both the left and right-wing factions in France. The left-wing opposed the limited voting rights, while the right-wing opposed the limitations on the power of the king.

In conclusion, the Constitution of 1791 was a landmark document in French history that established a constitutional monarchy and limited the power of the king. However, it also had its limitations and faced opposition from both sides of the political spectrum.