Political Rights Granted by the Constitution of 1791 in France

The Constitution of 1791 was a significant document in the history of the French Revolution. It was the first written constitution of France, and it marked the beginning of a constitutional monarchy in the country. The Constitution of 1791 granted political rights to a particular section of French society. Let's discuss this in detail.

Background

The French Revolution began in 1789, and it was a period of significant social and political upheaval in France. The revolutionaries aimed to overthrow the monarchy and establish a democratic government based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The Constitution of 1791 was a result of this revolutionary movement.

Political Rights Granted

The Constitution of 1791 granted political rights to a particular section of French society. These rights were not universal and were restricted mainly to the wealthier sections of society. The following were the political rights granted by the Constitution of 1791:

1. Active Citizenship: Active citizenship was granted to men who were over 25 years old, paid taxes equal to at least three days of labor, and had resided in the same place for at least a year. This meant that only a small section of the population had the right to vote and participate in the political process.

2. Passive Citizenship: Passive citizenship was granted to all men who were over 25 years old and paid taxes. However, passive citizens could not vote or participate in the political process.

3. Freedom of Speech and Press: The Constitution of 1791 granted freedom of speech and press to all citizens. This was a significant step towards establishing a democratic government in France.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Constitution of 1791 granted political rights to a particular section of French society. These rights were not universal and were restricted mainly to the wealthier sections of society. However, the Constitution of 1791 was an essential step towards establishing a democratic government in France, and it laid the foundation for future political reforms in the country.

Third estate got the political rights from the constitution of 1791. Third estate comprises of commoners basically that were peasants, artisans, daily wage labourers , craftspersons , weavers,traders, merchants and moneylenders etc. middle class people were also there such as lawyers, doctors ,teachers and shopkeepers etc. They were the people who were forced to pay the taxes that were taille and tithe on the other hand, clergy and nobility that were the first and second estates were exempted from the paying of taxes.
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