To what extent did the Civil Constitutional of the Clergy mark a turning point in the support of the

revolution (25)

"A" Level History Paper 1 Questions and Answers by F. Nyabando (0773709211)

How, and with what results did the Civil Constitution of the Clergy constitute a turning point in the
support base of the revolutionaries?

The question requires an assessment of the ways and the effects of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
on the support base of the revolutionaries.

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed by the revolutionary government in 1790 with the aim of
reducing the power and influence of the Church. It also aimed at subordinating the Church to the State.
The revolutionary government sought to achieve these aims by taking over the responsibility of paying
the clergy's salaries. Bishops would now be elected by the public rather than the Pope. It was decided
that the Clergy take an oath of loyalty to the government. The Civil Constitution weakened the support
base of the revolutionaries as it alienated the Catholic constituency that had been sympathetic all along.
It had a lasting impact in splitting France and it gave the counter-revolutionaries a large base of support.
It narrowed the support the support base of the revolutionaries by antagonising the peasants and civil
war was the ultimate result. The peasants who constituted over 90 percent of French people, therefore
the Constitution drove a wedge among the revolutionaries. This is because of the peasants who
remained devout Catholics were ultimately influenced by the Pope and Clergy to reject the Civil
Constitution. They revolted in places such as La Vendee, Lyons, Marseille and Bordeaux. It also alienated
Louis XVI and increased conflict between the executive and legislative arms of the revolutionary
government. In 1790 the Pope rejected it and condemned it in very strong terms, influencing Catholic
countries such as Austria to oppose France's revolutionary but moderate government. Priests were
persecuted and aftermath of the failure of the Constitution. It alienated foreign sympathy for the
revolution, resulted in tension and ultimately contributed to the international war beginning in 1792.
The government was ultimately forced into the harsh, repressive measures of the so called Reign of
Terror. It has been demonstrated that the Civil Constitution certainly undermined the support base of
the revolutionaries.

NB: In a nutshell, the key issue is an assessment of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and show how it
affected the support base of the revolutionaries as it alienated the Catholic constituency that had been
sympathetic all along.
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