Civil constitution of the Clergy
The civil constitution of the clergy confiscated the church’s French landholdings or banned monastic vows. It completed the destruction of the monastic orders legislating out of existence. Church properties became state-owned and were used for revenue purposes.The legislation decreased the power of the Church. The Church had been the largest landowner in France. The state took over this fortune in property and issued a paper currency, assignants, backed by confiscated church property. Priests were now employed by the state. Clergymen were required to swear an oath to the new constitution. Many refused to swear the oath and were placed under arrestThe civil constitution of the clergy was the revolutionary government’s first problem while creating the new post revolutionary society. It divided the clergy and created enemies. The king needed to leave the country because of the doubts it created over the king’s support during the revolution.
The reasons for the need to enforce the Civil Constitution of the Clergy were based on the fact that the French government was facing bankruptcy and the churches owned over 15 percent of the French land.
Erika Chan #3
Dominique Cheng #4
The civil constitution of the clergy confiscated the church’s French landholdings or banned monastic vows. It completed the destruction of the monastic orders legislating out of existence. Church properties became state-owned and were used for revenue purposes.The legislation decreased the power of the Church. The Church had been the largest landowner in France. The state took over this fortune in property and issued a paper currency, assignants, backed by confiscated church property. Priests were now employed by the state. Clergymen were required to swear an oath to the new constitution. Many refused to swear the oath and were placed under arrestThe civil constitution of the clergy was the revolutionary government’s first problem while creating the new post revolutionary society. It divided the clergy and created enemies. The king needed to leave the country because of the doubts it created over the king’s support during the revolution.
The reasons for the need to enforce the Civil Constitution of the Clergy were based on the fact that the French government was facing bankruptcy and the churches owned over 15 percent of the French land.
Erika Chan #3
Dominique Cheng #4