A New French Government Is Created

After passing a new reforms, and forcing the king of France to accept them, the National Assembly began the process of setting up a new government, including writing a constitution.

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By 1791 this constitution was ready. It kept the monarchy, but limited its royal powers. It also established a legislature, which would be elected by the people. This new constitution granted equal rights to all men, who could vote, so long as they paid a tax.

In order to pay off the national debts which had been accumulated by earlier kings, they confiscated the lands owned by the Catholic Church, and sold them. They demanded that Catholic priests take an oath of loyalty to the French government, and that priests be elected by local parishes, and not appointed by the Church. These actions angered Pope Pius VI, and caused him to condemn the revolution.