History question - Why France couldn't stay a constitutional monarchy?

MiniLuffy

I've got an essay to write for tomorrow on the following topic (or rather, based on the following question) - Why did France fail to keep its constitutional monarchy form of goverment?

If you couldn't tell, this is in relation with the event that occured on June 20, 1791 and the formation of the Republican opposition (I probably sound like a complete fool right now, I admit I'm no history wiz.).

If you could give me some reasons for why France couldn't last as a constitutional monarchy, in the form of a brief answer and using the simplest sentences possible, I would be much obliged.

Sakonosolo

I'm not a history buff or anything but from what I remember the King pretty much disregarded the constitution. Not sure about that date you gave, though. The Revolution was 1780s iirc. But I'd say that the King wasn't staying faithful to the constitution, leading up to the formation of that opposition you're talking about.

Might want to wait for Zephos to get here, though.

MiniLuffy

According to my textbook, on June 20, 1791, the royal family (Louis XVI) fled the Tuileries palace, with the idea of heading to the german border, but was caught in some town, recognized and arrested, after which he was brought back to the capital city. And it says that this incident became the reason for the formation of the Republican opposition, who openly declared they want to remove the monarchy…

Might want to wait for Zephos to get here, though.

lol, but he hates me.

Kaiolino

The French absolutists kings opressed the people for centuries and the people were fed up with it. Revolution begins and the people demand Louis' head. I'm pretty sure the demand for the removal of the monarchy has always been there though, not just after the arrest/execution of Louis.

Silverblade

If I recall this correctly, France adopted its first constitution in the autumn of 1791 and became a constitutional monarchy - only to be known as such until the summer of 1792. Therefore, if you must adress this point, you should probably be concerned with Legislative Assembly's failed attept to enact it reforms and govern the state.

JERK DISEASE

Well you can call yourself whatever you want but results are results.
A Constitutional Monarchy France couldn't give the people what they needed, and it was too little too late.

In fact it's very similar to what just happened in Tunisia.

You have this autocratic state with a downtrodden people, and as resistance and discontent intensifies, a formerly staunchly iron faced government panics and tried to concede some ground to sate the people.
But the momentum of everything is too much, and a little panicked attempt at reform is not going to stand in the way of a revolution.

MiniLuffy

Thank you for the help, I guess what I asked for isn't as complicated as I had imagined. After digging through my textbook, I found out the main reasons for France's "constitutional monarchy disaster":

1.) The people (or to be more precise, the third estate; 96% of France's population at the time) weren't happy with the fact that they couldn't get land.
2.) The constitution in 1791 divided the frenchmen into "active" (those who pay bills and have a right to vote) and "passive" (without a right to vote), which went against the principles of equality, the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" etc.

There are also some less signficant reasons, like the first estate's (the clergy) hypocrisy regarding the revolution, which caused a "viewpoint change" in many people. But regardless, Louis XVI's failed attempt to restore the absolute monarchy was just the icing on the shitcake and we all know what followed after that.