Citizenship · France · 1791
The Revolution dismantled legal exclusion, making Jewish belonging a question of citizenship rather than royal tolerance.
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1791
Citizenship · A new promise of belonging
The Revolution dismantled legal exclusion, making Jewish belonging a question of citizenship rather than royal tolerance.
The Assembly calendar
During the Revolution, citizenship for Jews was debated and extended in stages. The Assembly recognized Jews of the southwest in January 1790, then extended the measure in September 1791. The promise of equality took arguments and decisions to become law; it did not happen everywhere at once.
The civic oath
The decree of 27 September 1791 removed earlier exclusions for Jews who met citizenship conditions and took the civic oath. This was belonging as an individual citizen within the nation. Inspect the condition as well as the promise: equality and ideas about national membership were being worked out together.
The open workshop
Emancipation removed legal restrictions on where Jews could live and which occupations they could enter. These were concrete changes to everyday opportunities. A law can open a door without changing every person’s opinion. Keep that distinction in mind when you later explore the Dreyfus Affair.