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(16 cards)
How does France around 1750’s population like? Ex
In 1750s F was the most populous country in Eu. The French outnumbered other Europeans. A lot of population and it continues to increase. 22 million people live in Paris in 1750. By 1850s the population was at 36 million so the population is really going.
- this Large population, combined with the large geography size, and control entrance of western Eu -> ensure France become one of the great military power in Eu. In fact, F is so strong that other Eu powers (such as Britain) fear that it will dominate eu politically as it had culturally.
1750 France–economy. Ex
- Paris was the largest and the most populous city in France.
- F was very good in commerce in 18th century, but in 17th century was big on agriculture, 9 out of 10 people worked in agriculture. In keeping with the increased size of the population agriculture production had also been rising and will continue to do so into the 19th century.
- But, there was a down turn of agriculture: crop failure in every 10 years, which resulted in in hunger and even famine.
In 1780s, one of the famine led to the French Revolution. So agriculture is critical.
Social structure 1750 F
Social Structure:
- Based on agriculture.
- In 1750, French society was neither medieval nor modern but a mixture of economy and social systems.
- The nobility (aristocracy) dominates the society. Around 300,000 in 1750s; the peasantry numbered around 20 out of 26 million of total population. So they were the huge majority: only 1.15% was nobility, 77% was peasantry.
- In between these two groups are the professions: lawyers, workers in commerce, etc.
- The social classes in 18th century France were not closed feudal? [24] classes. The nobility was not sealed off. In fact, the wealth middle classes were increasingly get into the nobility. Many members of the upper bourgeoisie can buy titles and get into aristocracy, not just through inter-marriage.
- Not all of them were wealthy and powerful. Some of the nobility were poor, that not better than the peasants.
- Some of the nobility was very traditional and conservative, they anti-intellectual movement. Some of them become the main force of those movements. They are liberal and supportive for enlightenment.
- Land distribution: 25% for nobility (1.15%); 35% for peasants (77%); rest for others.
Public opinion 1750 F
Public opinion:
- 1750s, about 1/3 of the population could read.
Not only people from the nobility but the middle class like lawyers could read (the bourgeoisie)
- In the late 18th century people witnessed the great increase of newspapers and books, which made a lot more readings going on than before, and cause the spreading and generating of ideas and opinions.
- The modern idea of the public opinion emerges in this period, people started to judge and discuss political and social issues from now on.
How to 评价France 1750, according to its population, economy, social structure, and public opinion?
In 1750, France was well-populated, wealthy and increasing in its wealth, the increasing possibility of mobility in social classes, people become more educated. These are the pre-conditions to make France became more modern.
Yet, things were not entirely encouraging, F had some serious political problems.
What does Louis XIV 14’s absolute monarchy means? What does the old system look like?
“Absolute” monarchy: Louis XIV (1638-1715), Louis XV (1710-1774), Louis XVI (1754-1793)
- Politically, in 1750 France was ruled by monarchy. Since Louis XIV (14) die in 1715, absolute monarchy appeared.
- The definition of “Absolute” monarchy: a state built its power in a certain way. The power of king was never total.
- In medieval period, the political organization was de-centralize: a whole region governs by some powerful nobles. Towns often independent or semi-independent, they run themselves. Ex: they have walls and own army. The monarch was weak and even sometimes depend on the nobles.
- So monarch had wars between regional nobles, such as the war of roses.
- Now the regional nobles in Louis XIV (14) period let monarchy to rule them because they were defeated. So now the monarchy became absolute because it defeated various regional nobles.
What things did Louis XIV does to consolidate his absolutism?
So monarch had wars between regional nobles, such as the war of roses.
- Now the regional nobles in Louis XIV (14) period let monarchy to rule them because they were defeated. So now the monarchy became absolute because it defeated various regional nobles.
- Louis XIV (14) then consolidated his power through two institutions: 1. created a centralized erocracy [37]? And he sent these officers into the regions with his army in order to destroy these various regional authorities, which resulted a stronger the sense of state; 2. Created a large permanent army that was always ready to use.
This centralization under one power and “the standing army” create the “Absolute” monarchy.
· So no more regional nobles but one monarchy,
· The regional nobles that didn’t control by Louis XIV (14) become a reason of French revolution.
- At the same time, Louis also consolidated his power not only by defeating regional nobility inside, but also had wars with other Europe countries. This is a period of continuous wars.
What did Louis XIV does culturally?
- Louis XIV (14) also decided to create a new spectacle of culture that draw in the nobility into the hostile nobles that host…[39] by presenting himself with luxury and spectacles, people called Louis XIV (14) the sun king.
How to 评价 Louis XIV’s legacy?
The legacy that Louis XIV (14) left: absolute monarchy, permanent army, increasing centralized erocracy?, and new luxurious culture of spectacle that centered around their side.
But in the 18th century, the weakness of Louis XIV (14)’s system is also apparent. It is a system that failed apart once it created.
Why the “Old Regime” (1720-1789) is call old?
- The “Old Regime” (1720-1789): means France was tired in this period. It is “old” in a negative sense.
The basic recurring problem was the monarchy who led by Louis XIV 14 could afford their great system: the army, the erocracy?, the luxurious way of life, because of the limited tax base.
Explain the problem of Chronic financial problems, venal贪污的offices
The nobles were giving exemptions for taxes, so they paid little or no taxes.
- Most of the income for the crown came from the sell? of royal offices [44], which were called the venal offices. Ex: a government will rise money by selling the contract to collect taxes in certain regions. It would sell the private contractors the right to keep a large share of taxes that obtained. The tax collecting was called a venal office. This is how the state raised its money.
- the sources of revenue for the state were inefficient and inadequate, and the national debt rose hugely in the 17th century, by Louis XIV (14)’s cultural reforms, and left 18th to deal with it.
- there were many attempts took place to solve this problem, while both nobility and peasants refuse tax, thus refuse modernizing economy.
· the biggest social group and the most powerful social group refuse any modern reform for economy)
What happened after 7 Years War, 1756-1763?
after 1750, this bad situation became much worse, esp after the 7 Years War, when F defeated by E.
- F lost a lot in this war, but it did gain a huge increase in its national debt—it is a very expensive war.
- in 1771, Louis XV (15) finally decided to deal with this big problem by appointing Maupeou.
Talk about Maupeou
- in 1771, Louis XV (15) finally decided to deal with this big problem by appointing Maupeou.
Failure of Reform:
- Maupeou wanted to gain support by the nobility.
- 1771-74, Maupeou; parlements (the law court): they located in the most important regions in F, esp in Paris. The nobility had no power pass or change law, they could only register laws. If they refuse to register them, then the law cannot take effect.
· So it was parlements that refused any new reforms.
- So Maupeou decided to reform these law courts.
· Maupeou first force new taxation to fix French economy, which resulted intense political conflict between Maupeou and the parlements in the age of public opinion (ideas spreading throughout society), the public stands on parlements’ side.
In 1774, the new king Louis XVI (16) wants “what I should like most is to be loved” by his people so he fired Maupeou and appointed:
Talk about Turgot
1774-76 Turgot, who is a member of French enlightenment.
- He tried to reform the tax system, cut back the venal offices (which will only cost the state more money in the long run), and modernize the economy.
· He was one of the economic philosophers who wants to bring free trade in F.
- Essentially, he was challenging people who were upset by the reforms, both noble and peasants, even some of the middle classes.
- The result was not just resistance of the parlements, but also popular unrest in Paris.
· So widespread – broke out in countryside that the Government was going to lose control in the country. [52]
- So Turgot got fired in 1776, which mark the end of strict Absolute monarchy, of the monarchy tried to impose its will on the country.
评价 the value of reform
So Turgot got fired in 1776, which mark the end of strict Absolute monarchy, of the monarchy tried to impose its will on the country.
· The monarch realize that they have to give the nobility some political power that had not held in a very long time.
- This was the political struggle and economic crisis that is the background to the culture and the enlightenment of the 18th century.
- Now the monarchy is being forced to compromise to the nobility. Looks like the victory of nobility produces F revolution, which no one was prepared for.
· Louis XVI (16) who wants to be loved by his people would become the traitor of the F people.
What is cultural history? What does it influence by? When did it emerge?
Cultural History: In 1980 cultural history emerges. It is influenced by:
- Social history (daily life), intellectual history (ideas), anthropology, and Semiotics (the interpretation of signs or symbols: everything in a cultural is the symbol of sth, some kind. Ex: ads sell products through Semiotics符号学, esp sell through image to make people want it more).
- Social history + intellectual history + anthropology + Semiotics = Cultural History
