1789 Flashcards
(33 cards)
Expansion of the French Economy
Investments that start to focus on infrastructure. French goverment starts invests because privateers did not foresee immediate ROI
What caused the growth and development of the economy since the Renaissance?
The revival of population after its crash from the black plague. Driven by the expansion of trade, discovery of the new world, global colonial empires.
What is the population make up in the 18th Century?
80% are peasants and 15% are townspeople in the 18th century. London and Paris are the biggest.
What is the Dominate Theme on Equality?
By nature people are profoundly different and unequal. This is because God ordained it.
What are the 3 types of contributors to society?
Priests who pray
Nobleman who fight
Peasants who work for the society
What is the population make-up of this time? (by towns/rural)
80% are peasants and 15% are townspeople in the 18th century. London and Paris are the biggest.
What caused/was the religious fracturing in the Mid-18th?
The reformation broke apart the Catholic church. Change from ritualistic things such as (sacraments, church, priests and such) important to a personal relationship with God and belief in God. Personal spirituality.
How did religious pluralism blossom?
Religious minorities start to refuse to leave and so religious pluralism starts to be important
How does education change society?
Science answers questions, new technology, people begin to think for themselves, challenge to the idea of inequality and increase in literacy rates
What increases literacy rates?
Printings, reading rooms, libraries
What did King Louis XVI want to do?
Be the king of the people, restore French prestige after the 7 years’ war and wanted to be loved
What did King Louis XVI do to try to fix bread prices?
He tried to regulate the prices, but it backfires and makes things worse
Why was the Parlement suspicious of King Louis XVI?
They are suspicious about the motives of the king and thinks it’s just a way to take away power from the nobles
What is population make-up of this time? (by class)
Nobles only made up about 1%
Religious clergy was about .5%
89-99% were part of the commoner class at this time
How were taxes dealt with at this time?
Taxation was different for nobles and commoners. The main revenue stream was the tax on land called the “taille”. Levied after the harvest. Commoners paid most of the land taxes
What caused the controversy over taxation?
Salt tax was controversial because people had to pay in some areas, but not in others. Nobles were exempt.
What is the land ownership breakdown?
2% of clergy and nobility owed 45% of land, 10-15% by king, and about 50% among commoners.
What caused France to get into financial trouble?
Their lose of colonies to the British in the Seven Years’ War and their involvement on behalf of the Americans in the American Revolution
What is Sieyès’ platform?
He wanted to get rid of the aristocratic privilege
What was the French Involvement in the war for American Independence?
They provided their full Navy, France cut off the Chesapeake Bay and the land troops checkmated the British. The treaty was signed in Paris
Why did the French sympathize with the Americans?
The educated classes were sensitive to the enlightenment idea of liberty, they felt the Americans were fighting for liberty and equality and France saw Americans (Franklin) as simple people that needed help against the common enemy of Britain.
What is the History of The Marquis de Lafayette?
Ran away from home at 20 to fight with the Americans.
Out for revenge for his father who died in the 7 year’s war
Identified with Americans because he did not like being born into a station you couldn’t leave
How did Necker plan to help France pay for their part in American Independence?
Necker’s Plan: It would be possible to fight the war if they cut the fat without raising new taxes.
So the answer was to borrow the money because they would allowed to have a good credit rating to borrow by cutting costs.
The loans were also off the books, so it looks like the crown is running a surplus
What was the Financial program proposed in 1786?
The traditional tax code with exemptions would be thrown out and they would have a new code based on means which would raise 35 million
Grow the economy and infrastructure
Creation of regional assembly of land owners that would have representation to say what happens with the revenues
