how important were the political devlopmets of 1787-1789 TEXTBOOK Flashcards
(11 cards)
absolutism
monarchy in france was in theory absolute louis chose and dissmissed his miisters royal edicts directed policy both forgiegn ad domestic and the kig saw himself as dering authority from inheritance and god the corination was a religious right more tah other country s court rituals were linked to acctual rule versallis was the physical locatio of monarchy he saw himself as the embodiemnet of france
there wee some indications of absolutsm diminishing though
religious disputes during louis xv had underminded the religious authority of the crow jansenists -oponents of popes authority- were criticl of kings support
his imoral life during the regin of louis xv seemd to call questions oboout the monarchys link to god
traditions that limited power of monarchy the parlemts 13 law courts that presided over by aristocratic governments acted as suprme courts and needed to register royal edicts constalntly clashed w ouis xv he tried t muzzle the louis xvi restored hem they could be overidden howeevr by a cernemony called the lit de justice and the judges culd be arrested and exiled however they were still a break on royal power
one of the key questions faced in the midst of fincal problems with belief of appoitment by gof is why he did not simply back his reforming ministers close to him at versailles and push through reforms w out the need of the parlements
instead the king summoned another body to approve the financial reforms proposed by calone in 1787 called the assembly of notables this was not a regular part of government that had last been called in 1626 he had no need to call such assembly when its members failed to agree louis submitted reforms to the parlemebts de paris which rejected them the parkemebts menmvers were then exiled and then re called both callled for the estates general which last met in 1614 bankruptcy then forced the king to accept which included the traditional right of electors to draw up cahiers or a list of grievances the estates general raised huge expectations and then in june 17 1789 transformed into the national assembly thus there were two rival authorities
1771 louis xv told the parlements firmly that france was state ruled by divinely appoitment monarch less than 20 years later this was forcefully challenged
the assmebly of notables
summoned in 1778 on the advice of calone and consisted of 114 members the seven princes of the blood presidents over the seven committees
membership comprised of seven archbishops seven hereditary y dukes higher nobles and the presidents of the parlements to accpect proposals for euqalisijg tax burden rasing revenue and making france credit worthy
calone proposed 3 major elle mys of change
new and uniform lane tax
elected local assemblies to asses and administer tax
the end of forced labour on highways corvee and reform of the complex customs that inhibited trade
calone knew that the parlements would not administer these proposals if the new assembly refused them it would show the king was acting against selfish privilege if he put through the reforms
by 1787 it was vital something must be done the current years deficit was 112m liveries substantial debts replaymemys due in 1788 the danger that the french gov would not be able to borrow enough to keep going
while his main adviser vergenns was ill louis allowed himself to be purswaded the assembly was a good idea
however it was a dangerous step to take as he was handing his responsibility to others
a surprising outcome
the assmebly turned out to be more radical than expected and did not defend privilege as much as thought
however it expected something in return due to accepting the new taxation -representation
there were demands for extending the local assemblies and for the calling of the old parliament the estates general the astrisocatrs often influenced by englihthenment thinking saw themselves as defenders of liberty the assembly ended in a stalemate and calone was dissmissed in 1788
the calling of the estates general
callonnes successor brienne had been a critic of calones measures bht reintroduced them in a modifed form he proposed a series of changes including unifrom land tax
however these measures did not receive approval from the assembly of notables who insidted only a estates general could make them lawful
brienne dissolved the assmbemy on 25 may 1787
brienne now has a choice
rely on royal authority and push reforms through despite oposition
or call the estates general
the parlements didn’t like the reforms saying they increased royal power too much
these defenders of privilege became popular hero’s
the king responded anrgrily by exiling the paris magistrates to the provincial town of troyes in august troops shut there meeting place palais de justice
all this showed was that louis could have ruled as an absolute monarch
however there was a problem of the need to be seen as finacalu credit worthy
advised to be moderate the king ended the exile
and in no erm ber the parliament met the king in a speical meeting called the seance royal
however the king lost patience and simply declared the reforms registered
his own cousin the duke of orleans objected and was arrested
the government now announced plans to strip the park enya of its right to register edicts the leading magistrates were arested and the edicts reducing the powers of the park enya were forced through
this provoked a storm of resistance the most famous was the so called say of giles following the exile of the parkemts
on 8 august it was accounted that the estates general would be summoned this was seen as a surrender
problems proceeding the elections to the estates general
brienne forced to resign on 26 of aug
1788 when the gov coukd noy borrow enough money to maintain day to day spending in a credit crisis high bread prices after a bad harvist fueled urban unrest in the later part of 1788 and there were many attacks of chateaux and tax offices
the return of necker
to restore confidence never now not only controller general but also a meme ber of the council of state persuaded the king to advance the calling of the estates general to may 1789
the prepertayoksb for the estates general did no it take place in a calm or measured atomsphre the parlements wanted the estates general to. take the from in bad in 1614 and the reformed dominated by the two privileged orders
this provoked another storm kg protest this time agsin the parlemts and not in support of them
the king and necker doubled the representation of the third estates and allowed a surprising number of people to vote by here we’re initial assmbekys to vote for other assemblies who voted for actual deupties any man over 25 and who was on the tax rolls but not a servant or actor or bankrupt could take part in the initial meetings however the virtual question was how the voting would take to place
the cahiers
24 jan 1789 louis requested to hear the grievances of the poepole this set off a consultation exercise the three wasted msg separately in each local constitunacy their grievances were recorded in speical cooks the cahiers de doleances
the third estate meetings in rural areas incisors parish meetings that could be attended by adult male tax payers in urban areas the poorest did not qualify but there were large numbers of small masters who submitted grievances alongside the ritcher and better educated middle class on behalf on the poorest
this was in a time of bad economy abs great hope for future change
general agreement was on the kings wisdom and the parlements should be part of the government there was significant blame that the minsters were the cause of the financial crisis and it was agreed new taxes were needed
clergy wanted a new age of spritual reform but most of the caheris didn’t propose the end of dues and privileges
the aristocratic wanted a part in reforming abuses
the peasant revered to payments dues and taxes content varied place to place bo calls for ending of the monarchy
social divides were even yed middle class a urban resented the lack of oportunity becayse of class privilege
no agreement on how voting should be conducted
by head this guving the third estate a majority or by estate such meant the first and second coukd easy outvote the third
the chlajiers encouraged change that it was unlikely a weak king could meet
socail divides
key issue about uskates general
ppl ecoted about voting for deputies so surfed up a great deal of interest abiut reform
the meeting of the estates general
the proceedings opened on the 4th mayb800/1200 deputies present bec elections had not been well managed the royal love of vermont meant that nobles and higher clery were in there finaly with the third estates in bavk the first action the order of the king for eachn estate to proceed siri it’s own meeging hall to verify the credentials i idaf let provoked unrest this key action shows the problem a the king he needed to reform and he needed ravduavk financial measures this would only be possible with the do operation of all the deities he accepted common discussion but then was presumed by the wishes of the majority in the first and second estates for soeerate meetings
the wealthy more politically experienced third estates deupties conscious of local expectations refused to accept this at a vital time the whoke momembgine of change stalled in paris there was massive exitmemt while the estates general delayed on a procedural issue in was a few members of the lower clergy who broke the deadlock by firebug the first e tate to join the third in 19 june then on the 20 june a newley self proclaimed national assembly found itself locked in te tennis court and then they swore on the tennis court oath
the king insisted on sprry ar assmblies on 23 june the third protested one of its members mirabeau reported that they were here hy will of the people we shall retire at only a point of a bayonette
at this point louis announced a reform agendas and a new abs fairies tax system but the debate had moved on when the first and third estate deputed were joined by 47 liberal nobels form the sceond estate louis order the nobu igy as a whole to join the other two estates
it has taken six weeks for the dates general to have a frim decleration that the king wanted a reform programme incuding the ending of tax lribekges and for the giver me my go accost thT there three estates should meet together during that time there was ecitkeng and fustrayuon frin seeing itssslg as a royal council to seeing itself as the national assmbeky the hiv ha dmoksg control
situation in thrace
The Situation in France in 1774
When Louis XVI inherited the throne in 1774, France was already in a difficult position. Although it was one of the most powerful and wealthy countries in Europe, it was struggling with deep structural problems. These included widespread poverty, inefficient tax systems, and administrative confusion. French society was divided into three rigid estates, and unfair taxation placed most of the burden on the Third Estate (commoners), while the First (clergy) and Second (nobility) estates enjoyed exemptions. Additionally, the system of government was outdated, with laws and taxation differing from region to region.
financial probelms
- Financial Problems
The financial crisis was one of the biggest triggers of the Revolution. It stemmed from:
Debt from wars, including the Seven Years’ War and the American War of Independence, which France supported at great cost.
An unfair tax system, where the nobility and clergy paid very little, and the burden fell on the common people.
Poor financial management and extravagant spending at court.
The crown was essentially bankrupt by the 1780s, and financial ministers were unable to resolve the crisis.
finacla minsters
- The Role of Financial Ministers
Several ministers tried to solve France’s financial issues:
Turgot (1774–76)
Introduced reforms to cut spending and stimulate the economy.
Wanted to abolish price controls, guilds, and tax exemptions for the privileged.
Proposed a new property tax.
Faced opposition from the Parlements and privileged classes and was eventually dismissed.
Necker (1776–81, 1788–89)
A Protestant banker who became very popular.
Published the Compte Rendu au Roi in 1781 (a report on royal finances) to gain public trust, but it hid the real extent of the debt.
Borrowed money instead of increasing taxes, worsening long-term problems.
Recalled in 1788 due to continued crisis.
Calonne (1783–87)
Proposed sweeping reforms including a land tax for all, regardless of estate, and economic modernization.
Called an Assembly of Notables in 1787 to approve reforms, but they rejected them.
Lacked support and was dismissed
