Long Term Causes - Royal Government Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is absolutism?
A system of government where the authority of the crown is not limited by any representative body, such as an elected parliament, due to the King being responsible only to God and answerable to no one on earth
Why are the ruler’s personality and character important?
They set the tone of the government
What did Louis XVI say in 1766?
“Sovereign power resides in my person alone… the power of legislation belongs to me alone”
Although their power was absolute, what were kings bound by?
Laws and customs of their kingdom
An example of an independent body which had rights and privileges guaranteed by the law that the king could not interfere with
The Assembly of the Clergy
Why was a considerable amount of pier held in the hands of a small number of men
The King had to consult his council of ministers and advisors to make laws
Who was the most important of the King’s ministers and advisors?
The Controller-General
What was the Controller-General in charge of?
Royal finances
What did ministers not form part of?
A cabinet system of government
What were the intendants?
Officials directly appointed by the Crown as responsible for police, justice, finance, public works, trade and industry
Where did the intendente have far-reaching powers?
The généralités - each généralité was under the control of an intendent
What were the généralités?
The 34 areas into which France was divided
Why was France divided into généralités?
For the purpose of collecting taxes and other administrative functions
What did Louis XVI never come to terms with?
The State’s financial problems
In an absolutist government what did the the monarch need to be?
A strong figure with a dominant personality
Was Louis XVI weak and indecisive?
Yes
When did Louis marry Marie Antoinette?
1770
Who was Marie Antoinette the daughter of?
The Austrian Empress Maria Theresa
Were Louis and Marie popular when Louis took over the throne in June 1774?
Yes
Why did the popularity of Louis and Marie dissipate over the following years?
Marie Antoinette’s extravagance and a series of scandals
An example of Marie’s extravagance
The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
Antoinette purchased it for 400,000 livres in 1776
What was Marie negatively portrayed as?
The Austrian Whore
Despite the escalating debt of the government, what did the Queen have a fondness for?
Gambling and expensive construction projects
What did the governments gambling and expensive construction projects suggest?
She was widely out of touch with ordinary people
