Short Term causes - Political Crisis

Question 1

Who replaced Calonne?

Answer 1

One of the Notables - Loménie de Brienne

Question 2

Where was Loménie de Brienne Archbishop?

Answer 2

Toulouse

Question 3

Who became head of the judiciary?

Answer 3

Another Notable - Lamoignon

Question 4

What was Lamoignon president of?

Answer 4

The Parlement of Paris

Question 5

Did the Assembly of Notables prove to be more cooperative with Brienne that it had been with Calonne?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

What did Brienne retain?

Answer 6

Calonne’s land tax

Question 7

What did Brienne introduce?

Answer 7

A number of reforms following on from Necker’s earlier plans

Question 8

What were Brienne’s 6 plans?

Answer 8

End to venal offices
New central treasury
Laws codified in a printed form 
Educational reform
Religious toleration
Army reform

Question 9

Why did Brienne want laws codified in a printed form?

Answer 9

So they were accessible to those who needed to consult them

Question 10

What did Brienne want to make the army through his reforms?

Answer 10

More efficient and less expensive

Question 11

Who did Brienne initially present his reforms, including a new land tax, to for registration?

Answer 11

The Assembly of Notables

Question 12

Why did the Assembly of Notables refuse to register the reforms?

Answer 12

They said that only the Estates-General could consent to any laws

Question 13

Why could only the Estates-General consent to laws?

Answer 13

They represented the whole nation and the approval of the whole French nation was needed for such changes

Question 14

What was Louis’ reaction to the Assembly of Notable’s refusal to register the reforms?

Answer 14

To dissolve the Assembly

Question 15

Once in power, what did Brienne succeed in making the Parlement of Paris register?

Answer 15

Laws dealing with free internal trade
Establishment of provincial assemblies
Redemption of the corvée

Question 16

Who did Brienne take revised proposals, including a new land tax, to?

Answer 16

The Assembly of Notables

Question 17

Once dissolving the Assembly of Notables, who did Louis present the reforms to?

Answer 17

Paris Parlement

Question 18

What did the Parlement refuse to register?

Answer 18

Edicts on the stamp duty

The proposed new general land-tax

Question 19

After the Parlement of Paris refused to register edicts on the stamp duty and the new general land-tax, what did Brienne persuade Louis to hold?

Answer 19

A lit de justice to force through Brienne’s tax reforms

Question 20

What was a lit de justice?

Answer 20

A formal session of parlement during which the monarch could forcibly register a law overrding the parlement’s objections

Question 21

To crush the opposition to the lit de justice, what did Louis do to the Parlement of Paris?

Answer 21

Exiled them to Troyes on 15th August 1787

Question 22

Why did the Nobility revolt in response to the exile of the Parlement of Paris to Troyes?

Answer 22

They considered Louis’ action to be heavy-handed

Question 23

When did the Nobility revolt in response to the exile of the Parlement of Paris to Troyes?

Answer 23

Summer 1788

Question 24

What did the revolt of the Nobility in response to the exile of the Parlement of Paris to Troyes prove to be?

Answer 24

The most violent opposition the government had faced

Question 25

Which provincial capitals where the parlements met were there riots?

Answer 25

Rennes in Brittany | Grenoble in Dauphine

Question 26

In all parts of the country, where did Nobles and Clergy meet to discuss how to defend the power of the parlements?

Answer 26

Unauthorised assemblies

Question 27

Did the unauthorised assemblies gain popular support?

Answer 27

Yes

Question 28

What was the significance of the clergy joining on the side of the parlements?

Answer 28

They were breaking their long tradition of loyalty to the Crown

Question 29

How did the clergy condemn the reforms?

Answer 29

By voting a don gratuit (a voluntary contribution to royal finances) of less than a quarter size requested by the Crown

Question 30

Although the opposition was fragmented and dispersed, why did it continue?

Answer 30

The collapse of the government's finances

Question 31

When was the royal treasury empty?

Answer 31

Beginning of August 1788

Question 32

When did Brienne agree, with Louis' reluctant approval, to summon the Estates-General for?

Answer 32

1st May 1789

Question 33

When did Brienne suspend all interest payments from the royal treasury on loans made to the state?

Answer 33

16th August 1788

Question 34

What did this suspension on all interest payments from the royal treasury on loans made to the state acknowledge?

Answer 34

The Crown was bankrupt

Question 35

When did Brienne resign as finance minister?

Answer 35

25th August 1788

Question 36

When was Louis forced to back down and allow the Paris Parlement to return?

Answer 36

September 1788

Question 37

Who was Louis forced to reappoint following the resignations of Brienne and Lamoignon?

Answer 37

Necker

Question 38

Why did Louis reappoint Necker?

Answer 38

He believed it would lead to financial reform because he viewed Necker as the only one who could restore the government's credit and raise loans

Question 39

What did Necker abandon?

Answer 39

His predecessor's reform plans

Question 40

Despite indicating that he would try to raise new loans, what did Necker state he would do nothing until?

Answer 40

The Estates-General had met

Question 41

What had the crisis highlighted?

Answer 41

Limitations of royal power

Question 42

How had the crisis shown the limitations of royal power?

Answer 42

Although Louis was in effect an absolute ruler, in reality he was unable to impose his government's reforms on the State

Question 43

What detected the clear signs of weakness in the Crown?

Answer 43

The forces of opposition

Question 44

What did the failure to secure reform contribute to?

Answer 44

A paralysis of the government

Question 45

The failure to secure reform was very significant in the short term, particularly when linked to what?

Answer 45

The economic crisis