The origins of the French Revolution 1774 - 1789 Flashcards
(28 cards)
Why did Louis XV have problems with the Parlements?
- Parlement had blocked the royal reforms that he wanted to implement. (1763 - 1771)
- Louis then tried to abolish all parlements.
When did Louis XVI come to the throne and how much debt was the crown in?
- 1774
- 2 billion livres
When did Turgot become Controller - General of Finances?
1774 - 1776
What were Turgot’s successes and failures?
- He created a detailed budget that had plans of free trade.
- Six edicts (1776) - Wanted to reduce tax and abolish privilege. Four were concerned with supressing dues, the last two were to supress guilds and abolish the corvée
- Lit de justice in March 1776 where the edicts were registered.
- Helped negotiate a low-interest loan of 4 per cent with some Dutch bankers in 1776.
When and why did Turgot have to resign?
1776
He was ordered to send his resignation because he had offended Marie Antoinette as he opposed favours toward protéges.
When did France join the American was of Independence?
1778 (this was only the official joining)
By 1777 France had sent 5 million livres.
Why was the war of independence problematic?
It encouraged enlightened thought as the Declaration of Independence said ‘all men were created equal.’
Give 4 examples of Enlightenment writers
- Voltaire
- Rosseau
- Diderot
- Montesquieu
When did Necker become Director General of FInances?
1777 - 81
What were Necker’s successes and failures?
Success
* Reduced the royal household expenses and pensions.
* Removed the vingtième on industry.
Failures
* Compte Rendu au Roi which suggested that france had a surplus of 10 million livres which was inaccurate
When did Calonne become Controller - General?
1783
What did Calonne plan to do?
Reform package
* General land tax
* Provincial assemblies
* an indirect tax on legal documents
* Removal of controls on the grain trade
When was the assembly of the Notables composed? When did it end?
Feb 1787 - May 1787
When was Calonne dismissed? Who replaced him?
April 1787
Brienne
Why did the Assembly of Notables reject Calonne’s reforms?
- Clergy disliked his plans to tax them.
- They still thought the economy was strong due to the Compte Rendu
When did the king resist parlements opposition?
- August 1787 banished them to Troyes
What were the king’s actions August to May 1787?
- Allowed parlement to return
In May 1788 what 2 documents were issued?
- Fundamental Laws - Parlement stated that for the fundamental changes that Louis was suggesting he needed the consent of an estates General.
- May Edicts
- New plenary court of nobles appointed by the king would take responsibility for the registration of laws
- The number of judges in the Paris Parlement would be reduced.
- Parlements legal work would be transferred to lower courts.
What and when was Revolt of the nobles?
May - August 1788
- Provincial parlements flooded the royal courts with remonstrances.
- Parlement demands end to lettres de catchet and improsonment without trial.
- Radical pamphlets appeared.
- Demands for a Estates General
What was the day of Tiles?
June 1788
* Royal troops arrived to restore order and were pelted with stones and roof slates in June.
Why was the king forced to call an Estates General?
- July 1788 - Brienne suspended payments from the royal treasury.
- Short term loans had dried up and in August France was declared bankrupt.
- Forced to call it for 1789
When and why was Necker recalled?
25th August 1788
* Regarded as the only man who could sort out the finances of France.
What and when were the Key Arguments about voting procedures?
August 1788
* They didn’t know whether to vote by head or by estate.
What decision was made about voting procedures in the Estates General?
September to November 1788
Paris parlement + 2nd Assembly of notables decided on Voting by estate with one vote per estate.
