Topic 1 Origins Of Revolution Flashcards
(29 cards)
How was French society divided with the ancien regime?
-1st estate - clergy
-2nd estate - nobility
3rd estate - everyone else
What was the population of the 1st estate? Who was part of it?
Around 130,000 out of 28 million. Monks, nuns, parish priests.
What was the population of the 2nd estate? Who was part of it?
Approx 110,000 - 350,000 out of 28 million. All French nobles.
What was the population of the 3rd estate? Who was part of it?
27 million out of 28 million. About 85% of the estate are peasantry, in the middle is urban workers and at the top is the bourgeoisie.
What is absolute monarchy?
A system of monarchy where their authority is not limited by any group or organisation that represented the people.
The monarch had absolute power and could do whatever they liked.
What was the role of the parlements? How many where there?
13, they were law courts meaning no law could be applied until it had been registered by each of the parliements
How did the 13 parlements limit Louis’ power?
-They could refuse to register a law if they disagreed with it
-The magistrates who sat in the courts had paid for their positions, so Louis could not dismiss them without repaying their money
How could Louis overrule the parlements?
With a ‘lit de justice’ which demanded that the law be registered
+however, without the support from the parlements it would be difficult for the laws to me implemented and Louis could be accused of being a despot
What views were questioned during the enlightenment era?
-The role of absolute monarchy
-Religion and its role in society
-The influence of superstitions
-Politics and history
-Science and nature
What impact did the enlightenment have in France?
-The philosophe’s writings and teachings were revolutionary
–despite this, censorship limited the impact of revolutionary ideas
-Many members of the bourgeoisie were exposed to enlightenment ideas
What were the main wars that caused France’s financial crisis?
The Seven Years War (1756-63) and the American War of Independence (1778-83)
How did France try to cope with the financial crisis after the wars?
-The government borrowed money and took out many loans
-They tried to get as much money from taxation as possible
–e.g the ‘vigntieme’ which was a tax imposed on everyone except the clergy
What was the vigntieme tax, what impact did it have?
A tax on everyone exept the clergy. It was supposed to be temporary but was introduced in 1749 and continued to be collected in the 1780s. This lead to resentment from the nobility especially
When were the poorest harvests for France?
1778-9
1781-2
1785-6
1787
1788
How did poor harvests impact the French economy?
They always lead to massive unemployment, 1789 production in textiles fell by 50% as urban workers had to spend their money of food as prices rose (the price of bread in Paris had increased by 50% in 1789)
By April 1789 a worker would spend 88% of their wages on bread
What was the ‘venality’ system?
A venal title could be bought by nobles who wanted to be closer to the king, or by the bourgeoisie who wanted to become nobles and be exempt from taxes
When was Turgot Controller General? How did he try to fix the economy?
-1775-76
-He reduced the number of tax offices so took less tax from people
-His implementation of free grain trade lead to the flower wars
-He tried to remove the vigntieme
—-basically he didn’t try to fix the economy and just made it worse
When was Necker the ‘Leading financial adviser’? How did he try to fix the economy?
-1776-81
-Published the ‘compte rendu’ which made finances public (but he made it sound better than what it was)
-He took more loans
-He willingly resigned in 1781
—–he tried but the financial state of France was not getting better
When was Calonne Controller General? How did he try to fix the economy?
b-1783-88
-He tried to seek more loans
-100 million livres annual deficit by 1787
-He tried to replace the ‘vigntieme’ with a single land tax but faced severe pushback from nobles and clergy
—–there was little he could really do, France’s finances not getting better
What were the main reasons for the poor French economy?
-Overall poor harvests
-Taking more loans with high interest rates
-French nobility refusing taxation
-Ancien regieme limiting options for money income
-Changes of financial advisors over short time period
When and why did Louis exile the Paris parliement?
July 1787, they were demanding an Estates General (which Louis was avoiding) so exiled them to Troyes
When and what was the ‘Revolt of the Aristocracy’?
June 1788, after the exile of the Paris parliement, the nobility began to accuse Louis of tyranny and despotism.
-Louis tried to force the Grenoble parlement to close and when they refused he sent in his his troops June 7th to enforce his orders
What were the ‘Cahiers de doleances’? What did they involve?
Lists of grievances that would be discussed at the Estates General.
-Louis was hoping they would be primarily concerned with finances, but they involved more than taxation and many demanded a new constitution.
When was ‘What is the Third Estate?’ published and who wrote it?
January 1789 by Abbe Sieyes
