1. France Causes Flashcards
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
The American War of Independence
- Involvement caused the loss of money and resources (over 1 billion livres)
- Compte Rendu (1776), made by Jacques Necker, full and frank account of France’s financial situation yet overstimated revenue and omitted significant expenses such as war costs
- Lafayette (went on to be involved in EG and Notables)
1175-1783
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
Royalty
Louis XVI
- Religious
- indecisive
Marie Antoinette
- Austrian
- Driven to keep the monarchy
- Unpopular
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
Taxes
- Taille (land tax)
- Tithe (harvest > local clergy, abolished in Civil Constution)
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
Economy
- poor farming practices
- internal customs barriers
- loss of colonies during 7 years war
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
The First Estate
Church (did not pay taxes)
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
The Second Estate
Nobility
- noblesse d’epee (nobility of the sword, military service)
- noblesse de robe (nobility of the robe, through purchase of venal office^)
- noblesse de court (birth right, served in the courts)
^venal offices collected taxes
Tensions in the Ancien Regime
The Third Estate
Bourgoisie
- wealthiest (upper middle)
Urban Workers
- working class (middle)
Peasants (suffered from:)
- unemployment
- exclusion from guilds (unions)
- prostitution
- poor economy
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
Bankruptcy
Calonne’s Plan
- tax all landowners
- provincial tax assemblies
- abolition of internal customs borders
- abolition of the corvee^
1786
^compulsory unpaid labour for the feudal lord
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
The Assembly of Notables
- Included Brienne and Lafayette
- Brought together in the hopes of supporting Calonne’s plan
- Nobles refused to give up privileges unless they were told the full scope of the economic downturn
- Calonne was dismissed, Brienne instated as financial minister (later proposed many reforms which were rejected and an Estates-General was announced)
1787
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
Day of Tiles
- Parlement members were arrested
- Townsfolk were ready to shower guards in tiles, soldiers fired against orders
- clergy join protest
1788
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
Harvest Crisis
- agricultural practices were still medieval in nature and the size of harvests often determined the reliability of the entire next year for peasants
- caused by a series of droughts, hails, and a long, harsh winter in 1788 while prices of grain rose due to low produce rates
- this cycle of harvest failures, food shortages and price rises pushed Parisian workers to the brink of despair
1788-1789
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
The Reveillon Riots
- Réveillon addressed his local electoral committee and lamented the rising costs of production, particularly increasing wages. (his statements were taken out of context)
- workers stormed Reveillon’s mansion in Bastille
- the riots were crushed by French guards
April, 1789
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
Cahiers de Doleances
- opportunity to submit complaints
- most were conservative (Cahier of the Third Estate of Paris outlined that all men were equal)
- most agreed on tax equality + no customs borders
Spring 1789
The Debt Crisis and Aristocratic Revolt
The Pamphlet War
What is the Third Estate?
- Abbe Sieyes
- removal of privilege
- division was bad
- third Estate would be self-sustainable
January 1789
The Estates General
The Estates General
- Proceedings were set by a 300 year old precedent (3rd estate was treated very poorly)
- Necker is reinstated
5th May, 1789