1. Origins of the Revolution Flashcards

1
Q

What were the pays d’états? - Origins

A

A selection of 6 regions within France which were able to negotiate with the Crown on the issue of taxation.

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2
Q

How many venal (bought through venality) offices were there in France by the 18th Century? In what professions? - Origins

A

70,000 venal offices comprising the entire judiciary, most lawyers, army officers and other fairly rich professions.

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3
Q

What was the population in France in the 1780s? How many of these people were involved in agriculture? - Origins

A

27 million population

21 million involved in agriculture

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4
Q

What was the First Estate? How many people were part of this group? - Origins

A

The First Estate was the portion of society in France from the Church and Clergy.
Approx. 150,000 members

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5
Q

What was the Second Estate? How many people were part of this group? - Origins

A

Second Estate was the portion of society from the nobility and gentry, either hereditary or bought.
Approx. 200,000-400,000 members

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6
Q

What was the Third Estate? How many people made up this group? - Origins

A

The Third Estate comprised everyone from outside the nobility and church, and was the rest of the population.
Nearly 26.5 million people.

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7
Q

How did the Church influence society in terms of taxation? - Origins

A

The Church became a wealthy institution following the implementation of heavy tax on the Third Estate in the form of the tithe (10% of all produce or income/year).

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8
Q

What percentage of French land did the Church own? - Origins

A

10% of all French land.

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9
Q

What tax was the clergy of the First Estate exempt from? What is an example of the legal/military benefit of being a clergy member? - Origins

A

The clergy did not have to pay the taille, the most important form of direct tax to the State.
The clergy could only be tried in their own Church courts.
The clergy didn’t have to perform military service or contribute money to the royal troops.

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10
Q

How much of France’s land did the second estate collectively own? - Origins

A

Between 20-25% of all French land.

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11
Q

What privileges did the nobility have? (social, legal, financial) - Origins

A

Social - could display a coat of arms, could take precedence at public services.
Legal - had the right to be beheaded rather than hanged if guilty of a capital offence
Financial - like the First Estate, were exempt from the taille, had lower rates or exemptions from other direct taxes.

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12
Q

When did the Assembly of Notables meet? What was it composed of (give examples)? - Origins

A

The Assembly of Notables met in February 1787, composed of Second and First Estate members. Seven Princes of the Blood, Parlement judges, church representatives.

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13
Q

Who replaced Calonne? What changes did he wish to implement? - Origins

A

Calonne was replaced by de Brienne. He wanted to extend tolerance to Protestants, change the corvée royale into a tax, deregulate the grain trade, spread education, abolish tax farming and codify law.

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14
Q

What was the attitude of the Assembly of Notables towards taxation reform? - Origins

A

The Assembly of Notables proposed that there should be ‘no taxation without representation’ by an Estates General, which would fully scrutinise the taxation system. This as they were not deemed representative enough to grant tax reform.

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15
Q

When did Louis banish the Paris Parlement? Where to? Why? - Origins

A

Louis banished the Paris Parlement to Troyes in August 1787, in order to get it away from the crowds calling for the calling of an Estates-General.

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16
Q

When did Louis recall the Paris Parlement? - Origins

A

Louis recalled the Paris Parlement in September 1787.

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17
Q

When did Louis hold a very divisive royal session in 1787? What was the notable outcome from this? - Origins

A

Louis held a divisive Royal Session in NOVEMBER 1787, following which he exiled the duc d’Orléans as a result of his criticisms of Louis and his rule.

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18
Q

What were the ‘Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom’? Who created them, and what was their purpose? - Origins

A

The ‘Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom’ were created by the Parlements in May 1788, and were intended to force an Estates-General to be called to debate Louis’ changes. These laws were supposed to be entrenched, even against change by the King.

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19
Q

When did Louis register his ‘May Edicts’? What were these intended to do? - Origins

A

Louis registered the ‘May Edicts’ in May 1788. The May Edicts said that a new court would be created to replace the Parlements, which would be appointed by the King. This court would be able to remonstrate. The Paris Parlement would have the number of judges reduced to limit its power.

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20
Q

When did de Brienne demand an enlarged don gratuit from the church in order to alleviate financial burdens? What did he actually receive? - Origins

A

In June 1788, de Brienne asked the Parlements for an enlarged don gratuit, only to receive 1/4 of what he originally asked for.

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21
Q

When did the Day of Tiles take place? Where? Why? - Origins

A

In August 1788, the ‘Day of Tiles’ took place in Grenoble, during which royal troops were battered with slates and tiles in protest at the weak, yet oppressive methods used by Louis’ government.

22
Q

What economic action did de Brienne take in August 1788? What knock on effects did this have on France politically and economically? - Origins

A

In August 1788, de Brienne suspended payments from the royal treasury, meaning that it could not request any more loans as it couldn’t pay interest. This led to the calling of the Estates-General, as well as France being declared BANKRUPT.

23
Q

When did de Brienne resign as Controller-General? Who replaced him? What was their first act? - Origins

A

de Brienne resigned as Controller-General in August 1788, to be replaced by Necker. Necker’s first act was to reverse the unpopular May Edicts and restore the parlements.

24
Q

Who were the Society of Thirty (group/individuals)? How did this push France towards revolution? - Origins

A

The Society of Thirty were a group set up by liberal nobles, some magistrates and clergy (Lafayette, Bishop of Autun included), who encouraged the 3rd Estate to fight for rights through publishing of pamphlets and holding of meetings.

25
Q

How much of workers’ incomes was spent on bread due to the poor agricultural situation of 1789? - Origins

A

In 1789, 88% of workers’ wages was spent on bread in order to survive as a result of increased prices from the poor 1788 harvest.

26
Q

When did the Réveillon Riots happen? What were these riots? - Origins

A

The Réveillon Riots happened in April 1789 when a wallpaper factory owner (Réveillon) contemplated cutting wages, leading to rioting from its workforce. The rioting was so bad that royal intervention was needed from troops.

27
Q

What specific evidence is there of French economic prosperity with regards to industrial output and trade between 1715 and 1771? - Origins

A

Trade with colonies quadrupled, industrial production doubled, French commerce increased 8 fold.

28
Q

What was the taille? Who paid it? Who was it paid to? - Origins

A

The taille was a property and income tax on the Third Estate, paid directly to the state.

29
Q

What was the gabelle? Who paid it? Who was it collected by? - Origins

A

The gabelle was a tax on salt, paid by all. It was collected by the ferme générale.

30
Q

What was the total of France’s debt by 1764? - Origins

A

By 1764, France was 2.3 billion livres in debt.

31
Q

What were the negative economic impacts from the ending of the American Revolutionary Wars? - Origins

A

The Treaty of Paris (signed in 1783) produced very little reward for the French’s assistance in the wars, as the now independent America maintained trading ties with Britain. France’s debt had also increased to 3.3 billion livres.

32
Q

When was Turgot Controller-General of France? What measures did Turgot take to improve France’s financial state? - Origins

A

Turgot was Controller-General from 1774-1776. Turgot cut royal expenses, demanded that top government expenses would be reviewed and regulated by him and reduced the number of pensions (spearheaded by having to encourage Louis to be more conservative with awarding these gifts).

33
Q

When did Turgot establish his ‘Six Edicts’? What was the outcome for Turgot and his Six Edicts? WHEN? - Origins

A

Turgot’s ‘Six Edicts’ were registered in 1776. The Edicts were originally registered by the use of the lit de justice in March 1776, although in May Turgot was ordered to resign, having made enemies such as the Queen. The edicts were subsequently dropped.

34
Q

When was Necker Director-General from-to? How did Necker continue Turgot’s economic policy? What new measures did he introduce to cut costs around industry and government? - Origins

A

Necker was Director-General from 1777-1781. Necker continued to reduce royal household expenses and pensions.
Necker also appointed salaried officials rather than venal offices to run crown businesses and removed the vingtième on industry.

35
Q

How did Necker amend the tax farming industry? SPECIFIC NUMBERS - Origins

A

Necker reduced the number of tax farmers from 60 to 40 and replaced those who received direct taxes (venal offices) with salaried officials.

36
Q

When did Necker produce the Compte Rendu au Roi? What was this? How many copies were sold in its first weeks? - Origins

A

Necker produced the Compte Rendu au Roi in 1781, which was a budget statement displaying the state of French finances. Sold 100,000 copies within weeks of being published.

37
Q

Why was Necker popular with the French people? When was he forced to resign? - Origins

A

Necker was popular as he attacked vested interests and the privilege of the upper classes. He also successfully negotiated a conflict without having to raise any additional taxes.
Forced to resign in 1781 having become unpopular at court (QUEEN).

38
Q

When was Calonne made Controller General? When until? - Origins

A

Calonne became Controller-General in 1783, remaining in the post until 1787.

39
Q

What did Calonne’s financial reform package include in terms of tax policy? - Origins

A

Calonne intended to introduce a general land tax on landowners, abolish any vingtièmes, create a tax on legal documents (stamp duty).

40
Q

What did Calonne’s financial reform package include in terms of trade policy and the corvée royale? - Origins

A

Calonne’s trade policy intended to remove barriers on the trade of grain (which was so crucial to feeding the 3rd Estate), removing internal customs barriers between French provinces and ending the corvée royale, replacing it with a tax on landowners.

41
Q

What was France’s urban literacy rate? Why was this significant for the enlightenment? - Origins

A

France’s urban literacy rate was around 60% (very high for the time), meaning that pamphlets, poetry and novels were able to spread enlightenment messages throughout the working classes.

42
Q

When was France first involved in the American Revolution? How? - Origins

A

France’s first involvement was in 1776, when the French government provided 5 million livres of aid, in the form of ammunition and gunpowder, within one year.

43
Q

When did France first officially show support to the American cause? - Origins

A

France first openly supported American colonists in 1778.

44
Q

Who was Montesquieu? What were his key ideas? In what notable products did he express these ideas? - Origins

A

Montesquieu was a magistrate and president of the Bordeaux Parlement. He strongly believed in the separation of powers between the 3 branches of government, but also highlighted the need for the nobility and their privilege.
‘Persian Letters’ and ‘The Spirit of Laws’.

45
Q

Who was Voltaire? What were his key ideas? - Origins

A

Voltaire was a writer of plays, novels and poetry, producing scathing satires which were critical of the lack of equality and justice in France (no right to fair trial or civil equality).

46
Q

Who was Rousseau? What were his key ideas? What is his main work expressing these ideas? - Origins

A

Rousseau was writer who was under constant pressure by the French government. He was an advocate of the ‘social contract’ the idea that government should rule with obligations to the people in mind, and that the people should be able to overthrow an abusive government. His main work was entitled ‘The Social Contract’.

47
Q

Who was Diderot? What was his main work? - Origins

A

Diderot was a former lawyer turned writer, whose main work was the Encyclopédie, an attempt to gather all human knowledge in one place.

48
Q

What were key social enlightenment ideas? - Origins

A

The philosophes largely believed in greater social liberty (with exception of Montesquieu), such as for freedom of expression and association, freedom of knowledge and greater access to justice through a more laissez-faire attitude from government.

49
Q

What were key political enlightenment ideas? - Origins

A

Key political enlightenment ideas included the idea of the separation of powers (Montesquieu), the social contract for the enacting of policies (Rousseau), the ending of absolute monarchy/introduction of constitution.

50
Q

What were key religious ideas of the enlightenment? - Origins

A

Key religious ideas included the prevention of corruption within the First Estate, the reduction in Church control of daily lives, opposition to the ‘great chain of being’ which enshrined the hierarchy of French society religiously.