1.3 Economic Conditions in France

Question 1

Vingtième

Answer 1

A 5% tax on produced goods paid by everyone, commonly enacted by the government in times of need

Question 2

Capitation

Answer 2

A fixed sum tax based on a population census and paid by everybody

Question 3

Taille

Answer 3

Tax on land paid by the Third Estate

Question 4

Tithe

Answer 4

A tax of 10% a peasant’s harvest that was paid to their local clergy

Question 5

Don Gratuit

Answer 5

A ‘voluntary’ gift paid to the King from the Church

Question 6

Corvée Royale

Answer 6

Unpaid forced labour that took workers away from the fields to build and fix roads

Question 7

Gabelle

Answer 7

Tax on salt paid by the Third Estate

Question 8

Feudal Dues

Answer 8

A quarter of their produce was paid to their local lord as a fee for farm rent

Question 9

Banalités

Answer 9

A tax to use the Seigneur’s mill, oven and wine press paid by peasants

Question 10

Venality

Answer 10

A job which typically rich bourgeoise paid to have. They had to tax a set amount of money on behalf of the crown, and could keep whatever remained. They were despised heavily.

Question 11

Problems in the 1780s

Answer 11

Internal customs barriers - limited the flow of national trade

Poor harvests - winter of 1788
In 1788, an unskilled labourer would pay 50% of their wages on bread, but in 1789, they would spend 70%-90%.

Manufacturing - 1786 Free Trade Agreement let the British monopolise on textiles within France causing anger among skilled workers.

Overseas Trade - Loss in the Seven Years War and involvement in the American War of Independence led to France losing a lot of overseas territory, including the very profitable West Indies