1.7. Political Developments 1787-May 1789 Flashcards
When did Calonne summon a meeting of the notables?
In 1787
Why did did Calonne summon a meeting of the notables in 1787?
To push through fiscal and economic reforms which were blocked by parlements
When did the parlements block the reforms set out by Calonne?
22nd February 1787 in Versailles
How many members were in the Assembly of Notables?
144 members of the first and second estates
Who did the members of the assembly of notables include?
7 princes of the blood, 7 archbishops,
7 hereditary dukes, higher nobility, and the presidents of the 13 parlements
What did Calonne hope the assembly of notables would do?
If they supported the proposed reforms, they would apply pressure on parlement to register them
How were the crowns finances?
In terrible order, with a deficit estimated at 112 million livres and debt repayments due in 1788
What did Calonne propose?
-a single land value tax (ending tax privileges)
-the conversion of the corvée into a money tax
-the abolition of internal tariffs to boost trade in France
-the creation of elected provincial assemblies to assess and administer tax
What was the corvée?
a day’s unpaid labour owed by a vassal to his feudal lord
What two arcs of debate were the assembly unable to come to an agreement on?
-many of the notables were radical and influenced by enlightenment ideas so thought the changes weren’t going far enough
-there were many notables who were concerned about their privileges being taken away
What did Lafayette describe the assembly as to Thomas Jefferson?
An assembly of ‘not ables’
What did Louis XVI think about the lack of progress in the assembly?
It frustrated him so he put pressure on Calonne to deliver the changes to save France from bankruptcy
What happened as the debates dragged on?
There were calls for Calonne to be removed as minister
When was Calonne relived of his duty?
8th April 1787
Who took Calonne’s place as finance minister and president of the assembly of notables?
Étienne Loménie de Brienne, cardinal and archbishop of Toulouse
Who was de Brienne a close ally with?
The queen
What changes to Calonne’s plan did de Brienne make?
redefined the land tax as a specific amount of money determined by the revenue needs of the state each year
What suggestion by the assembly did Louis veto?
The suggestion to have a permanent commission of auditors put in place to monitor the crowns finances
What did the people call for to be formed?
An estates general
What did Lafayette urge the crown to convene?
A National Assembly
What two options did Brienne and Louis XVI have by the end of May 1787?
- Reply on royal authority to force through the reforms
- Call the estate-general
When did Brienne dissolve the assembly?
25th May 1787
What happened in June 1787?
Brienne began passing these reforms as edicts
What did the parlement refuse to endorse?
Refused to endorse any new tax or support radical changes to taxation exemptions
What did the parlement do about the edicts?
They refused to register them as they argued that it increased royal power, and said changes like that could only be affirmed by an estates general
What happened on the 6th August 1787?
Louis XVI, acting on Briennes advice, convened a lit de justice where he dissolved the Paris and Bordeaux parlements. Lettres de cachet were issued against these magistrates, sending them into exile at Troyes
Where was Troyes?
110 miles east of Paris
What did Brienne believe about sending the magistrates to Troyes?
If the magistrates were well away from the public pressures of Paris, they would eventually back down
What did the exiles do in response to their exile?
They send letters to France’s other parlements, urging them to refuse registration to any tax edicts
When were the magistrates allowed to return to Paris?
24th September
Why were the magistrates allowed to go back to Paris?
There were riotous assemblies and protests through August
How were the exiles greeted when they returned to Paris?
They were met with public fanfare and celebration
What happened in November 1787?
Louis called a meeting called Séance Royale with the Paris Parlement and declared the reforms registered
What happened on the 8th May 1788?
Louis XVI tried to neuter the parliaments altogether. He said all future edicts would be registered by an appointed ‘plenary court’
Who was Duc d’Orléans?
A cousin of Louis XVI who tried to defend the Paris parlement but was arrested
What did Duc d’Orléans arrest result in?
Riot in Paris where Grenoble locals pelted government soldiers with tiles, called the Day of Tiles
When did protests end?
When the estates general was called
When was the estates general called?
8th August 1788
