Ancien Regime Flashcards
when did Louis XVI become king of France?
1774
what was Marie Antoinette known as?
madame deficit because if her reputation as a spendthrift
what was the divine right of kings?
the king was chosen by god and is his informant
what was the king in council?
the king was expected to consult others on formulation of policy
who were the intendants?
royal agents who would maintain the kings rule in provinces and feedback to him
what were the intendants responsible for?
- ensuring taxes were paid
- ensuring kings edicts were carried out
- presiding over local courts
- raising troops
what were provincial governors?
drawn from the nobility, responsible for provinces and were responsible for maintaining order. had the power to call provincial parlement
what were the pays d’etats?
6 areas of France which were allowed to negotiate how much tax they paid and then paying it in a lump sum
what was venality?
the custom of selling administrative offices
how many venal offices were there by 1789?
70,000 by 1789
what were the parlements?
sovereign courts the most important being the Paris parlement
what powers did parlements have?
controlled guilds, corporations and markets
most importantly carrying gout kings edicts
what is a remonstrance?
a document sent by parlement protesting a royal decree
what was a lit de justice?
the process in which the king could overrule parlement and force acceptance of an edict
how many made up the first estate?
comprised of clergy 150,000 members
how many made up the second estate?
comprised of nobility 200,000-400,000 members
how many made up the third estate?
the commoners or everyone else around 26.5 million
how many people worked in agriculture?
around 21 million
how much land did the church own?
around 10%
what exemptions did the 1st estate have?
didn’t have to pay taille and allowed to meet in their own assemblies to decide fates
what was the don gratuit?
a lump sum of money the church decided to pay to the crown
what privileges did the 2nd estate have?
they could display a coat of arms, had the right to be beheaded rather than hanged. also didn’t pay taille
who were the bourgeoisie?
the wealthiest commoners who had skilled jibs such as lawyers, doctors, teachers merchants. the would often invest in land
what direct taxes were the 3rd estate required to pay?
taille, the vingtième, and capitation
what indirect taxes were the 3rd estate required to pay?
gabelle, aides, tithe
what was the Corvee Royale?
every male was required to do military service and also do unpaid labour to maintain the kings roads
how many seigneurial courts were there?
100,000
who were the philosophes?
French enlightenment thinkers who questioned the political and social structures and the power of the church
what was the enlightenment thought on the church?
the church had control of the ignorant masses who live in fear of eternal damnation. the also criticised the divine right which questioned the absolute monarchy
what was Montesquieu’s idea of government?
the separation of powers to crate checks and balances
what were salons?
a gathering of educated people at the home of a host to increase their knowledge. aced as a centre of social exchange
when did the French support the American war of independence
in secret began in 1776 by sending supplies and Economic aid, and then began to send troops over including Lafayette
how many livres in aid did france send to America?
5 million livres
what were the economic problems of France in the 1770s and 1780s?
- economy was predominantly agricultural
- yield from French farms very low and rural overpopulation
- there were variations in weights and measures across the country which offered chance for fraud
- French banking system was not advanced
when were there a series of bad harvests?
1785 to 1789 and in July 1788 a hailstorm destroyed all of Frances crops
what was French debt?
3.3 billion livres
what were Turgots plans to reform the economy?
- cut royal expenses
- removal or reduction of pensions and encourage Louis to spend less
- some reforms to tax farming system
- introduce a general land tax
what were Turgots six edicts?
the desire to abolish privilege and to tax all and grant every man the right to work
when were the six edicts passed?
in 1776 they were passed by lit de justice
what happened to Turgot?
his edicts had offended a wide range of people including Marie Antoinette and in may 1776 was forced to resign
what was Neckers policy?
he continued turgots cost cutting by reducing royal expenditure, appointing salaried officials to run estates and removed vingtieme on industry
by how many did necker reduce tax farmers?
from 60 to 40
what did neckers changes achieve?
reduced corruption and hit venality
what happened to necker?
he was popular among common people but had made enemies in court including Marie Antoinette, he resigned in 1781
when was calonne controller general?
1783-1787
what was calonnes reform package?
- general land tax
- extra indirect tax on legal documents (stamp duty)
- end the Corvee Royale
- remove controls on grain trade
what was the assembly of notables?
consisted of 144 men and included 7 princes of the blood and representatives from the estates
who was calonne replaced by?
Brienne
when was the Paris parlement banished to Troyes?
august 1787
when was the day of tiles? what was it?
June 1788- troops in grenoble were attacked with stones and roof slates
when did sieyes publish “what is the third estate”?
January 1789- argues the third estate was everything and represented the nation
what were the cahiers de dolences?
a list of grievances drawn up by each estate to be discussed at the estates general. around 40,000 produced
when was the estates general held?
5 may 1789
when was the National Assembly established?
17 June 1789- after being prompted by sieyes the 3rd estate split off ton represent the nation
when did the clergy join the national assembly?
19 June 1789
when was the tennis court oath?
20 June 1789- promised to Never disband until France had a new constitution
when was the storming of the Bastille?
14 July 1789- around 70 attackers killed
