ANCIEN REGIME Flashcards
up until 1789
describe the second estate
- how many in second estate
- who was in the second estate
- how much land did they own
- what powers did they have
- 200,000 members, which consisted of the nobility
- nobles of the sword and nobles of the robe – inherited vs earned position
- owned 25% of land and earnt money from this
powers:
- powers to influence government - direct access to patronage and government positions as councillors
- not pay the taille
- would pay tax, but at lower rates
- power to avoid indirect taxation
- had powers of employment (ie power over peasantry and monopolies over land - ie corn, pig cattle etc)
*however, the need to continue the social position led to many nobles being in debt
what was the treaty of paris
1783
- ended the war of american independence
- the treaty was harsh on france - american revolutionaries preferred to maintain ties with britain, over france - lost a key economic partner
how did enlightenment ideas spread
- salon culture
- publishing of new books
- academies
- through migration from city to countryside - exposure to more enlightened ideas
describe the ideas of montesquieu, voltaire, rousseau and diderot
montesquieu:
- argued for the separation of powers
- condemned the centralisation and accumulation of power
- popular sovereignty
- political balance, democracy
voltaire:
- supported ideas of political toleration
- imposed ideas about the right to a fair trial
- defended the right to free speech
- fundamental equality
- limit powers of the church, state before church
rousseau:
- belief in the social contract theory, with enforcement and emphasis on the government holding up their side of the contract
- belief in a representative government – act based on the general will of the people
- established the right to rebellion
- the government should protect liberty and equality
- fundamental rights
diderot:
- made scientific claims and introduced an element of rationality
- he authored the encyclopaedia - emphasis on science and technology and fact, instead of belief outweighing reason
- rejected the work of the church - again, the idea of rationality
- emphasis on logic
describe the idea of venality and its impact on france
when administrative offices in france were sold, if they were not inherited
- 70,000 venal offices in France in ancien regime, in the judiciary, executive and legislature, meaning there was no separation of powers, further fuelling the concept of elitism
describe the first estate:
- how many in first estate
- who was in the first estate
- how much land did they own
- what powers did they have
- 150,000 members
- consisting of the king, bishops, clergy, church members etc
- these members controlled education, christening people, censoring ideas etc
- owned 10% of land - mainly church
powers:
- power to decide their own taxation (DON GRATUIT)
- free from burden of taxation
limits on the power of louis XVI
- forced to act by catholicism and by god – religious binding
- must consult on policy formulation
- parlements can check his power by refusing to register laws
describe salon culture and academies
- institutions which promoted a culture of debate
- a platform for intellectual exchange which allowed for a dissemination of ideas, especially between the bourgeoisie and peasantry
- concepts and ideas would permeate to lower sectors of society
- salon culture eroded social barriers and expanded general (common) knowledge, often which was contradictory of the values of the ancien regime
describe louis banishing the parlements
august 1787 - louis banishes parlements to troyes
- louis is forced to allow them back into paris in september 1787
describe the financial policies of calonne
1783-1787
1. raised loans
- claimed that revenue was 400 million and expenditure was 500 million
- parlement were resistant to enforcing these loans
- permanent land tax
- for landowners, regardless of social status
- tax was proportional to the amount of land they owned, not social rank
- tax on landowners, not on third estate - suggested the formation of an assembly of notables
- would have representatives from the first two estates
- wanted to create an insitution to amplify the dire state of french finances and emphasise the urgency for reform - removal of corruption
- provincial assemblies so landowners could assess tax
*was dismissed by going behind the backs of upper estates and trying to appeal to the public for support
pitfalls:
- resistance of the nobility
- too radical
- aristocracy believe that an erosion of the estate system won’t allow them to protect themselves from the king
why may the ancien regime government composition and figures be seen to be ineffective
(king, ministers)
- a weak and indecisive king - idea of lacking authority, making him prone to being overshone by marie antoinette in making decisions
- government ministers were more focused on reputation, because ministers were unsure about the duration of their tenure and wanted to appease the king
*further links to despotism and expansive authority of the king - the king was reliant on the nobility to enforce laws, because this was the only way he obtained legitimacy
give examples of how the french economy was prosperous before the revolution
- france was 2nd in world trade
- industrial production doubled, from building 1000km in 15 days to only 8 days
- trade with colonies multiplied by 4 in coffee, sugar and indigo - this not only strengthened commercial relationships with colonies, but strengthened bonds of empire (ie Nantes trading with the West Indies)
- french commerce multipled by 8 from 1715-1771 in terms of how prosperous it was (allowed for increasing demand, lowering prices and creating a more prosperous and functioning economy)
- france was suited to farming, with extensive arable land
- tax burdens also facilitated the construction of railway
what were the 1775 flour wars
- wars due to increasing prices of flour, due to the bad harvest which lowered supply and increased price
- bread was so heavily relied on in france - lack access to basic goods
what were the pays d’etats
representative assemblies can negotiate directly with the crown on taxation
economic impacts of the american war of independence
- by 1777, 5 million livres of aid had been sent
- cost over 1 billion livres of aid
what is remonstrance and lit de justice
parlement powers exerting significant amounts of power with the king – parlements could question decrees and legislation by the king, displaying an equilibrium of power (southern france = roman law, northern france = liberal – interpret disparities)
lit de justice – king overruling the parlements and forcing their acceptance of edicts
*linked to despotism and checks and balances
popular attitudes toward parlements
seen as defenders of liberty and popular sovereignty, because they earned a position of nobility
- if they defended laws made by the king, the king (under popular pressure) felt less obliged to pass these
what were the fundamental laws of the kingdom
- published in may 1788
- issued by the PARLEMENTS
- claimed that the estates general cannot be changed, even by the monarch (limit on absolute monarchist power)
key words when describing the monarchy in the ancien regime
- despotic
- absolute monarchy
- divine right
- chain of being
what / who were tax farmers
wealthy individuals who were given the right to collect taxation on behalf of the government
(40 in 1770s)
describe the financial policies of brienne
1787-1788
- land tax
- further supported this idea of a land tax (continuity) - codification of laws - ordered society, reduce absolute power of king and enforce accountability
- reform education system - break down estate barriers
- religious toleration
- army efficiency and less expensive
*enforced concepts of modernisation which strictly undermined the french system
- heavily influenced by the enlightenment
pitfalls:
- undermined ancien regime too much
- difficult to maintain such radical reform
- religious toleration goes against catholicism
describe the day of tiles
7th june 1788 in GRENOBLE
- was the response to royal troops who tried to restore order, and the third estate responded by throwing stones at them
- 4 people were killed, 30 injured
- was a pro-parlement protest in support of notables
how did the enlightenment undermine the ancien regime france (politically, socially and economically)
socially / politically:
- undermined the main institution in ancien regime france - the church
- it undermined the concept of chain of being and the hierarchy associated with it
- expanded literacy levels and the emphasis on education - allows for more critique of the government
- the church and its expansive power led to the questioning of an absolute monarchy (despotism), which triggered ideas surrounding checks and balances, and thereby removing power from the church (consequentially from upper estates) - AWARENESS
- advocated for religious pluralism and the promotion of toleration - a more diverse society would not conform to the demands of the upper estates
- it attacked the privileges of the upper estates, and placed more emphasis on individual liberty
- promoted a democracy, and in that, adequate representation for previously underrepresented people
- modern society = challenge tradition
- exposed weaknesses of the estates system
- did not support concepts of divine right
economically:
- undermined mercantilism and a strict regulation of the economy
- felt the need for more laissez faire economics and a free market economy, which would not disrupt the forces of supply and demand
- promoted an economy driven by competition, which would limit the power of upper estates having a monopoly over industry
- emphasis on economic equality and equality over taxation
- would promote evolution and innovation - advance the french economy beyond that of agriculture
list the powers of the king
- power over religion - concept of divine right was promoted
- political control
- lettres de cachet
- power over army
- control the judiciary
- control over prisons
- power to appoint ministers - ie patronage
- control indentants
describe the assembly of notables in FEB 1787 and was it a success or failure
- louis was resistant to implementing this
- the notables had not met since 1626 - the body only consisted of the upper 2 estates (ie 14 reps from church and parlement judges and 144 reps)
- the body attacked the modernisation of these financial policies including taxing the church (because they were loyal supporters of necker)
- the assembly accused calonne of incompetence and trying to ruin the french financial system
- refusal to concede a FEUDAL MONOPOLY
- amplified the call for the estates general
- ASSEMBLY OF NOTABLES REFUSE TO ADOPT THE POLICIES OF CALONNE
overall: FAILURE
- displayed the resistance of upper estates to financial reform and to reforming deeply entrenched socio-economic expectations
- resistance to eroding a estate system and the system of privilege
- created distrust between lower and higher estates
- the nobility and parlement were now accustomed to challenging the power and authority of the king
describe the economic state of france after the clash of louis and the parlements (ie when was bankruptcy declared, when did brienne resign, when did necker become finance minister, what did louis do, and what happened to treasury payments)
- in august 1788, bankruptcy is declared
- on the 16th august treasury payments were suspended by Brienne, because france could not afford to pay interest
- brienne resigned in 1788
- necker was recalled on the 25th of august 1788
- louis was FORCED to call the meeting of the estates general in may 1789
describe the clash with the parlements from 1787-1788
- brienne tried to force his taxation reform through using parlements
- parlements refused to accept his reform to the land tax (overarching noble prejudice)
- brienne tries to force through these proposals using a lit de justice + king’s edicts
- the parlement propose an estates general to be held in july 1787
- citizens support this and are supported by the duc d’orleans (louis’ cousin who spoke out against him)
- louis banishes parlements to troyes, which causes outrage and exemplifies the absolute government 1787
- the parlements are reinstalled in september 1787
- in november 1787, the king’s royal session allows the duc d’orleans to be exiled
- louis used the lettres de cachet in order to ask for more loans
- from this interaction, louis is forced to call an estates general
describe the third estate
- how many in third estate
- who was in the third estate
- how much land did they own
- what burdens did they have
- consisted of around 21 million people, and was ‘everyone else’ - those who lacked titles and social importance
- normal commoners (ie peasants, who would work the land and were accountable to their local lord, in terms of farming his land
- bourgeoisie (ie educated members of lower classes such as lawyers, who could buy land)
- owned around 35% of land (lack of crop rotation + easy disease wipes out crops)
burdens:
- required to pay direct taxes
- forced todo military service
- forced unpaid labour as a direct obligation and service to the king
- forced to pay grain and cash dues
- forced to give grain or bread to nobles and those of upper classes if needed
- would pay banalites, the peasants pay to use noble land for farming, give a share of the land later
- the land lord / owner would ensure that nobody else in the area can produce these products, limiting competition and earning more money
- borrowed equipment from upper estates, but were demanded more product in return
what institution was founded in 1776, which became a centre of banking
the caisse d’escompte
- boosted french trade by offering cash for bills
impact of the enlightenment in france (more generally)
- it questioned and eroded social traditions and conventions, paving the way for a new, modern state
- it encouraged debates about freedom and eroded the social structure
- despite only being limited to an educated elite, the enlightenment boosted salon culture and amplified discussion
- criticised absolute government - eroded the fundamental government principles of france and encouraged a new government
describe the key gap in the first estate within the church
the church and its leaders were extremely wealthy (ie archbishops and bishops), as they capitalised off church land and taxation
- priests often were not content with their position, barely earning money and thus their lifestyle was not as extravagant
how was french economic policy successful and unsuccessful
successful:
- reduced corruption
- countered ancien regime issues (ie disproportionate tax)
unsuccessful:
- constant debt and failure
- constant change of ministers - lack of continuity (7 ministers in 13 years)
describe the events which led to royal debt, and give the sum of royal debt by 1783
events:
- inherited national debt - dismissive mindset of previous monarchs = $2 billion
- intensive loans and their interest - accumulated to 165 million
- imbalance in income and expenditure (630million vs 503 million)
- war of austrian succession
- seven years war
- american war of independence
debt:
- $3.3 billion livres debt by 1783
- debt increased by 40 million from 1774 to 1786
describe the structure of the central government in old regime france
- there were 3 councils who would meet with the king to discuss policy (king councils)
- there were also private meetings between the king and wealthy / influential individuals (ie Sec of State for war, Controller-General (led french finances), Sec for foreign affairs, leader of the Navy etc)
- the king would appoint intendants to be royal agents to maintain monarchist rule and feed back on local rule
- intendants would need permission from the king’s council to act and enforce their laws
- the king was also reliant on the nobility
what were pay d’etats and the don gratuit
pay d’etats: the ability for locals to negotiate their taxation with the state and local assemblies
don gratuit: a voluntary gift paid by the church every 5 years
list the key taxes in old regime france, their purpose and who collected them
- tithe - tax on church land
- taille - the direct tax on property and income
- tabac - tobacco tax
- domaine - taxes on crown lands
- vingtieme - income tax, 5%
- capitation
- gabelle - salt tax
- aides - for food and drink
- corvee royale - service to king / labour tax - funded infrastructure
- poll tax (capitulation)
*these taxation burdens lay heavily with the third estates, and accounting procedures often led to corruption due to tax farmers
collected by royal officers, tax farmers
describe the powers of louis XVI
- lettres de cachet - power to ‘deport’ and remove people
- lack of political opposition - fusion of power in government = all around influence (centralised powers) - asserted and reinforced through intendants
- lit de justice - force through laws despite backlash
- justified and given legitimacy through the concept of divine right
- control of the military
- patronage powers - pack the government full of loyalists in parlements and in councils - lacks opposition
describe the structure of the local government (4 tiers)
- consist of provincial governors would maintain order in these regions and could call the parlements
(1779 = 39 governors) - many provincial governor positions were inherited - ‘dynastical’
- have 36 generalites - assemblies - had pays d’etats power to agree on taxation
- officials were supervised by intendants - much of the time, these officials paid for their positions
- land-owning nobles - run their own courts
date of the american war of independence
1775-1783
describe the enlightenment
- a philosophical movement which refused to accept unproven dogma and ideas
- it promoted rational thought, scientific and secular ideas
- it drew on concepts of how society should be governed, individual lifestyle, economic matters
- it triggered the need for social progress and a revolution
describe the american war of independence and its impact on france / the revolution
- started in 1775, with france sending america forces over to help fight colonialists in the area and establish independence:
impact:
- through salon culture, the american war of independence promoted ideas of the enlightenment, a separation of powers and having the consent for those governed
- heavy cost on france – louis did not have the financial flexibility for this
- the idea of a new constitution and limited government in the US influenced france, by promoting ideas of a limited government, going against the absolute monarchy in france
- the war also upheld concepts of equality and liberty, which were sent back to france, and amplified (boosted enlightenment ideas)
describe the impact of the american war of independence on the revolution
- spread concepts of enlightenment
- promoted ideas of a democratic government and electorate consent
- the establishment of a new democratic government promoted a system of separation of powers
- the war enhanced ideas of equality and liberty, which became guiding principles in the revolution
- encouraged people to rebel against government
- supports representation and republicanism (further adding to enlightenment)
- critical of a entrenched power
what were the lettres de cachet
laws which could be forced through by the King, which could order the imprisonment of an individual
- evidence of the despotism of the king
give the 3 royal councils and their jobs
- council of state - would deal with issues of the state and its affairs
- council of deputies - would deal with church affairs
- council of royal finances - manage state finances, economic policy and local costs
*members appointed by king, under pressure from marie antoinette
distinguish between nobles of the sword and of the robe, and discuss their influence
sword: inherited their position
- would serve in local government as councillors
- some were members of the royal family
robe: were given their position based on credit and hard work
- these ones would buy their position
- 70,000 by 1789
- would therefore have influence in the legislature and executive
*created a significant amount of internal division and polarization between political groups, because of the concept of inheritance and working for your position
describe the financial policies of turgot
1774-1776
1. imposed a universal land tax
- progressive and undermined the estate system - block privilege of upper estates - believe in physiocratic ideas of eroding privilege to boost efficiency and have a more free economic system
2. reduced the number of government officials
- officials must submit finances to a controller general
3. IDEAS OF A FREE MARKET ECON:
- removed government imposed grain prices – free market forces and ELASTIC ECONOMY
4. reduced trade guilds - would create more flexible trading options and less barriers on trading practices
- free grain trade (ruined by 1775 flour wars)
5. 1776 - six edicts policy – abolished privilege - forced through by a lit de justice
pitfalls:
- too radical and liberal
- opposition from nobility
- burden on upper estates = hostility
describe the roles of intendants
- maintain support for royal rule and obtain local opinion on the work of the government - act in interest of king
- ensured all taxes were paid - was a tax-dependent nation
- ensure the edicts of the king were enforced
- co-ordinating the police force & raise and mobilise troops
- maintain order in local courts / lead them
what were / was :
1. pensions
2. sinecures
3. contracts
4. gratuities
5. patronage
- sums of money given by the king as a favour
- a position with a salary, which requires minimal work
- opportunities to undertake a project for recipients to make money
- free gifts from the monarchy
- appointments to offices and obtaining privileges
what was the problem with a french countryside economy
- the structure of feudalism meant that business and wealth was passed down between generations - kept wealth concentrated between and within families - lower self sufficiency
- overpopulation in countryside - forces intense farming which lowers the yield, and production prices were too high - could not satisfy demand
- the state imposed regulations on the domestic economy, which imposed economic barriers and limited trade diversity
- high taxation of peasantry - difficult flow between estates
- NOT PHYSIOCRATIC
what did necker do before the estates general
- necker undid the decisions by louis in the may edicts regarding the parlements
- temporary loans were raised
give examples of how the french economy was not prosperous in the ancien regime, and give the impact of this (5)
- less industrially developed - britain had 200 mills, france only had 8 - lower capacity for production - british competition limited french influence (france also lacked the infrastructure for transportation, making its economy relatively insular and indiverse = unemployment and local resentment)
- a series of poor harvests and hailstorms limited crop capacity and crop rotation, limiting the variety of produce – initiated unemployment
- there were over 25,000 different units of measure - easy conditions for fraud
- the population of france increased - meant that there was not only one economic system, which limited cohesion from 21 million in 1700 to 27 million by the 1780s – this increased this burden and created a reliance on food and product – difficult to satisfy demand (with product already being limited)
- intense countryside economy - only 15% of the population lived in areas of more than 2000 people - lack of trade, isolated, lack business / commerce capitals - this meant these locations were limited by trade guilds
- the french banking system was not advanced – instead of metal currency exchange, paper money was relied on, which collapsed
describe the legal system, including the parlements
- there were 3 tiers of legal courts, parlement courts being the highest
- there were 13 parlement courts, which were the highest courts = ‘sovereign courts’ - parisian parlement = highest
- the parlements system consisted of 12 magistrates (noble of the robe – those who earn their position)
- the parlements system would hear criminal and civil cases
- the Paris parlement was the most important, it had the power to check that the laws passed by the king conformed to other legislation
*clash with intendants because of their financial and legal powers – tax setting and collecting power and maintaining order in local courts
what were the may edicts
may 1788
- plans by the king (forced through by a lit de justice) to REMOVE THE POWERS OF THE PARLEMENTS (reinforce idea of despotism)
- the king creates new courts, of which all members are appointed by him, in which he now has the power to register laws
- the king gave the court the right to protest
- the king took away power from the parlements and designated it to lower courts
- he reduced the number of judges in the parisian parlement
*this causes the third estate to revolt
how may each estate be satisfied and not satisfied in french society
first estate:
satisfied:
- no taxation burden - only voluntary taxation every 5 years
- majority control (ie over policy)
- own land
- control of all avenues of government
not satisfied:
- resentment from priests - corruption and large gap between priests and other members of the church (low wages etc)
second estate:
satisfied:
- avenues in government for influence over legislation - patronage
- low tax burdens (ie taille) / avoid tax
- power to employ members of other estates
- economic monopolies
- owned 1/5 of land
not satisfied:
- the king would refuse to change ministers
- polarization between different nobles, in terms of working for their position vs having inherited positions
third estate:
satisfied:
- owned majority of the land (35%-40%) greater than other estates
- 21/26 million people – largest proportion of population (more amplified demands)
not satisfied:
- significant taxation burdens (reliance from upper estates on their taxation)
- exploited and underpaid by upper estates
- relied on for conscription etc
- constantly accountable to upper estates (ie giving bread, producing more etc)
- low education and literacy levels
- lack of land (concentrated in one area) = lack of crop rotation, constant bad harvests
describe the Revolt of the Nobles after louis’ may edicts and fundamental laws of the kingdom
- the parlements flooded courts with remonstraces and demands
- the second estate started publishing pamphlets which attacked brienne
- this leads to a re-establishment of ideas regarding the rule of law etc
- brienne demanded an enlarged don gratuit which was accepted in june 1788
- attacks and uprisings broke out across the country
- royal officials were attacked
describe the financial policies of necker
1777-1781
1. reduced corruption
- reduced the number of tax farmers from 60-40
- introduced 12 salaried officials to enforce taxation - accountable to necker, not 48 officials
- reduced the concept of venality and being able to pay for positions
- borrowing policy
- borrowed 520 million livres - compte rendu 1781
- claimed a surplus of 10 million livres, despite a defecit of 46 million
pitfalls:
- attempts to sideline the parlements
- false confidence in french system
- his popularity overshadowed need for change
when does louis dismiss the parlement
november 1787
- after banishing them to troyes
when does louis call the estates general
8th august 1788
- just before bankruptcy is declared
- estates begin drafting up cahiers de deloeances to advocate for wider representation
describe the royal session of november 1787
- louis assembles the parlements to force through the proposed changes by brienne
- he forces these edicts through using a lit de justice
- this causes outcry by the parlement, but louis dismisses them
describe the dynamic between louis and nobles after the EG
- during the clash, this was a dispute between the aristocracy and the notables
- there becomes a degree of paralysis and deadlock between the monarchy and nobles
- which is difficult for the king, because louis is weak, and requires a strong relationship with the nobles to avoid this association that he is despotic
- this erodes louis’ image and tarnishes his credible reputation
- because the nobility are viewed as the defenders of liberty against the king, the third estate cry out and support the 2nd estate
what did louis do on the 15th august 1787
banishes the parlement to troyes
what do nobles form in 1787
- they form a series of noble assemblies
- these amplify the calling for the EG
- these are formed after they are banished by the king
who advocates the most for the calling of the EG
nobles
- this is because they want to be presented as ‘defenders of liberty’ and want to be representative, so nobody threatens their position
- they want reform to taxation only to have representation (bitter toward aristocracy)
- they also know, that in the estates general, the procedure of voting by order will be maintained, which means that their privilege is maintained.
when was the 2nd assembly of notables
- november 1787
*was less formal
when did louis double representation for the 3rd estate in the EG
27th december 1788
