AOS 1 - Causes Flashcards
1
Q
American War of Independence Quotes (Turgot)
A
“The first shot will drive the state into bankruptcy.”
2
Q
Assembly of Notables
Date
What
Significance
A
- 22 February 1787
- A body of notables, mainly nobles, who acted in an advisory capacity to the king
- “the first revolutionaries” (Schama)
3
Q
Calonne
Years in office
Reforms
A
- 1783 - 87
- Proposed a diverse income tax & land tax, to be paid by all
- “[Privilege]… infects everything, harms everything and prevents any improvements.”
4
Q
Jacques Necker
Years in office
Significant Work
Historian’s Perspective
A
- 1777 - 81, then 88 - 89
- The Compte Rendu au Roi (February 1781), showed France to be in a surplus of 10 million livres rather than the significant debt it was actually in
- “Public opinion saw Necker as a banking wizard: someone who could pull rabbits out of hats and money out of thin air.” (Schama)
5
Q
Brienne
Years in Office
Reforms
A
- 1787 - 88
- Proposed a new land tax (similar to Calonne’s) and a new stamp duty, both rejected by the parlements
- Persuaded the king to exile the parlements, but recalled them to accept an edict for raising loans (120 million) but rejected
- Suggested for the Estates-General to be called
6
Q
Parlements
A
- Sovereign court of appeal - entirely aristocratic
- Registered royal edicts as law and scrutinised them, though the king could order a lit de justice to force registration
- Parlement rejected the tax reforms, argued that only the Estates-General as representatives of the nation could permit new taxes (no taxation without representation)
- Louis presented a lit de justice, but was declared invalid by the parlement
7
Q
Day of Tiles
A
- 10 June 1788
- Soldiers came to arrest and exile magistrates, townspeople attacked from the rooftops
- Governor’s house looted and magistrates led back to the courts in triumph
8
Q
Financial Crisis
A
- “Enough money for the government to function for one afternoon.” (Schama)
- Lots of debt from foreign wars (Austrian War of Succession, Seven Years War, American Revolution), 400 million livres
- By 1789, they were in debt of more than 1.3 billion livres, including interest - 91% of national money came from loans
9
Q
Poor Harvests / Food Shortages
A
- “It was the connection of anger and hunger that made the revolution possible. But it also programmed the revolution to explode from overinflated expectations.” (Schama)
- 81/82, 85/86, 88/89
- Some poor households spending 65-90% of their income on food
10
Q
Tennis Court Oath
A
- 20 June 1789
- Vowed to never seperate until France had a constitution
- 600 deputies of the Third Estate
11
Q
Bourgeoisie
A
- “The ultimate cause of the revolution was the rise of the bourgeoisie.” (Lefebvre)
12
Q
Storming of the Bastille
A
- 14 July 1789
- Crowd of 600 with 2 cannons
- 10 cannons, 28,000 muskets seized
- Bastille a symbol of royal authority, revolutionaries wanted the 250 barrels of gunpowder
- “Climax of the popular movement.” (Doyle)
13
Q
Fiscal System
A
- Taille tax (land) (only by Third Estate) (privileged exempt)
- Vingtieme (5% of income)
- Seigneurial dues (1/7)
- Gabelle (salt)
- Capitation (poll tax)
- Corvée (compulsory labour)
- Taxes raised during financial crisis
14
Q
Estates-General
A
- May 1789
- A body representing the whole nation
- Met to restore creditors’ confidence in France through solving the fiscal crisis
15
Q
National Assembly
A
- 17 June 1789
- Third Estate deputies form a National Assembly
- “The Third Estate created a new power, independent of the King.” (Furet)
