C1: The structure of the Ancien Regime...Economic Problems from 1787 Flashcards
Who was France ruled by under the Ancien Regime?
France was ruled by hereditary monarchs of the Bourbon family.
What were intendants?
Administrative officials under the ancien regime in France who served as an agent of the king in each of the provinces.
What were the parlements?
There was no French parliament. France was ruled by royal edicts, which were registered by high courts of law consisting of small numbers of aristocratic judges.
How could kings override the parlements?
In a special ceremony called a lit de justice.
Who was exempt from paying taxes?
The nobility and clergy were exempted from some direct taxes.
What were the two wars that occured before the French Revolution?
War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48) and the Seven Years’ War (1756-63)
When was the War of the Austrian Succession?
1740-48
When was the Seven Years’ War?
1756-63
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What were some urban problems from 1787?
Overcrowding, frequent food riots, and the danger of unemployment if trade declined caused tensions.
What did the General Tax Farm do to food prices?
This made the price of the large amount of food coming into the city higher and caused considerable investment –> bad harvests –> short-term rise in economic distress in the winter of 1788-89.
What was the level of unemployment by 1789?
Unemployment rose to 80,000 in Paris, and there was a slump in textiles which hit nationwide.
When did food prices hit their peak?
Food prices reached their peak in July 1789 (coinciding with the attack on the Bastille).
What were the three types of taxes large numbers of farmers suffered under? (long-run discontent)
The Taille (land tax), the Gabelle (salt tax), and the Church tax (the tithe).
