Causes- France

Question 1

What was the involvement of France in the American revolution?

Answer 1

The continental army victory at the battle of Saratoga in 1777 influenced Louis XVI to commit troops and supplies to the continental army totalling 1.3 billion livre. Dispatching General Rochambeau who would play a role in the battle of Yorktown that would end the fighting.

Question 2

Define the 1st estate.

Answer 2

The clergy. Made up of high clergy, like cardinals and archbishops and also low clergy, bishops and common priests.

Question 3

Define the 2nd estate.

Answer 3

The nobility. Two types of nobility are: nobility of the robe, those that hold government office or venal titles. Nobility of the sword, those that hold positions in the military like officers and generals.

Question 4

Define the 3rd estate.

Answer 4

Everyone that was not part of the other estates. Comprised the bourgeoise who were upper class third estate that held property and money (merchants, artisans and lawyers etc). The peasants, those who laboured manually.

Question 5

Define the taille.

Answer 5

Payment for military service. 1st and 2nd estates excluded.

Question 6

Define the capitation.

Answer 6

Tax for every adult citizen excluding clergy.

Question 7

Define the vingtieme.

Answer 7

The income tax. 1/20 of annual income. Excluding 1st and 2nd estates.

Question 8

Define the gabelle.

Answer 8

The tax for salt purchases, also the duties for importing and trading food.

Question 9

Define the tithe.

Answer 9

Tax paid to church by land owners in 3rd estate. 10% of annual income or stock.

Question 10

Define feudal dues.

Answer 10

Required peasants to who occupied land owner by the lord/ seinguer to pay the lord in unpaid labour (corvee) or cash for the usage of their infrastructure.

Question 11

Define royal absolutism and one strength and weakness.

Answer 11

The king has ultimate authority.
S: The monarch had no legal limit to power.
W: No checks on the monarch if they were a tyrant.

Question 12

Define divine right and one strength and weakness.

Answer 12

The monarch receives their power directly from god.
S: Everybody trusted the monarch more, and they became a religious leader as well.
W: If they did wrong it would shatter their illusion of legitimacy.

Question 13

Outline ideas of three enlightenment philosophers.

Answer 13

Voltaire. Freedom of speech and religion.
Montesquieu. Separation of powers.
Rousseau. General will and equality.

Question 14

Explain the compte roundu and its consequences.

Answer 14

The first comprehensive account of the nations finances, released by Necker in 1781 to reassure foreign creditors to the healthy state of Frances economy.
Outcomes: the account was heavily doctored by Necker to present France in a more positive light by hiding massive debts from funding American war. This stifled any attempt at reform because everyone thought France’s economy was healthy.
Necker was dismissed in 1783 and replaced with Calonne.

Question 15

Outline the order of Frances finance minister leading up to 1789.

Answer 15

Turgot 1774-1776, Necker 1776-17783, Calonne 1783-1787, Brienne 1787-1788, Necker 1788-1789.

Question 16

What was the effect of Calonne’s term as finance minister?

Answer 16

Royal spending was sustained at its high level, because Calonne thought it would boost public confidence.
Abolished internal tax barriers within France, and replaced tax farmers with local assemblies.
Calonne produced “Plan for improvement of finances” and wanted to introduce a land tax applicable to all three estates.
Called the Assembly of Notables to push through his recommended reforms.

Question 17

What were the outcomes of calling the assembly of notables?

Answer 17

Objected to Calonne’s reforms especially land tax, demanding to see royal accounts before decision made.
Notables says that only the estates general has the authority to pass new taxes.
Calonne publishes pamphlet described how bad the financial situation is.
Louis XVI fires Calonne and replaces him with Brienne.

Question 18

What was the effects of Brienne’s term as finance minister?

Answer 18

Brienne proposed a stamp duty tax.
After being blocked by assembly of notables, they are dissolved and Brienne takes his proposal to the parlement of Paris.

Question 19

Outline the reactions to Brienne’s 1787 reforms.

Answer 19

Paris parlement says that they do not have the authority to pass the taxes, only the estates general has that power.
Louis XVI forces parlement to pass it via lit de justice.
Parlement disobeys and is exiled through letters de cache.

Question 20

Define the estates general.

Answer 20

An advisory body the King could call to consult on new laws. With each estate represented by delegates. Each estate had one vote each, despite population.

Question 21

Explain the reveillion riots and its outcomes.

Answer 21

A riot that broke out in Paris against a wallpaper manufacturer who was misunderstood by the Parisian mobs to be calling for a freeze in wages.
Outcomes: 25 people killed in riot, mass looting. Influenced the decision of the third estate deputies in the estates general to form a National Assembly.

Question 22

Explain “what is the third estate?”.

Answer 22

A political pamphlet written and released by Sieyes, a deputy of the third estate in the estates general, that called for greater representation of the third estate in voting. Advocated for voting by head not by order.

Question 23

Explain the bourgeoise revolt.

Answer 23

With riots increasing in Paris, Sieyes and other members of the third estate call for the deputies of the 1st and 2nd estates to join them in creating a National Assembly. Delegates from the other two estates cross the floor on the 13th of June and on the 17th of June the group in a 490/90 vote declares themselves to be the National Assembly.

Question 24

Explain the tennis court oath.

Answer 24

Upon finding their meeting place locked, the National Assembly meet in a nearby tennis court. With Bailey administering an oath to not stop meeting until a constitution had been established.

Question 25

Explain the peasant revolt of July and its outcomes.

Answer 25

The peasants revolt was spurred by the dismissal of Necker by Louis XVI on the 11th of July.
This resulted in the Paris insurrection.
The Bastille was stormed by mobs on the 14th of July, killing Governor De Lauey.
On the 15th of July a National Guard was established to protect Paris, captioned by Lafayette.

Question 26

Explain the great fear.

Answer 26

A series of riots that broke out across France across March and April of 1789 in which peasants attacked their local nobles. With the intention of destroying the records of seigneurial dues owed.

Question 27

Explain the night of patriotic delirium.

Answer 27

Upon hearing of the great fear, the National Assembly appointed an investigative committee to find a solution. They proposed the abolishment of seigneurial dues. This caused a wave of proceeding proclamations by members of the National assembly to abolish venal offices, noble privileges, church tithes, and to tax the estates equally.

Question 28

Explain the August decrees.

Answer 28

This was the legislation stemming from the promises made in the night of patriotic delirium. Meant to calm the people of France from further rioting. It did abolish seignorial dues on the condition that peasants compensate their nobles for their freedom (most didn’t bother, and by 1790 this idea was abandoned). The tithe, venal office were both abolished. Also the requirement that only members of the 2nd estate could serve as military officers was abolished.

Question 29

Define a lit de justice.

Answer 29

When the king physically sits in on a parlementary sitting, forcing them to pass the legislation.

Question 30

Explain the declaration of rights of man and citizen.

Answer 30

Written by Lafayette and presented to the National Assembly on the 26th of August 1789 in tandem with the August Decrees.
It said that all people are citizens and so all have an equal set of rights and privileges. It expressed ideas of the general will, natural rights, religious freedom, separation of powers, the right to private property. Borrowing heavily from the BOR and declaration of independence.

Question 31

Explain the women’s march on Versailles.

Answer 31

A group of women in Paris protesting against bread prices, developed into a mob of armed rioters marching towards the King’s residence of Versailles. Lafayette and the National Guard were present but could not deter the force, so escorted them to Versailles.
Once reaching the palace a violent outburst occurred which killed multiple guards and almost the Queen. On the suggestion of Lafayette, the royal family was escorted by the National Guard and the mob to Paris. Where they were held as virtual prisoners.

Question 32

What was the significance of Louis XVI in causing the revolution?

Answer 32

Got France involved in the American revolutionary war to a cost of 1.3 billion livres. Fired the popular Necker for the release of the Compte Roundu. Aggravated the parlements by using a lit de justice to force through Calonne’s reforms. Spent heavily on royal lifestyle. Declared that voting in estates general would be by order not by head.

Question 33

What was the significance of Marie Antoinette in causing the revolution?

Answer 33

As an Austrian, viewed with distrust by the public. Was notoriously extravagant and expensive. Radical newspapers like Marat’s “friend of the people” spread the perception she was colluding with foreign powers and untrustworthy.

Question 34

What was the significance of Duc ‘de Orleans in causing the revolution?

Answer 34

Member of the Assembly of Notables called by Calonne. In which he spoke out against the Ancein regime. Campaigned for the calling of the Estates General. Hosted radical political salons in his home, allowing them to produce radical pamphlets without royal interference.

Question 35

What was the significance of Sieyes in causing the revolution?

Answer 35

Sieyes wrote the 1789 political pamphlet “What is the third estate?” calling for better representation of the 3rd estate in the estates generals voting. Sieyes also called for the formation of a National Assembly, with the third estate combining with delegates from the 1st and 2nd estates to form a representative government. Sieyes also drafted the Tennis Court Oath, and consulted with Lafayette in formulating the DRMC.

Question 36

What was the significance of Lafayette in causing the revolution?

Answer 36

A member of the Assembly of Notables who argued for the convening of the Estates General to pass Calonne’s proposed reforms. On the 15th of July (day after Bastille) Lafayette established a National Guard to protect Paris. Drafted the DRMC which began the legal foundation of the new society. Was on hand during the Women’s march on Versailles to protect the royal family.

Question 37

What was the significance of Mirabeau in causing the revolution?

Answer 37

A deputy of the third estate in the Estates General with a flair for oratory, Mirabeau came to be leader of the third estate faction. Became a leader in the National Assembly. Criticised the August Decrees as too radical and advised the King in private.

Question 38

What was the significance of Desmoulins in causing the revolution?

Answer 38

Founded the Cordeliers club with Danton. Addressed crowds in Paris after Necker’s dismissal, instigating the Paris insurrection. Wrote “France Libre” in 1789, a political pamphlet condemning the monarchy and calling for popular sovereignty.