Causes Of French Revolution Flashcards
When did Calonne tell Louis the government was on the verge of bankruptcy ?
August 1786
When was the Seven Years War?
1756-1763
When was France at war for 20 years?
Between 1740 and 1783
What did Calonne propose to reform the financial state in France
Main proposal to replace the capitation and land tax with single land tax on person not land and no exemptions for anyone
Also abandon controls on grain trade and restore national confidence in loans
Who replaced Calonne
Brienne
When was the estates general agreed to meet
1 May 1789
When and why were the Paris parlements exiled to Troyes ?
August 1787 and because Louis was angry as they did not agree to Briennes reforms
When was Louis forced to allow the Paris Parlements to return?
Sept 1788
When was the tennis court oath?
June 1789
When was the storming of the Bastille ?
July 1789
When was the commune set up in Paris ?
15 July 1789 day after the storming of Bastille
When were the august decrees?
August 1789
What were the main terms of the august decrees ?
Tithes abolished, venality abolished , financial and tax privileges abolished , all citizens taxes equally and special privileges abolished
When was the declaration of rights of man?
26 August 1789
When was church land nationalised ?
November 1789
When were the October days and what were they a result of?
October 1789 and women marched to assembly and king due to his refusal to agree to the decrees and declaration and also because of bread shortages
Define absolutism or autocracy
Where one person holds all power
Define a province
An area governed as part of a country or an empire
What were intendants ?
Officials appointed by and answerable to the crown
Responsible for police justice and finance.
Generalites definition
34 areas Into which France was divided for the purpose of tax collection and under control of an intendant
What was the taille ? Who paid and was it direct or indirect ?
Land tax
Direct tax
Paid by third estate
Vingtieme tax who paid and direct or indirect?
5% of income
Paid by third estate
Direct tax
Capitation ? Direct or indirect ? And who paid ?
Poll tax or tax on people
Direct
Paid by theoretically second and third but mainly third estate
Who was exempt from the taille ?
Nobles
Gabelle tax
Indirect
Tax on salt
Paid by everyone
Aidas tax
Indirect
Paid by everyone
Tax on food and drink
Octrois tax
Indirect
Paid by everyone
Tax on goods entering town
What was tax collection known as and who collected them?
Tax farming
Collected by company called Farmers-General
What was the venality system ?
Many officials who collected taxes were under this system
It was a system where certain jobs could be bought or transferred onto descendants
These officials could not be dismissed therefore =corruption
How does church avoid paying tax?
By making a voluntary contribution annual grant of approx 16 million livres - only 5% of their income
What is plurality ?
The holding of more than one bishopric or parish by an individual
What is a bishopric ?
The office or rank of a bishop
What is a diocese ?
A district under a bishops control
What were tithes ?
Charges paid by landowners to the church based on proportion of crops
Money meant to to go to poor relief but most bishops kept to themselves
Why was church unpopular ?
Tithes
Plurality
Exempt from all taxes
Had significant power over people in France like censorship etc
What were the privileges of the nobility ?
Held top jobs Tried in special courts Exempt from military service Exempt from gabelle and taille Paid no direct taxes Exempt from corvee
How join the nobility ?
Inheritance
Direct appointment by king
Buying certain offices that carried hereditary titles
What were the grievances of the third estate?
Taxation
Tithes
Feudal dues
Taxes increased dramatically from 1749 to 1783
What did the philosophes favour?
Liberty of press, speech, trade and wanted equality before the law
When and what did the economic crisis. Consist of?
1780s agricultural prosperity ended and there were disastrous harvests which led to mass unemployment
Rises in food prices led to
Less demand for manufactured goods and less workers
Overall food shortages
Hoarding
