Chapter 4 - Developments February 1787 - May 1789 Flashcards
When did the Assembly of Notables meet?
February 1787
How many people were at the Assembly of Notables?
144 men including Princes of the Blood , important notables and representatives of the Church.
Who led the main opposition towards Calonne’s proposals?
Brienne
‘What did Calonne reveal about the Compte Rendu’?
It spread lies and the country was in serious debt which made him unpopular.
Why was Calonne removed from his position?
Many distrusted him and Marie-Antoinette’s personal biases swayed Louis to dismiss him.
When was Brienne appointed as controller-general?
1788
What financial reforms did Brienne propose?
Continued with a push for a general land tax, extension of provincial assemblies, deregulated grain trade and abolished tax farming.
Why were Brienne’s reforms unsuccessful?
Due to a lack of finances and having to resort to loans.
When Brienne asked the Church for an enlarge don gratuit, what did he receive?
1/4 of the amount he had requested which is an example of how the Church contributed to the breakdown of monarchy.
How did the Paris Parlement respond to Brienne’s attempt to register his land tax proposition?
Refused and deemed the changes to taxation as incompetent (many nobles sat in these parlements).
How did the Paris Parlement respond to Brienne’s attempt to force his reforms through a lit de justice?
Petitioned for an Estates-General with support of many Parisians at the home of Louis’ liberal cousin Duc D’Orleans (the Palais Royal).
How did Louis respond to the protesting of the Paris Parlement and the Duc D’Orelans’ for an Estates General?
Banished the Paris Parlement to Troyes and exiled his cousin by a letter de cachet.
When and why did Louis allow the Paris Parlement return to Paris?
Later in September due to his desperate need for finances.
What did the King promise regarding an Estates General?
One would be held by 1792.
What were the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom in May 1788?
An Estates General and parliamentary consent would be needed for the fundamental laws the King is proposing.
How did Louis respond to the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom?
The May Edicts May 1788
What did the May Edicts include?
Reduced number of judges in the Paris Parlement, the King would appoint nobles, magistrates and officers to take responsibility for the registration of Laws, Parlements legal work would e transferred to lower courts and the New court would have the right to remonstrate.
How were the May Edict enforced?
Through a lit de justice.
What did the enforcement of the May Edicts lead to?
The Revolt of the Nobles May - August 1788
What was the Revolt of the Nobles?
Three months of chaos where royal control broke down: provincial assemblies flooded the royal court with remonstrances, Paris Parlement cried for the end of imprisonment without trial and radical pamphlets circled attacking Brienne.
What was the Day of Tiles June 1788?
Royal officials and soldiers who arrived to stop rioting in Grenoble were pelted with stones and roof tiles.
When was France declared Bankrupt?
August 1788
Who was recalled in August 1788?
Necker, after Brienne’s resignation
What were the concerns regarding the layout of the Estates-General?
Voting procedures: by head (favoured by 3rd) or by Estate (favoured by 1st and 2nd)
Number of representatives: equal representation? (favoured by 1st and 2nd due to mass numbers of 3rd)
Meeting procedures: Separate meetings? (favoured by 1st and 2nd)
What was the layout of the Estates General announced by the Paris Parlement in September 1788?
The Estates General would follow the traditional procedures of 1614
What were the traditional procedures of 1614?
Equal representation (minimise he say of the 3rd)
Separate estate meetings (prevent collaboration)
Voting by order (ensuring the 3rd were outvoted by the 1st and 2nd).
What were the effects of the announcement of the traditional procedures of the Estates-General?
A distrust of parliament as they were supposed to be ‘Champions of the people’, however were defending tradition not the 3rd Estate.
The politicisation of the 3rd Estate
What was the Society of Thirty?
A group of liberal nobles who encouraged members of the 3rd estate to fight for their rights through printing pamphlets and holding meetings.
Who is Abbe Sieyes and what did he publish?
A member of the 1st Estate who was a 3rd Estate representative and published the pamphlet ‘What is the Third Estate?’ describing that the 3rd Estate was everything and represented the nation.
What were Cahiers de doleances?
Each Estate were required to write a list of grievances to bring to the Estates-General meeting to represent their problems.
What was the rioting of the Revellion April 1789?
Rumours spread that wallpaper manufacturer Revellion was considering cutting wage rates, and the factory was attacked for days until troops had to restore order.
