Developments february 1787- may 1789

Question 1

why was the assembly of notables called

Answer 1

• finances and royal debt
• Calonne had failed to raise loans in 1786
• Parlement had little confidence in Louis and Calonne
• refused to agree to the implementation of new taxes in 1785
• using the lit de justice would have been unpopular

Question 2

policies presented by Louis at the assembly of notables

Answer 2

• land tax without exemptions
• new elected regional assemblies with the aims to implement new forms of taxation
• remove restrictions on trade in order to stimulate economic growth
• all these were rejected

Question 3

The assembly of notables 22 February 1787

Answer 3

• 144 men including the 7 princes of blood, senior judges from the parlements important notables and 14 representatives of the church
• Clergy (led by Briene, archbishop of Toulouse) were hostile to plans to tax the church
• Notables were not convinced the situation was bad enough to warrant such changes
• When Calonne revealed that Necker’s compte rendu was in error Necker attacked Callone leading the assembly to accuse him of incompetence and trying to shift the blame unto others
• Many of the notable had been influenced by the enlightenment and wanted a fairer tax system in France but distrusted Calonne so in April 1787 he had to go

Question 4

Birene reforms

Answer 4

• Cologne was replaced by Briene
• Reforms around the army navy and central government
• Extended toleration to protestants
• Changed the corvee royale into a tax
• Supported the spread of education, abolition of tax farming and establishment of a central treasury
• Attempted to carry though Calonne’s land tax with some modifications but failed
• Notables took up cries of no taxation without representation and supported the idea of an estate general
• Louis dismissed the assembly in may 1787
• Briene had to report to a loan to keep the country afloat

Question 5

The clash with the parlements may 1787 - may 1788

Answer 5

• Brienne asked the parlements to register his proposal for land tax and higher stamp duty
• They declared in July that they were not competent to endorse such taxation changes
• Brienne tried to force the registration of the proposal using the lit de justice but the Paris parliament refused to accept this and in July petitioned for an estates general

Question 6

louis banishes the paris parlement

Answer 6

• Hostility towards Louis caused him to banish the Paris parlement to Troyes
• However all other parlements refused to register Louis edict
• This increased rioting in the streets
  Luis allowed the parlements back in September

Question 7

louis royal session with the parlements

Answer 7

• In November he held a royal session where the duc de Orleans was so outspoken he was exiled by letters de cachet along with 2 other members
• With royal troops surrounding Louis forced through more loans via the lit de justice
• But was forced to promise to call the estate general by 1792

Question 8

parlements fundamental laws of the kingdom

Answer 8

• May 1888 parlements issue the fundamental laws of the kingdom stating the consent of the estate general was needed for such fundamental changes that Louis was proposing
• Louis responded by arresting more members and drew plans to remove the parlements powers in the may edicts

Question 9

may edicts

Answer 9

• A new plenary court of nobles officials and magistrates appointed by the king would be responsible for the registration of law
• Parlements work would be transferred to lower courts
• Number of judges in Paris parlements would be reduced
• Forced through by the lit de justice
• Unleashed 3 months of chaos