Developments February 1787 - May 1789

Question 1

When did the Assembly of Notables meet? What was it composed of (give examples)? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 1

The Assembly of Notables met in February 1787, composed of Second and First Estate members. Seven Princes of the Blood, Parlement judges, church representatives.

Question 2

Why did the clergy oppose Calonne’s proposals? Who was this led by? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 2

The clergy were opposed to the ideas to more heavily tax the church. The opposition was led by de Brienne, the Archbishop of Toulouse.

Question 3

Why were the notables economically opposed to Calonne’s radical reforms? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 3

The notables were not convinced that France’s economic situation was severe enough to warrant radical reforms to the economy.

Question 4

How did Calonne anger the notables? What was wrong with this? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 4

Calonne published articles attacking the actions of the Notables, accusing them of self interests in their decision making. Many notables had actually been influenced by enlightenment ideas, and were open to fairer taxation.

Question 5

Why did Marie Antoinette have such extensive influence over politics? When did she use this in 1787 and previously?? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 5

Marie Antoinette had favourites at court, and manipulated Louis’ weak personality into promoting these favourites into high ranking positions at court. Marie Antoinette forced Louis to sack Calonne, Necker and Turgot.

Question 6

Who replaced Calonne? What changes did he wish to implement? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 6

Calonne was replaced by de Brienne. He wanted to extend tolerance to Protestants, change the corvée royale into a tax, deregulate the grain trade, spread education, abolish tax farming and codify law.

Question 7

Which of Calonne’s proposals did de Brienne attempt to pass? What was the result of this? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 7

de Brienne attempted to pass a modified form of Calonne’s general land tax. However, he failed to do so, as the Assembly of Notables acted in favour of vested interests.

Question 8

What was the attitude of the Assembly of Notables towards taxation reform? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 8

The Assembly of Notables proposed that there should be ‘no taxation without representation’ by an Estates General, which would fully scrutinise the taxation system. This as they were not deemed representative enough to grant tax reform.

Question 9

Why did de Brienne have to ask the Paris Parlement to register his proposals? What were these proposals? What was their outcome? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 9

de Brienne asked the Paris Parlement to register his reforms because the Notables had been disbanded by Louis in 1787. He asked the Parlement for a land tax, higher stamp duty. It was rejected as the Parlement decided it didn’t have sufficient power to rule on this.

Question 10

What was de Brienne’s response to the rejection by the Paris Parlement to pass his economic reforms? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 10

de Brienne attempted to pass these reforms through use of the lit de justice, although this was blocked by the Parlement.

Question 11

How did ordinary Parisians display their support for the calling of an Estates-General? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 11

Parisians gathered at the palace of the duc d’Orléans, a supporter of enlightenment ideas in order to display strong support for the calling of the Estates-General.

Question 12

When did Louis banish the Paris Parlement? Where to? Why? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 12

Louis banished the Paris Parlement to Troyes in August 1787, in order to get it away from the crowds calling for the calling of an Estates-General.

Question 13

What was an Estates-General? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 13

An Estates-General was a body which could be called by the King to discuss major issues. An elected body, it contained representatives of the 3 Estates in French society.

Question 14

What was the response of ordinary Parisians to Louis’ decision to banish the Paris Parlement? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 14

In response to Louis banishing the Paris Parlement to Troyes, rioting occurred on the streets of Paris.

Question 15

When did Louis recall the Paris Parlement? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 15

Louis recalled the Paris Parlement in September 1787.

Question 16

When did Louis hold a very divisive royal session in 1787? What was the notable outcome from this? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 16

Louis held a divisive Royal Session in NOVEMBER 1787, following which he exiled the duc d’Orléans as a result of his criticisms of Louis and his rule.

Question 17

Why was Louis forced to commit to the calling of the Estates-General? When? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 17

At the calling of his Royal Session in November 1787, Louis was forced to commit to calling an Estates-General by 1792 in return for the granting of a vingtième.

Question 18

What were the ‘Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom’? Who created them, and what was their purpose? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 18

The ‘Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom’ were created by the Parlements in May 1788, and were intended to force an Estates-General to be called to debate Louis’ changes. These laws were supposed to be entrenched, even against change by the King.

Question 19

When did Louis register his ‘May Edicts’? What were these intended to do? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 19

Louis registered the ‘May Edicts’ in May 1788, which were intended to diminish the powers of the Parlements.

Question 20

What specific measures did the May Edicts intend to introduce? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 20

The May Edicts said that a new court would be created to replace the Parlements, which would be appointed by the King. This court would be able to remonstrate. The Paris Parlement would have the number of judges reduced to limit its power.

Question 21

How did Louis register his May Edicts? What was the response to them? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 21

Louis registered his May Edicts through the use of the lit de justice, after which an all night protest was undertake by the parlements.

Question 22

What was the response of the provincial parlements to the May Edicts? What imprisonments measure did the Paris Parlement campaign against? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 22

The Parlements strongly opposed the May Edicts by remonstrating against them, whilst the Paris Parlement campaigned for the ending of imprisonments by lettre de cachet.

Question 23

When did de Brienne demand an enlarged don gratuit from the church in order to alleviate financial burdens? What did he actually receive? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 23

In June 1788, de Brienne asked the Parlements for an enlarged don gratuit, only to receive 1/4 of what he originally asked for.

Question 24

As France fell into political turmoil, sporadic uprisings occurred across the country. What example is there of this? When? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 24

In August 1788, a notable uprising was the ‘Day of Tiles’ in Grenoble, during which royal troops were battered with slates and tiles in protest at the weak, yet oppressive methods used by Louis’ government.

Question 25

What economic action did de Brienne take in August 1788? What knock on effects did this have on France politically and economically? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 25

In August 1788, de Brienne suspended payments from the royal treasury, meaning that it could not request any more loans as it couldn’t pay interest. This led to the calling of the Estates-General, as well as France being declared BANKRUPT.

Question 26

When was France declared Bankrupt? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 26

France was declared Bankrupt in August 1788.

Question 27

When did de Brienne resign as Controller-General? Who replaced him? What was their first act? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 27

de Brienne resigned as Controller-General in August 1788, to be replaced by Necker. Necker’s first act was to reverse the unpopular May Edicts and restore the parlements.

Question 28

What 3 issues were there around the running of the Estates-General? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 28

The number of deputies each estate would have (should each estate have the same number or should it be proportional?), the method of debate (separate or all 3 estates together?), the method of voting (by head or by order?)

Question 29

What were the differences between voting by head and voting by order? What impacts would each form have? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 29

Voting by head was when each deputy would have a vote to cast. Voting by order was when each estate would have a vote to cast.
Voting by head would be more representative of the population if the 3rd Estate had more members, voting by order gives each group in society equal weighting.

Question 30

What was decided would be the processes adopted by the Estates General in terms of deputies, voting and debate? What were the consequences of this? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 30

It was decided (by the Paris Parlement) that the system of voting by order would be used, that each estate would have equal numbers of deputies, and that debate would be separate. All WORKED AGAINST 3rd ESTATE

Question 31

How did Necker and the King admit the processes of the Estates-General should be amended in December 1788? What was the outcome of this? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 31

In December 1788, it was admitted that the 3rd Estate should be granted double representation. This resulted in double representation in terms of deputies BUT the Third Estate was still granted equal votes.

Question 32

When did the politicisation of the 3rd Estate begin? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 32

The politicisation of the 3rd Estate began in 1789 prior to the first meeting of the Estates-General.

Question 33

Who were the Society of Thirty (group/individuals)? How did this push France towards revolution? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 33

The Society of Thirty were a group set up by liberal nobles, some magistrates and clergy (Lafayette, Bishop of Autun included), who encouraged the 3rd Estate to fight for rights through publishing of pamphlets and holding of meetings.

Question 34

How did the publication of ‘What is the Third Estate?’ push France towards revolution? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 34

The publication of ‘What is the Third Estate?’ spread the idea of the Third Estate being France and representing the nation. It argued the Third Estate should be the primary source of power in France.

Question 35

How did the poor agricultural situation in 1788/89 push France towards Revolution? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 35

Discontent and demand for change among peasants was exacerbated due to poor harvest in 1788 causing price rises for food in 1789, meaning that society’s poorest couldn’t afford to feed themselves.

Question 36

How much of workers’ incomes was spent on bread due to the poor agricultural situation of 1789? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 36

In 1789, 88% of workers’ wages was spent on bread in order to survive as a result of increased prices from the poor 1788 harvest.

Question 37

What were cahiers de doléances? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 37

Cahiers de doléances were a list of complaints against the state which were compiled by each estate prior to the meeting of the Estates-General.

Question 38

When were the Cahiers de Doléances compiled? How did this push France towards revolution? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 38

The Cahiers de Doléances began to be drawn up by each estate in the spring of 1789, with the discussion of issues among the 3rd estate and enlightened nobles opening the floodgates of rebellious sentiment.

Question 39

When did the Réveillon Riots happen? What were these riots? - (1787 to 1789)

Answer 39

The Réveillon Riots happened in April 1789 when a wallpaper factory owner (Réveillon) contemplated cutting wages, leading to rioting from its workforce. The rioting was so bad that royal intervention was needed from troops.