French Revolution 1

Question 1

Describe the 3 estates system

Answer 1

First (Clergy)
Second (Nobility - 2%)
Third (Workers)

Question 2

What three taxes did the third estate have to pay?

Answer 2

Tithe (10% to church), Gabelle (Salt tax), Corvee (forced labour)

Question 3

Describe the role of the King.

Answer 3

An absolute monarch who appointed/dismissed ministers, brought laws to parlement but could override if disagreed with, lettre de cachet (arrest without reasoning)

Question 4

What is enlightenment?

Answer 4

Ideas circulating France, challenged ancien regime as believed the King was accountable to God, emphasised the simplicity of life

Question 5

What was Louis XVI like?

Answer 5

Weak leader, easily manipulated, however wanted modernisation

Question 6

What was Marie Antionette like?

Answer 6

Austrian, known as an entertainer, struggled to produce an heir, The Affair of the Diamond Necklace - man conned into thinking he was buying a necklace for Marie, gave her a bad reputation

Question 7

Why was the tax system inefficent?

Answer 7

Tax farmers corrupt, the first and second estate payed little tax

Question 8

What two wars created debt for France?

Answer 8

7 year war against Britain which was lost = loss of colonies
American Revolution spent 1066 million livres mostly through loans

Question 9

Who were the 4 finance minsters and what did they do?

Answer 9

Turgot - ended tariff on grain but bad harvest increased prices
Necker - hide the true expenditure of france to borrow more money
Calonne extends tax (universal land tax) to the nobility - break from ancien regime
Brienne - universal land tax, remove corvee

Question 10

What was the result of Calonnes ideas?

Answer 10

Assembly of Notables 1787, unversal land tax presented, however unwanted and he was dismissed

Question 11

What was the result of Briennes ideas?

Answer 11

Estates General was called

Question 12

What occurred at the calling of the Estates general 1789?

Answer 12

Louis asked for the estates to bring cahiers (grievances), however were very extreme and not about taxes, so no reforms were made, the 3rd estate declared themselves the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY and met separately

Question 13

Explain the Tennis Court Oath 1789

Answer 13

Estates general called for 2nd time, third estate locked out so meet and make an oath to continue meeting until a new constitution made = Louis accepted the National Assembly

Question 14

Explain the Storming of the Bastille 1789

Answer 14

Louis dismissed Necker and placed troops in Paris, the Bastille, a prison for the lettre de cachet was stormed for gunpowder