How far were the causes of the revolution a question of economic decline, rather than political discontent?

Question 1

1.6% state revenue

Answer 1

Percentage of state revenue that came from direct land tax - burden falls to Third Estate

Question 2

Taille

Answer 2

Direct land tax (only paid for by Third Estate)

Question 3

What years was there mass agricultural decline? Bad harvests

Answer 3

1778-9 1781-82 1785-86 1787

Question 4

what was prominent in the decade leading up to the revolution ?

Answer 4

Bad harvests

Question 5

How did harvest failure affect working classes in towns?

Answer 5

Bread constituted main proproption of their diet. When harvest failed = wheat prices increased and so did bread prices - 50%

Question 6

what happened to the agriculture in 1788?

Answer 6

crops were destroyed and became more scare and expensive

Question 7

between August 17788 and March 1789 how much did the price of bread rise ?

Answer 7

over 50%

Question 8

what did the rise in bread prise do to the economy ?

Answer 8

led to people having less ability to buy other goods, poverty rose due to the lack of demand for manufactured goods meaning urban unemployment increased

Question 9

why could the enlightenment be said to not have added to the reasons for revolution ?

Answer 9

it didnt reach the vast majority of the population as peasents were genrally illiterate and the pamphlets etc werent acessible in rural areas

Question 10

Who were tax farmers?

Answer 10

people that went around collecting taxes, it was a hereditary role and people were usually corrupt and abused their positions. As there was no one to over look their positions = little central regulation from the crown, could;d easily abuse their position

Question 11

what % of the state revenue came from land and what did this mean ?

Answer 11

1.6% , meant the richest paid the least = put pressure on 3rd estate

Question 12

why did France get involved in the American War of Independence and how many Livres did they spend to support America ?

Answer 12

Louis XVI wanted to weaken Britain and so allied with America, 1.3 billion Livres spent to support

Question 13

why did France get involved in the American War of Independence and how many Livres did they spend to support America ?

Answer 13

Louis XVI wanted to weaken Britain and so allied with America, 1.3 billion Livres spent to support

Question 14

What % of state expenditure went towards the debt caused by the American Revolutionary war and what did this mean for France ?

Answer 14

50%, meant little public spending and made a bad economic climate

Question 15

what did fighteing with the Americans emphasie to frwench citizens ?

Answer 15

the free and equale ideology and motivation behind the revolutionary war

Question 16

43% state expenditure

Answer 16

State expenditure committed to debt by 1780 - state spending more than income

Question 17

Venality

Answer 17

Offices and positions in royal court could be bought from the Crown by wealthy members of Third Estate buying into the Second Estate (gain their privileges)

Question 18

How many bought titles during the 18th century (venality)

Answer 18

30,000-50,000

Question 19

effect of venality

Answer 19

provided short-term income yet detrimental effect as the tax-paying wealthy members of the Third Estate became exempt from tax as members of the Second Estate - also meant positions based on wealth rather than merit = corruption

In the short term this brought income but in the long term it had a detrimental effect as people buying exemption from tax meant less people providing. In such environment, the Revolution was able to flourish.

Question 20

6% expenditure

Answer 20

Spending at court - came under increased scrutiny from bourgeoisie (suffering economic decline) and nobility (feared for stability of nation)

Question 21

what was the Gabelle ?

Answer 21

indirect tax on salt in France, 3rd estate ( made it hard as salt was used to preseve foods

Question 22

What was the vingtieme?What was the taille?

Answer 22

Direct income tax, 3rd estate paid it 2nd and 1st were exempt with Don gratiut

Question 23

What was the taille?

Answer 23

Direct Land tax fot the 3rd estate