Key Events: 0-1786 Flashcards
1
Q
The American War of Independence
A
- 1775-83 (France joins in 1778)
- Lafayette joined in 1777
- Joined as revenge for the Seven Years War against Britain
- Provided money, supplies and troops
- Added to debt (“1 billion livres” – Fenwick and Anderson)
- Proof of concept (proves that it’s possible to overthrow a monarchy)
- French people fought and they came back enlightened (merit, utility, liberty, equality, fraternity)
2
Q
Necker (1st)
A
- 1776-1781
- Compte Rendu
3
Q
De Fleury
A
- 1781-1783
4
Q
Calonne
A
- 1783-1787
- Assembly of Notables
- Aristocratic Revolt
5
Q
Compte Rendu
A
- Feb 1781
- Published by Necker
- ‘The Complete - Finances of the Monarchy’
- To combat debt and secure more loans for the war
- First publication of France’s finances
- Showed ordinary revenues exceeding expenditure by 10 million livres
- Did not include “extraordinary” expenditures (like debt, repayments, war costs)
- Helped secure loans but made it difficult to pass future reforms
6
Q
The Seven Years War
A
- 1756-1763
- Lost a lot of overseas territory to Britain
7
Q
The War of Austrian Succession
A
- 1740-1748
8
Q
The Diamond Necklace Affair
A
- Aug 1785
- During the reign of Louis XV, an elaborate diamond necklace was made - never bought like the king promised
- Motte convinced Cardinal De Rohan that she was a friend of Marie Antoinette
- Motte buys necklace and breaks it up to sell at black markets
- Despite her innocence, Marie Antoinette was heavily tainted by the affair
9
Q
The Spirit of Laws
A
- 1748
- Montesquieu
- Constitution
- Freedom to think, speak and meet
- Arms of the government should be separate and independent of each other
10
Q
The Social Contract
A
- 1762
- Rousseau
- Contract between ruler and people
- Ruler has an obligation to the people
- Source of political power comes from the people
- The people should make the wars
