Origins- general info Flashcards
Legislative process?
Louis and ministers would draw up legslation and send to the Parlements for approval
What were the Parlements?
13 appeal courts
Had the right to register laws
Aspired to rght of a veto to restrict monarch’s power
Office held by wealthiest nobility
What was a lit de justice?
The king enforcing his edict, overturning a remonstrance and exile Parlements’ members eg Aug 1787
Had Parlement been exiled before Louis?
Significance of this?
Louis’ grandpa, Louis XV, exiled them to Troy in 1771
Louis restored them in 1774- suggests he wants to be a friend of the people
How many finance ministers does Louis dismiss c.74-89?
12
Creates instability and so diminishes his authority
Emboldens Parlements’ resistance
How many intendants? What are their jobs
They look after the generalites (33)
There are 36
Duties inc tax collection, raising troops, making sure Louis’ edicts are enacted
(Ie they’re overworked)
Info about the first estate
150k members
Clergy
Payed don gratuit instead of tax to government
Owned 1/10 of land
Bishops= 20k livres/year vs Priest= 700-1k livres/year
Bishop absenteeism
Info about the second estate?
400k members
Nobility
Owned 1/3-1/4 land
Didn’t pay taille (land tax), corvee or gabelle
No conscription
Honorary priviledges eg beheaded not hung
Two types- de sword (traditional) vs de robe (could be bought into through the 12k venal offices active in france)
Bourgeoise venal stat?
Could become a de robe noble- 2x a day these were bought
When was 7 year War?
1756-63
Why do we participate in American War of Independence
Due to failure in 7 Year War (we fail to beat Br)
Promise of sugar colonies in the West Indies
When is the American War of Independence
1778-83
How much did war of Independence cost
1066million livres
Why is War of Independence so bad?
Economic strain -1066 million livres
Looks dumb- revolutionary values
Humiliating
Spreads enlightment ideals- soldiers return with translationsof the Declaration of Independence…dominates salon culture
IE TURGOT’S IDEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC WORRIES PROVE CORRECT
Eg of peasant taxes?
Corvee- feudal due; unpaid work on roads to landlord
Champart- peasants had to give landlord part of their crops each year
