Short Term causes - Political Crisis Flashcards
Who replaced Calonne?
One of the Notables - Loménie de Brienne
Where was Loménie de Brienne Archbishop?
Toulouse
Who became head of the judiciary?
Another Notable - Lamoignon
What was Lamoignon president of?
The Parlement of Paris
Did the Assembly of Notables prove to be more cooperative with Brienne that it had been with Calonne?
No
What did Brienne retain?
Calonne’s land tax
What did Brienne introduce?
A number of reforms following on from Necker’s earlier plans
What were Brienne’s 6 plans?
End to venal offices New central treasury Laws codified in a printed form Educational reform Religious toleration Army reform
Why did Brienne want laws codified in a printed form?
So they were accessible to those who needed to consult them
What did Brienne want to make the army through his reforms?
More efficient and less expensive
Who did Brienne initially present his reforms, including a new land tax, to for registration?
The Assembly of Notables
Why did the Assembly of Notables refuse to register the reforms?
They said that only the Estates-General could consent to any laws
Why could only the Estates-General consent to laws?
They represented the whole nation and the approval of the whole French nation was needed for such changes
What was Louis’ reaction to the Assembly of Notable’s refusal to register the reforms?
To dissolve the Assembly
Once in power, what did Brienne succeed in making the Parlement of Paris register?
Laws dealing with free internal trade
Establishment of provincial assemblies
Redemption of the corvée
Who did Brienne take revised proposals, including a new land tax, to?
The Assembly of Notables
Once dissolving the Assembly of Notables, who did Louis present the reforms to?
Paris Parlement
What did the Parlement refuse to register?
Edicts on the stamp duty
The proposed new general land-tax
After the Parlement of Paris refused to register edicts on the stamp duty and the new general land-tax, what did Brienne persuade Louis to hold?
A lit de justice to force through Brienne’s tax reforms
What was a lit de justice?
A formal session of parlement during which the monarch could forcibly register a law overrding the parlement’s objections
To crush the opposition to the lit de justice, what did Louis do to the Parlement of Paris?
Exiled them to Troyes on 15th August 1787
Why did the Nobility revolt in response to the exile of the Parlement of Paris to Troyes?
They considered Louis’ action to be heavy-handed
When did the Nobility revolt in response to the exile of the Parlement of Paris to Troyes?
Summer 1788
What did the revolt of the Nobility in response to the exile of the Parlement of Paris to Troyes prove to be?
The most violent opposition the government had faced
Which provincial capitals where the parlements met were there riots?
Rennes in Brittany
Grenoble in Dauphine
In all parts of the country, where did Nobles and Clergy meet to discuss how to defend the power of the parlements?
Unauthorised assemblies
Did the unauthorised assemblies gain popular support?
Yes
What was the significance of the clergy joining on the side of the parlements?
They were breaking their long tradition of loyalty to the Crown
How did the clergy condemn the reforms?
By voting a don gratuit (a voluntary contribution to royal finances) of less than a quarter size requested by the Crown
Although the opposition was fragmented and dispersed, why did it continue?
The collapse of the government’s finances
When was the royal treasury empty?
Beginning of August 1788
When did Brienne agree, with Louis’ reluctant approval, to summon the Estates-General for?
1st May 1789
When did Brienne suspend all interest payments from the royal treasury on loans made to the state?
16th August 1788
What did this suspension on all interest payments from the royal treasury on loans made to the state acknowledge?
The Crown was bankrupt
When did Brienne resign as finance minister?
25th August 1788
When was Louis forced to back down and allow the Paris Parlement to return?
September 1788
Who was Louis forced to reappoint following the resignations of Brienne and Lamoignon?
Necker
Why did Louis reappoint Necker?
He believed it would lead to financial reform because he viewed Necker as the only one who could restore the government’s credit and raise loans
What did Necker abandon?
His predecessor’s reform plans
Despite indicating that he would try to raise new loans, what did Necker state he would do nothing until?
The Estates-General had met
What had the crisis highlighted?
Limitations of royal power
How had the crisis shown the limitations of royal power?
Although Louis was in effect an absolute ruler, in reality he was unable to impose his government’s reforms on the State
What detected the clear signs of weakness in the Crown?
The forces of opposition
What did the failure to secure reform contribute to?
A paralysis of the government
The failure to secure reform was very significant in the short term, particularly when linked to what?
The economic crisis
