Short-Term Causes - The failure of the reform process

Question 1

Who discovered the true nature of France’s finances following Necker’s dismissal?

Answer 1

His successor, Joly de Fleury

Question 2

When was Necker dismissed?

Answer 2

1781

Question 3

How much was the Treasury short for 1781 and 1782?

Answer 3

160 million livres

295 million livres

Question 4

To make good the shortfall, what did Fleury and his successor Calonne do to undo much of Necker’s work?

Answer 4

Resumed the practice of selling offices (many of which Necker had abolished)
Borrowed more heavily than Necker

Question 5

What was Calonne forced to do in 1786?

Answer 5

Embark on a reform of the tax system

Question 6

Why was Calonne forced to reform the tax system in 1786?

Answer 6

Loans were drying up

Question 7

What did his plan consist of?

Answer 7

A three-part programme

Question 8

What was Calonne’s main proposal?

Answer 8

Replace the capitation (tax on people) and the vingtième (5% income tax) on landed property by a single land tax

Question 9

What was the single land tax proposed by Calonne to be a tax on?

Answer 9

Land and not on the person

Question 10

Who would the single land tax affect?

Answer 10

All landed proprietors - Church, noble and common alike

Question 11

What was the single land tax regardless of?

Answer 11

Whether the lands were used for luxury purposes or crops

Question 12

There were to be no exemptions to the single land tax so everyone would pay including which groups?

Answer 12

Nobles, clergy and the pays d’états

Question 13

Who were the pays d’états?

Answer 13

Areas that had local representative assemblies of the three estates that contributed to the assessment and collection of royal taxes

Question 14

What was the second part of the reform of the tax system?

Answer 14

Stimulating the economy to ensure that future tax revenues would increase

Question 15

How did Calonne try and stimulate the economy to ensure that tax revenues would increase?

Answer 15

Proposed abandoning controls on the grain trade

Abolishing internal customs barriers

Question 16

Why did Calonne want to abandon grain trade controls and internal custom barriers?

Answer 16

They prevented the free movement of grain from one part of France to another

Question 17

What was Calonne’s final part of the tax system reforms?

Answer 17

To try to restore national confidence so that new short-term loans could be raised

Question 18

By raising short-term loans, what did Calonne hope to achieve?

Answer 18

Less opposition from the parlements towards the registration of his measures

Question 19

Calonne’s plan was to achieve a display of?

Answer 19

National unity and consensus

Question 20

What was the obvious body to summon to approve the reforms?

Answer 20

The Estates-General

Question 21

Estates-General

Answer 21

The French governmental body that was a legislative and consultative assembly of the 3 different Estates which were called and dismissed by the king in times of extreme national crisis

Question 22

When had the Estates-General first met?

Answer 22

1614

Question 23

Why was the Estates-General the obvious body to approve the reforms?

Answer 23

It was representative of the nation

Question 24

Why Calonne and Louis opt to not call the Estates-General?

Answer 24

It was too unpredictable

Question 25

What did Calonne and Louis call for instead of the Estates-General?

Answer 25

A handpicked Assembly of Notables

Question 26

When did the Assembly meet?

Answer 26

February 1787

Question 27

Who had not supported the tax reforms, causing Louis to call the Assembly of Notables?

Answer 27

The parlements

Question 28

Why had the parlements opposed the tax reforms?

Answer 28

Parlement judges felt that any increase in tax would have a direct negative effect on their own income

Question 29

Despite the Assembly of Notables having no legislative power, what did Calonne hope its support of the reforms would do?

Answer 29

Apply pressure on parlement to register them

Question 30

Who made up the Assembly of Notables?

Answer 30

144 assemblymen, who included princes of the blood, archbishops, noblemen and other people from the traditional elite

Question 31

Why did the Assembly of Notables oppose Calonne’s proposed tax reforms?

Answer 31

They did not wish to bear the burden of increased taxation

Question 32

What did the Notables agree should be extended to all?

Answer 32

Taxes

Question 33

Why did the Assembly of Notables urge the summoning of the Estates-General?

Answer 33

They claimed that the approval of the nation was needed for Calonne’s reforms

Question 34

What two things led to Calonne’s disgrace?

Answer 34

Opposition in the Assembly combined with intrigues from rival ministers

Question 35

When did Calonne tell Louis that the government was close to bankruptcy?

Answer 35

August 1786

Question 36

When did Louis dismiss Calonne?

Answer 36

8th April 1787

Question 37

After his dismissal, what was Calonne forced to do?

Answer 37

Leave the country