Short-Term Causes - The failure of the reform process Flashcards
Who discovered the true nature of France’s finances following Necker’s dismissal?
His successor, Joly de Fleury
When was Necker dismissed?
1781
How much was the Treasury short for 1781 and 1782?
160 million livres
295 million livres
To make good the shortfall, what did Fleury and his successor Calonne do to undo much of Necker’s work?
Resumed the practice of selling offices (many of which Necker had abolished)
Borrowed more heavily than Necker
What was Calonne forced to do in 1786?
Embark on a reform of the tax system
Why was Calonne forced to reform the tax system in 1786?
Loans were drying up
What did his plan consist of?
A three-part programme
What was Calonne’s main proposal?
Replace the capitation (tax on people) and the vingtième (5% income tax) on landed property by a single land tax
What was the single land tax proposed by Calonne to be a tax on?
Land and not on the person
Who would the single land tax affect?
All landed proprietors - Church, noble and common alike
What was the single land tax regardless of?
Whether the lands were used for luxury purposes or crops
There were to be no exemptions to the single land tax so everyone would pay including which groups?
Nobles, clergy and the pays d’états
Who were the pays d’états?
Areas that had local representative assemblies of the three estates that contributed to the assessment and collection of royal taxes
What was the second part of the reform of the tax system?
Stimulating the economy to ensure that future tax revenues would increase
How did Calonne try and stimulate the economy to ensure that tax revenues would increase?
Proposed abandoning controls on the grain trade
Abolishing internal customs barriers
Why did Calonne want to abandon grain trade controls and internal custom barriers?
They prevented the free movement of grain from one part of France to another
What was Calonne’s final part of the tax system reforms?
To try to restore national confidence so that new short-term loans could be raised
By raising short-term loans, what did Calonne hope to achieve?
Less opposition from the parlements towards the registration of his measures
Calonne’s plan was to achieve a display of?
National unity and consensus
What was the obvious body to summon to approve the reforms?
The Estates-General
Estates-General
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
When had the Estates-General first met?
1614
Why was the Estates-General the obvious body to approve the reforms?
It was representative of the nation
Why Calonne and Louis opt to not call the Estates-General?
It was too unpredictable
What did Calonne and Louis call for instead of the Estates-General?
A handpicked Assembly of Notables
When did the Assembly meet?
February 1787
Who had not supported the tax reforms, causing Louis to call the Assembly of Notables?
The parlements
Why had the parlements opposed the tax reforms?
Parlement judges felt that any increase in tax would have a direct negative effect on their own income
Despite the Assembly of Notables having no legislative power, what did Calonne hope its support of the reforms would do?
Apply pressure on parlement to register them
Who made up the Assembly of Notables?
144 assemblymen, who included princes of the blood, archbishops, noblemen and other people from the traditional elite
Why did the Assembly of Notables oppose Calonne’s proposed tax reforms?
They did not wish to bear the burden of increased taxation
What did the Notables agree should be extended to all?
Taxes
Why did the Assembly of Notables urge the summoning of the Estates-General?
They claimed that the approval of the nation was needed for Calonne’s reforms
What two things led to Calonne’s disgrace?
Opposition in the Assembly combined with intrigues from rival ministers
When did Calonne tell Louis that the government was close to bankruptcy?
August 1786
When did Louis dismiss Calonne?
8th April 1787
After his dismissal, what was Calonne forced to do?
Leave the country
