T1: Problems with the structure of government and estates systems and the enlightenment

Question 1

Louis XVI inherited the throne

Answer 1

1774

Question 2

there were 13 regional parlements by…

Answer 2

1780s

Question 3

what was the population of France?

Answer 3

26 mill - overpopulated

Question 4

name three famous philosophes

Answer 4

Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau

Question 5

When did the American War of Independence end?

Answer 5

1783

Question 6

What were the features of the absolute monarchy under the Bourbon family?

Answer 6

• divine right
• no elected representative body to check the power of the king
• king chose minsters and controller-general
• king = only person who could initiate new legislation
• king had right to arbitrary arrest via lettres de cachet

Question 7

where was the center of political power?

Answer 7

Versailles - one of the largest and grandest palaces in Europe and would host lavish parties frequently

Question 8

what was the biggest limit on the kings power?

Answer 8

the parlements (local law courts)

Question 9

what power did the parlements have over the king?

Answer 9

could refuse to register implement laws. king could issue lit de justice, but still difficult to implement w/o support of parlements and could be accused of despotism - difficult position

Question 10

what could the king issue if parlements refused to register his laws?

Answer 10

a lit de justice

Question 11

who made up the First Estate?

Answer 11

Catholic clergy

Question 12

how many people made up the first estate?

Answer 12

130,000 out of 26mill

Question 13

what was the role of the church in society?

Answer 13

administered poor relief and limited education

Question 14

what funded the services of the church?

Answer 14

tithe tax paid by the Third Estate to the Church - this was 1/10th of their earnings

Question 15

what did the Third Estate think about the tithe?

Answer 15

some resented it- thought to make abbots and bishops more wealthy

Question 16

what is is called when bishops rarely visit their dioceses?

Answer 16

absenteeism

Question 17

did the First Estate have to pay taxation?

Answer 17

exempt from direct taxation such as the taille (land tax)

Question 18

in which estate did the majority of wealth lie?

Answer 18

2nd

Question 19

how many people made up the Second Estate?

Answer 19

120,000-300,000 (out of 26mill)

Question 20

did the Second Estate have to pay tax?

Answer 20

exempt from nearly all direct tax and some indirect e.g. gabelle (tax on salt)

Question 21

what privileges did the Second Estate have?

Answer 21

• exempt from compulsory military service
• exclusive hunting and fishing rights
• often granted monopolies
• tax exemption

Question 22

what percentage of the population did the Third Estate make up?

Answer 22

98%, majority of the population

Question 23

who were the Third Estate?

Answer 23

mostly peasants, some bourgeoisie

Question 24

what did some of the Third Estate have to pay as a result of living under system of feudalism?

Answer 24

feudal dues to landowners

Question 25

what was the system of feudalism?

Answer 25

peasants who lived and farmed on land owned by nobles

Question 26

what is corvee

Answer 26

Third Estate required to carry out duties on aristocratic estates e.g. maintaining roads

Question 27

how much did the bourgeoisie grow in the C18th? why?

Answer 27

3x due to growth of trade

Question 28

Overall, what can be said about the Third Estate?

Answer 28

heavy burden

Question 29

what was the economy based on, what was the problem with this?

Answer 29

agriculture- weather dependent

Question 30

what was the name of the system in which power could be bought in government?

Answer 30

venality

Question 31

was France united?

Answer 31

no- 34 generalities (administrative divisions of France under the Ancien Regime)

Question 32

what was the consequence of poor transportation?

Answer 32

bad trade- difficult to distribute grain- some starved while others had abundance

Question 33

example of an indirect tax

Answer 33

gabelle (salt tax)

Question 34

example of a direct tax

Answer 34

taille (land tax)

Question 35

what was the role of the Controller General?

Answer 35

in charge of royal finances

Question 36

what percentage of men and women were literate in the 1700s?

Answer 36

29% men
14% women

Question 37

who were the members of the parlements?

Answer 37

important local nobles and higher clergymen, not elected

Question 38

what is the definition of the Ancien Regime?

Answer 38

the political and social system of France from the late middle ages until the revolution

Question 39

how many bourgeoisie were there?

Answer 39

2.3 mill

Question 40

how were the bourgeoisie a threat to the estates system?

Answer 40

bought positions in nobility- venal office holders

Question 41

how much did the tithe raise for the church p/a?

Answer 41

50 million livres per year

Question 42

why were the 1st estate exempt from direct taxation?

Answer 42

had a ‘don gratuit’ (free gift) from the king

Question 43

what is it called when one bishop is responsible for multiple dioceses?

Answer 43

plurality - means can collect money for multiple!