The Assembly of Notables 1787-88

Question 1

who did this included

Answer 1

consisted of 144 men and included 7 princes of the Blood, all senior judges from the Parlements, important notable representing the provincial estates and 14 representatives of the Church

Question 2

what did the clergy

Answer 2

the clergy were hostile to the new plans to tax the Church led by Brienne

Question 3

what did the notables do?

Answer 3

• other notables were not convinced that the situation was bad enough to warrant such changes when Calonne said Necker’s compte rendu was a mistake it exacerbated tensions and Necker responded by publishing an attack on Calonne
• they distrusted Calonne who they saw as an example of ministerial despotism and were not prepared to work with him so under pressure from MA he resigned in April 1787

Question 4

who was replaced by Calonne

Answer 4

Calonne was replaced by Brienne who set about producing a reform proposal based on his predecessors but going farther. extending tolerance to protestants, deregulating the grain trade, changing the corvee royale into tax extending the provincial assemblies and giving local taxpayers the right to vote

Question 5

why was their support in an EG?

Answer 5

the breakdown of trust in government increased that they supported the idea of an Estates General which would provide a full opportunity for full scrutiny of the proposals and national consent so LXVI dismissed the parliament in May 1787 and Brienne had to resort to a loan to keep the country afloat