The beginning of change

Question 1

Why did Louis call the Estates-general? What is the Estates-General?

Answer 1

Called them in May 1789
Estates general= call representatives from all over France who have equal representation.
He called them because taprooms were trying to change the fundamental elements of society (the Ancien regime). He needed a larger power behind him.

Question 2

What did the calling of the Estates-General cause?

Answer 2

Public began to wonder why they didn’t always use a system like the estates general.
The estates general had not been called for over 100 years.

Question 3

How are the estates general elected?

Answer 3

All adult males of the 1st 2 estates had a vote-elected deputies
3rd estate all men over 25 could take part in primary assemblies (meeting places) if they paid land tax. This got rid of the very poor population. These men chose representatives, those representatives elect deputies who were sent to the estates general.

Question 4

Parliament’s role in setting up the Estates general, and why was this not thought through?

Answer 4

Parliament announced in Spet 1788 that estates generals would follow procedures laid down similarly to the last time they were called in 1614, with equal representation of 1 vote per state.
However, it divided thise who worked together for their rights (1st and 2nd estate)

Question 5

Why were the King and Necker’s compromise meaningless?

Answer 5

They doubled the 3rd estate representation, which was meaningless as they still only had 1/3 of the vote.

Question 6

Influential pamphlet in 1789

Answer 6

Abbe Sieyes in January 1789 published ‘What is the third estate?’
-What is the Third estate? Everything
-What has it been until now? Nothing
-What does it want to be? Something

Question 7

The rise of the radicals was caused by what?

Answer 7

‘What is the Third Estate?’

Question 8

Group of liberal nobles and middle class activists formed a group named what? What did they campaign for?

Answer 8

Society of Thirty (Société des Trente)
Encouraged members of 3rd estate to fight for their rights by printing pamphlets and holding meetings
Wanted to double Third Estate representation and individual voting.

Question 9

What were Cahiers de doleances? How many were produced?

Answer 9

Third estate cahiers were compilations of complaints to be sent to the governments and discussed at the Estates general.
40,000 produced

Question 10

What were the responses in the Cahiers de doleances like?

Answer 10

The majority did not propose radical change. But rather were polite and expressed their loyalty to the King.
The third estate for Carcassonne promised their ‘beloved monarch’ the ‘unmistakable proof of its love and respect’.
Some criticised the estates general and how infrequently it was held and how unequal it was.
The three main grievances were about taxation, the seigneurial system, and the payments to the Church. (Markoff) More than 75 percent of the responses called for changes in seignurealism.
Some of the answers reflected local, specific concerns

Question 11

What were the responses in the Cahiers de doleances like?

Answer 11

The majority did not propose radical change. But rather were polite and expressed their loyalty to the King.
The third estate for Carcassonne promised their ‘beloved monarch’ the ‘unmistakable proof of its love and respect’.
Some criticised the estates general and how infrequently it was held and how unequal it was.
The three main grievances were about taxation, the seigneurial system, and the payments to the Church. (Markoff) More than 75 percent of the responses called for changes in seignurealism.
Some of the answers reflected local, specific concerns.

Question 12

Why did the Estates general fail? What happened to cause the ending of the meetings of the Estates general?

Answer 12

3rd Estate was becoming increasingly radical, inspired by ‘What is the Third Estate?’
The start of the Estates general was so bad that Louis lost his momentum: there was no real plan, Necker delivered an awful speech, the King’s son was ill

Third estate insisted that the credentials of all deputies should be check in the Estates generals. The other estates refused as they sensed a trap, rejected it by 133-114, the second estate rejected it by 188-46. The third estate declared they wouldn’t continue without meeting all the estates.

Question 13

The wall paper factory rebellion

Answer 13

April 1789
Happened after they cut wage rates
Attacked the factory
2 days of rebellion until troops were called in order to restore order.

Question 14

Who was vocal for the 3rd Estate in the Estates general?

Answer 14

Mirabeaux
Advocated for a constitutional monarchy and tried to mediate between monarchists and the revolutionists.
Elected president of the National Assembly in 1791 but died shortly after.

Question 15

Why did the Revolt of the Nobles happen? How long was this for?

Answer 15

In response to the decision that the nobles should be taxed.
Lasted from February 1787 to May of that same year.

Question 16

What was the Assembly of Notables? What happened when it was called?

Answer 16

12 dozen members of the aristocracy and high clergy.
Called by Calonne in response to the financial crisis. Had no constitutional authority.
Calonne’s proposed reforms were rejected by the Assembly, most notably the idea of limiting the first and second estate’s taxation privileges and a new land tax to be introduced.

The Assembly were hostile to tax the church. They believed the situation was not bad enough to change the country in such a dramatic way. In response, Calinne said that Necker’s Compte Rendu was an error which he was attacked by Necker for. The Assembky agreed with Necker and further disliked Calonne.

Question 17

Louis’ actions towards the revolt of the nobles. What did they think in response?

Answer 17

Conflict with the nobles began to spin out of his control, so he responded with the May edicts. These edicts removed some parliamentary powers. Created a new plenary court of nobles, officers, magistrates that will be appointed by the King directly, to get could remonstrate.
Number of judges were decreased. They became increasingly angry as they were losing their power.

Question 18

Duc d’Orleans

Answer 18

One of the main critics in Paris of the King
Outspoken
Despised by Marie-Antoinette as she thought he was the leader of their ‘tasfailure’
Temporarily exiled for challenging the King’s authority before the Parliaments of Paris.

Question 19

Economic collapse timeline in 1788

Answer 19

June 1788
Brienne demands don gratuit from the clergy, only 1/4 paid
July 1788
Brienne suspended payments from the royal treasury, France cannot afford interests
August 1788
France declares self bankrupt
25th August 1788
Brienne resigns
Necker replaced, able to secure short term loans but they had high interest rates.

Question 20

Political breakdown of authority 1787-88, ____ 17__ ‘Day of _____’

Answer 20

Remonstrance are flooding in from everywhere- calling to end letters de cachet and royal tyrant.
Enlightenment encouraged pamphlets calling reforms.
Authority collapsed
Taxes unpaid
Uprisings everywhere (nobles)
June 1788 ‘Day of Tiles’
Soldiers sent to grenoble to restore order, pelted by roof tiles. Symbol of the common person’s resistance to oppression, growing power of public sentiment, involvement of the ordinary people. Prelude to the French revolution.