The Collapse of the Absolute Monarchy (1787-1789)

Question 1

the pre revolution

Answer 1

the first event that started the pre revolution was the convocation of the Assembly of Notables in February 1787. the last event that ended this period was the meeting of the Estates-General in May 1789.
the absolute monarchy had not yet broken down but was rapidly eroding.
the process of politicization reached every area in France.

Question 2

Charles Alexandre Calonne

Answer 2

controller-general since 1783. he promised to solve the financial problems while not introducing controversial reforms. his financial gambles, however, left France in a worse debt. he persuaded Louis XVI to revive the Assembly of Notables to discuss changes in the French governmental structure. negotiated the problematic free-trade treaty with England in 1786.

Question 3

Georges Lefebvre

Answer 3

mid 20th century French historian who called the pre revolution an ‘aristocratic revolution’.

Question 4

the Assembly of Notables

Answer 4

carefully chosen noblemen, clergy and high officials who came together to examine Calonne’s reform proposals. they were not very supportive nor willing and Calonne’s plea fro support from the public failed too. Brienne did not fare much better but made a compromise: he would convene the Estates-General in 1792 if they approve the tax reform. this failed thanks to Louis XVI.

Question 5

Lomenie de Brienne

Answer 5

archbishop of Toulouse who was appointed by Louis XVI in 1787 as Calonne’s replacement. he also found it hard to work with the Notables and tried to cling to policies of absolutism. abolished censorship laws and convened the Estates-General.

Question 6

Estates-General

Answer 6

elected assembly representing all elements of the population. this assembly had not convened since 1614.

Question 7

policy of confrontation

Answer 7

May 8, 1788. Implemented by Brenne and fellow ministers after the failure to compromise. it was a set of edicts that abolished the parlements, replacing them with a single high court for the whole country. some fees were also eliminated.

Question 8

from failed reforms to revolutionary crisis

Answer 8

the policy of confrontation brought into light a much more fundamental issue: who had the actual sovereign power to make fundamental laws for the kingdom?

Question 9

Jacques Necker

Answer 9

former minister who replaced Brienne in 1788. he already had a reputation of a reformer. his appointment calmed the nation enough to let the elections for the Estates-General continue on.

Question 10

the meeting of the Estates-General

Answer 10

first question was how the assembly was to be organized. in September 25, 1788 the Paris parlement decreed that the Estates-General should convene according to the forms of 1614, but this rose opposition. different areas started offering different solution to the organizational question.
assembled on may 3, 1789 in Versailles.

Question 11

Joseph Mounier

Answer 11

lawyer who led Dauphine area’s idea that the Estates should be chosen as a single assembly, with half being the Third Estate and half the two privileged Estates.

Question 12

abbe Sieyes

Answer 12

wrote one of the most influential pamphlets of the late 1788: “What Is the Third Estate?” this brought the discussion to the national level.

Question 13

second Assembly of Notables

Answer 13

held in November and December of 1788. rejected any proposals that would have given the Third Estate more influence.

Question 14

‘doubling of the Third’

Answer 14

Necker influenced Louis XVI to make the decision that the commoners had 600 people in the Estates-General and the nobles and clergy each 300. this was passed in December 27, 1788.

Question 15

cahiers de doleance

Answer 15

lists of grievances which provided a complex and ambiguous picture of the population’s concerns on the eve of the Revolution.
they mixed appeals for broad reform with local concerns.

Question 16

the parliamentary revolution

Answer 16

initially most deputies rejected the radical ideas of the Patriots and looked to Louis XVI and Necker for leadership. however, neither of the men were adequately equipped for this extraordinary situation. as such the Third estate begun to support radical ideas in fear of being overpowered by the two privileged groups and they demanded to vote together not separately.
after the National Assembly had been created, the king called a royal session of the Estates in June 23. he proposed limited reforms but insisted that the deputies continue meeting separately.
On June 27, 1789, Louis ordered the clergy and noble deputies to join the National Assembly.

Question 17

National Assembly

Answer 17

June 17, 1789 the Third Estate and some clergymen voted to rename themselves as the National Assembly in protest to the unwillingness of the privileged groups to work together. they claimed to speak for the entire nation and its community. this was a threat to the king’s and privileged groups’ authority and Louis XVI tried to regain control.
they gave an ‘Oath of the Tennis Court’ in an emergency meeting to never stop meeting until a new constitution was ready.

Question 18

storming of the Bastille

Answer 18

population started to gather in public spaces to listen to the reports from Versailles but also speeches from self-appointed orators.
on July 12, 13 people besieged royal arsenals and demanded weapons as they feared that the troops would be sent to put down the patriotic movement. the army commanders informed that they cannot count on their men to fight against these people as many showed sympathies towards the poor.
on July 14 the crowds stormed the Bastille to get weapons and it immediately became a symbol for the popular revolutionary movement.
patriot leaders responded by trying to retain order. they formed a certain improvised city government with Jean-Sylvain Bailly as mayor.
after this power shifted to those who supported the National Assembly and revolution.

Question 19

count Mirabeau

Answer 19

radical Patriot nobleman. He was elected as the representative of the Third Estate in his native Province. he was the National Assembly’s most outspoken leader.

Question 20

National Guard

Answer 20

a civic militia created by the reform-minded Patriot leaders to maintain order in the streets. Lafayette became its commander.

Question 21

Lafayette

Answer 21

reform-minded nobleman who was famous for his participation in the American Revolution.