To what extent were king Louis XVI and his court responsible for the onset of revolution? Flashcards
Louis’s character
Not originally destined to be king - did not recieve specific training for kingship (elder brother died in 1761) = weak, indecisive easily led, lacking in court and political experience
1770
Year Louis married Marie Antoinette (Austrian)
Madame Déficit
Marie Antionette’s nickname (criticised for frivolous spending at court)
What was the Affair of the Diamond Necklace and when was it ?1785
Louis wanted to make jewels for Antoinette, which ended up costing as much as the entire country’s income for a year. However, the jeweler was a fake and they were never actually made.1784-85
accused of trying to purchase diamond necklace worth 1,600,000 livres with state finances so low
What was Marie Antoinette’s nickname?
’ madame deficit ‘ - meaning debt as she was known for her lavish lifestyle
what did Marie and Louis marrige look like and when did they finally produce an heir?
Distant and weird, they failed to produce (man said produce plsssss sounding a like a fcking factory) an heir until 1781
Unpopularity of Marie Antionette
Initially failed to produce an heir - obscene pamphlets mocking infertility (first daughter born in 1778, Dauphin born 1781), dislike of complex Versailles etiquette, rumours she manipulated Louis for personal and Austrian gain - target for propaganda and open criticism
1774-1776
Turgot
1776-1781
Necker
1783-1787
Calonne
1787-1788
Brienne
Turgot
Introduced free grain trade in 1774 and tried to remove controls on prices - unpopular unrest and aristocratic opposition - 1774-75 had bad harvests and made the grain prices rise, poor couldnt afford bread so hated him
Why the privilaged pissed at Turgot reforms but how did Turgot Reforms backfire
free trade, w duties and barriers and controls on prices removed = this costed ppl who benefited from such privileges = caused opposition .
In theory = free trade would be the benefit of majority .
In reality = bad weather spring 1774-75= bad harvest= grain prices increase = violence
Flour Wars
1775 = series of uprising occured within Parisian basin, rural areas surrounding Paris.
17days of violence in 180 towns and villages
what sparked the flour wars?
riots about the prices of bread/grain
how did Turgot’s reforms go too far?
proclaimed to abolish privilege and introduce a property tax payable by all three estates
the first, second and parlements refused to sanction these reforms
when was Necker appointed
- 1777
what did Necker publish in 1781 and what did this claim?
- ’ compete rendu auroi’ - report to the king
- claimed a surplus of 10 million when there was a 46 million defecit
how did Necker win public support?
Necker convinced financers to do what?
releasing the “Report to the king.” seen as increasing transparency of the court
further finance the state
how did Necker win public support?
Necker convinced financers to do what?
releasing the “Report to the king.” seen as increasing transparency of the court
further finance the state
France was at war in the American revolution: what did Necker refused to do?
why was Necker refusing to ……….. an issue?
did not want to increase taxation
Necker accumulated debt
Calonne
Tried to save the economy by advocating for free trade and reeducation in government spending (controversial), sale of church land and universal land tax (Assembly of Notables refused = dismissed 1787) they were like hell nahhh
Brienne
Got Paris parlement to allow internal free trade yet faced opposition in attempt to pass universal land tax - Louis defended him and exiled parlement in 1787
what did Brienne propose and what happened as a result of this ?
Proposed universal land tax - opposition
Parlement refused to sanction it, claiming EG consent necessary
Louis decisively exiled Pto Troyes as a result
Revolt of the aristocracy as a result
Louis made to seem tyrannical
Revolt of the Aristocracy
Series of revolts after Louis exiled parlement in 1787 - seen as a tyrant
Revolt of Grenoble
June 1788 - parlement of Grenoble refused to be dismissed - soldiers were sent resulting in violence - ‘Day of Tiles’
August 1788
Necker re-appointed after ‘revolt of aristocracy’ which seriously damaged Louis’s reputation = agreed to meeting of Estates-General 1789
In attempt to appeaase the nobles and to secure finances,(1789) Louis agreed to convene who?
convene a meeting of the estates general to discuss economy of state= but when they did all hell went loose (PEOPLE RISE)
List the controller generals and the years they where the minister for ?
Turgot - 1774-1776
Necker - 1777-1781
Fleury - 1781- 1783. Calonne - 1783-1787
Brienne - 1787-1788
