Chapter 21 Part 1 Leading to the French Revolution

Louis XV Great-grandson of Louis XIV Great-grandson of Louis XIV The Nobility gained influence during his reign The Nobility gained influence during his reign He allowed his ministers and mistresses to influence him. They controlled the affairs of state and were able to undermine the monarchy He allowed his ministers and mistresses to influence him. They controlled the affairs of state and were able to undermine the monarchy

Madame de Pompadour The most famous mistress of the 18 th Century The most famous mistress of the 18 th Century Influenced Louis XV regarding appointments and foreign policy Influenced Louis XV regarding appointments and foreign policy

The Parlement (the High Court of Paris) Was restored with the power to approve or disapprove the king’s decrees Was restored with the power to approve or disapprove the king’s decrees The judges had once been members of the middle class (Louis XIV) who had worked their way into the Nobility of the Robe…(bought their offices) and by this time those families felt no obligation to the king (the Paulette) The judges had once been members of the middle class (Louis XIV) who had worked their way into the Nobility of the Robe…(bought their offices) and by this time those families felt no obligation to the king (the Paulette)

The Parlement Refused To allow Louis XV to raise taxes to pay for the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War To allow Louis XV to raise taxes to pay for the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War

18 th Century French Kings Will deal with similar issues that the early Stuart kings in England did a century earlier: fighting over control over taxes with Parliament/Parlement) Will deal with similar issues that the early Stuart kings in England did a century earlier: fighting over control over taxes with Parliament/Parlement) The Paris Parlement ruled that the king could not levy taxes without the consent of the Parlement of Paris which acted as the representative of the nation The Paris Parlement ruled that the king could not levy taxes without the consent of the Parlement of Paris which acted as the representative of the nation

The Paris Parlement Was hugely supported by the educated public Was hugely supported by the educated public (Influence of Montesquieu) (Influence of Montesquieu)

1768 Louis XV Appointed Rene de Maupeou as his chancellor and ordered him to subdue judicial opposition Appointed Rene de Maupeou as his chancellor and ordered him to subdue judicial opposition The Parlement of Paris was abolished and its members were exiled to isolated areas of the provinces The Parlement of Paris was abolished and its members were exiled to isolated areas of the provinces A new (royal-friendly) Parlement was created A new (royal-friendly) Parlement was created

The King began to tax privileged groups French Philosophes and educated public were very critical of the new Parlement and Royal authority French Philosophes and educated public were very critical of the new Parlement and Royal authority

Louis XVI Grandson of Louis XV Grandson of Louis XV dismissed Maupeou and repudiated his rules/laws dismissed Maupeou and repudiated his rules/laws Old Parlement of Paris was reinstated Old Parlement of Paris was reinstated The Public hoped for reforms leading to a more representative government The Public hoped for reforms leading to a more representative government But…another stalemate between king and judicial opponents But…another stalemate between king and judicial opponents

France in 1789 In many ways France was the most advanced country in Europe The Largest in Population in the world: 25 Million Wealthiest country in Europe (but not per capita) Productive Economy (French exports to the European continent larger than British)

French Culture Dominated French was the language of diplomacy and was used in international courts France was the center of the Enlightenment French science led the world Most powerful military in Europe

The Three Estates The First Estate: The Clergy Less than 1% of the population but the Gallican Church owned 20% of the land in France Exempt from taxes Local Parishes suffered as income was drained by political appointees and high-ranking aristocrats within the Church

BUT the Church in France and its role in the French Revolution has been exaggerated: The French Church DID levy a tithe on agricultural products…but so did the English Church Bishops DID play a role in government affairs…but the same for English Bishops By 1789 the Church and monastic orders were in decline due to the Enlightenment

The Second Estate: The Nobility 2-4% of the total population (Sword and Robe) Exempt from taxes (but Paulette was a factor) Owned 25% of the land Big resurgence since the death of Louis XIV Continued to enjoy some medieval manorial rights that allowed them to tax peasants for their own profit

The Third Estate: everyone else Bore the majority of the tax burden: Taille: land tax Tithe: Church Tax (10%) Income tax Poll Tax Salt Tax Corvee

Peasants Had to honor feudal obligations: hunting rights of nobles, etc The Bourgeoisie demanded political power that would reflect their economic power and contribution Much resentment of the 1 st and 2 nd Estates who had all the power and not much economic responsibility

The Bourgeoisie Wanted tax relief for themselves and reduction of privileges of the nobility

Lettre de cachet Were universally hated The government could imprison anyone without charges or a trial

Causes of the French Revolution 1. Was influenced by the American Revolution Many French soldiers had served there The French bourgeoisie and lower nobility were intrigued with the American ideals of liberty Massive French aid to America increased the already-huge French debt

Causes of the French Revolution The Rising expectations of the Enlightenment = increased criticism of the French Government Theories of Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, etc. were popular Laissez-faire ideas of physiocrats were popular with middle class who resented government interference Government corruption and inefficiency Legal system was chaotic, no uniform laws Privilege of the Nobility Divine Right Theory did not fit with Enlightenment ideals

Causes of the French Revolution 3. The Three Estates did not reflect the realities of wealth and ability in French Society

Historical view: Class Conflict led to the Revolution The Bourgeoisie was united by economics and class interests and frustrated by feudal laws Eventually rose up and led the 3 rd Estate in revolution and abolished feudalism and established a capitalist order

The More Recent View Class Conflict was exaggerated as a cause of the French Revolution Both groups were increasingly linked by wealth and marriage The wealthiest members of the Bourgeoisie moved easily into the Nobility of the Robe Many Nobles had liberal (Enlightened) ideas Parlement judges (nobles) supported the Bourgeoisie against the King’s attempt to increase taxes

The Immediate Cause of the French Revolution: Financial Mismanagement By the reign of Louis XV France was nearly bankrupt By the 1780’s ½ of French national budget went for payment of interest on growing debt (BUT French debt was only ½ of British debt and less than Dutch debt)

Financial Mismanagement The Government could no longer declare bankruptcy as it had in the past Aristocrats and bourgeoisie would not longer allow it France had no central bank, no paper currency, no means of creating credit

Financial Mismanagement The only way for the government to get more revenue was to increase taxes The poorest classes were exploited Also inefficiency and corruption of the tax system

Financial Mismanagement Inflation between caused higher prices but wages did not increase at the same rate Prices up 65% Wages up 22% Privileged classes refused to share the burden Louis XVI appointed Jacques Necker as director of Finances

Jacques Necker Tried to tax the Nobility But was blocked by the Paris Parliament Was then dismissed

Louis XVI 1787 The King summoned an Assembly of Notables Louis XVI hoped That the Assembly would either approve the King’s new tax system OR agree to remove their own tax exemption They Refused both Then Assembly demanded that control of all government spending be given over to Provincial Assemblies (controlled by the nobility)

When Louis refused Assembly maintained that sweeping tax changes required the approval of the Estates General The King dismissed the Assembly of Notables and established new taxes by decree The Parlemants blocked the king’s decrees and tried to force him to share fiscal power with the nobility

The Parlements Asserted the existance of certain “Fundamental Laws” against which no king could violate: National consent to taxation Freedom from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment (Lettre de cachet)

The Royal Response The king tried to exile judges but protests swept through the country and investors refused to advance more loans to the state The King gave up He reluctantly summoned the Estates General to Versailles may, 1789