Chapter 4: Developments February 1787 - May 1789

Question 1

Give evidence to show Calonne was unpopular

Answer 1

• Calonne accused of incompetence after revealing error of ‘Compte de Rendu’
• upset Assembly of Notables by accusing them of being self-serving
• Notables distrust him (ministerial despotism)
• (1787) Antoinette pressured Louis to dismiss him

Question 2

Why was Brienne a bad strategist?

Answer 2

• clergy hostile to plans to tax church
• he published accounts to provoke action but there was already no trust in government
• tried to introduce Calonne’s land tax but Assembly challenged him

Question 3

What happened after Brienne failed to force a general land tax via Assembly of Notables?

Answer 3

• 25th May 1787 = Assembly closed and attempted to push through Paris Parlement

Question 4

Briefly describe how Louis lacked royal authority from May - November 1787 in terms of the enforcement of the land tax through the Assembly of Notables & Paris Parlement

Answer 4

• May: dissolve Assembly tries to register proposal with Paris Parlement
• July: Parlement rejects proposal and petitions Louis to call Estates-General
• August: Louis responds by exiling parlement to Troyes
• September: Brienne withdraws and settles for vingtieme
• October: Louis forced to bring back Parlement to bring in more taxes
• November: King brings in lit de justice to push through reforms, Paris Parlement protests, Duc d’orleans dismissed for criticising lettres de cachet

Question 5

Describe events with Parlements January 1788 - August 1788

Answer 5

• January: Parlement declares lettres de cachet illegal and Louis calls Estates-General for 1792
• May 3rd: Parlement issues Declaration that ‘cannot be changed by royal demand’ and demand that only EG can approve tax reforms
• May 4th-8th: King issues lettres de cachet on some members of Parlement and issues edicts to remove some of Parlement’s power
• June: Revolt of Nobles begins, where other parlements send in remonstrances and Paris P tries to end LDC & Day of Tiles
• August: Brienne unable to meet loan payments, moved EG to May 1789, Brienne resigns and replaced by Necker

Question 6

Why did the King exile the Paris Parlement? (Aug 1787)

Answer 6

• wouldn’t register Brienne’s edicts for land tax so wanted to force them into compliance

Question 7

What was the state of the economy at the beginning of 1789?

Answer 7

• poor harvest

- increased unemployment

Question 8

What was the issue the 3rd estate had with EG voting system?

Answer 8

• each estate got 1 vote despite there being more of 3rd estate, 1st and 2nd estate would always outvotes the 3rd

Question 9

When was each estate asked to draw up grievances for EG?

Answer 9

May 1789

Question 10

When was the procession of EG?

Answer 10

4th May 1789

Question 11

Why was the EG meeting on the 5th May 1789 disappointing for the 3rd estate?

Answer 11

• speeches made didn’t address concerns of 3rd estate, the agenda for a reform package or indication of procedures

Question 12

When was the National Assembly formed?

Answer 12

17th June 1789

Question 13

What were the events that lead to the Tennis Court Oath?

Answer 13

On 20th June, deputies noticed the room where the reform package was meant to be presented in on the 23rd was under repairs and believed the King was going to dissolve the Assembly, so the gathered on the tennis court and promised to never disband until France had a new constitution