French revolution quiz review

Ancien régime

French society and government before the revolution 1789

Intendants

Officials directly appointed by the answerable to the Crown who were mainly responsible for police, justice, finance, public works, and trade and industry

Généralités

The 34 areas into which France was divided for the purpose of collecting taxes and other administrative functions

Livers

Frances currency during the Ancien régime

Tax farming

A system where the government agrees a tax assesment figure for an area, which is then collected by a company that bids for the right to collect it

Venality

The sale and purchase of certain jobs which could be inherited by descendants

Philosophers

A group of writers and thinkers who formed the core of the french enlightenment

Guild

and organization that tightly controls entry into a trade

Corvée

unpaid labour service to maintain roads

Parlements

the 13 high courts of appeal.

Diocese

an area served by a bishop. it is made up of a large number of parishes

Plurality

the holding of more than one bishopric of parish by an individual

Cahiers

list of grivences and suggestions for reform drawn up by the respresentatives of each estate and each commuunity and presented to the estates-general for consideration

Versailles

The royal palace

Feudal dues

financial or work obligations imposed on the peasentry by landowners

Bourgeoisie

Middle-class urban dwellers who made a living through their intellectual skills or business practices

Serfdom

a system in which people were the property of the landowner

Artisan

a skilled worker or craftsman

Sansoculottes

'those without knee-breeches', those who wore trousers and were classes as workers

Taille

Land tax- the main direct tax

Vingtième

five per cent tax on income

capitation

tax on people - frequently called the poli tax

Gabelle

salt tax

aidas

tax on food and drink

octrois

tax on goods entering a town

The people of the first estate

The clergy

- bishops

- monks

- nuns

People of the second estate

the nobility

people of the third estate

everyone else

Privileges of the second estate

- they were tried in their own courts

- they were exempt from military service

- they were exempt from paying gabelle

- they were exempt from the corvée

- thye received the variety of feudal dues

- they had exclusive right to hunting and fishing

- monopoly rights

- exemption from taxation

The subcategories of the Third Estate

- the bourgeoisie

- the peasantry

- urban workers

Aims of the philophes

To apply rational analysis to all activities. Rather than accepting tradition or revelation as in the Bible, they were much more in favour of liberty.

3 philosophers

Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau

What were some advantages of being in the Church/first estate?

- Wealth from tithes

- Exemptoin from taxes

- Power over the people

What was Marie Antoinette called (2)

- Madame Deficit

- Austrian wh0re

Why was Marie Antoinette viewed negitavly

Due to her fondness for gambling, expensive construction projects and lavish purchasing

Who did King Louis XVI appoint as controller-general in 1774

Turgot (Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot)

Why did france resort to tax farming

To pay back the demanding debts of previous wars

Who were the court noblility?

Nobles whos ancestory could be traced back before 1400 (those who could afford the high costs of living at Versailles)

Who were the noblesse de robe?

legal and administrative nobles, which included the 1200 magistrates of the parlements

Who were the remainder of the nobility (that werent the court nobility or the noblesse de robe)?

Nobles who lived in the country (in various states of prosperity). Their land was inherited to their eldest son while the yonger ones were forced to fend for themselves (they either joined the army or the church)

Ways you could join the nobility

- Inheritance

- direct appointment from the King

- Buying certain offices that carried hereditary titles

What were the disadvantages of gaining noble status

You could no longer take part in industrial or commercial activities (however, this rule was not striclty enforced)

What kind of business did the bourgeoisie do?

Marchants, trading, financiers, landowners, members of the liberal professions (doctors and writers), lawyers and civil servents

Why did the bourgeoisie believe their status was undervalued

Due to their importance, power and wealth and that they paid a substantial part of the tax revenue paid to the crown

Why did the third estate hold grievances towards the other estate

Despite being the largest group in society, they bore the burdan of taxation (eg tithes). Thye were also tried in cort where the lord acted as both the judge and jury.

What did urban workers do?

They were small property owners and artisans

What did philosophers not accept?

- Literal interpretations of the Bible

- Anything that could not be explained by reason (miracles and superstitions)

- Condemned the catholic church due to its wealth, corruption, and intolerance

Controller general

In charge of the royal finances

What year did king louis XVI acsend to the throne?

1774

What was one of the problems King Louis XVI faces when ruling an absolute system?

The monach needed to be a strong figure with a dominant personality, however, King Louis XVI was weak and indicisive

What were the role of the Farmers-general

They were a company that collected indirect tax for the government. They paid the state an agreed fund, then would collect anything above that figure for themselves.

Why did Turgot leave the office and his title of Controller-General?

He was influenced by the ideas of philosophers and embarked on reforming the finance program. He tried to abolish the trade guilds and corvée (This created a storm with the parlaments causing Louis to withdraw his support and with Turgot leaving the office)

What was the issue with taxation to the crown?

In order to meet the demands of war, the crown was forced to borrow money, meaning not all revenue paid actually reached the treasury