French Revolution: The NCA's Economic Reforms

What was the overall impact of the NCA's economic reforms?

The main winners of the NCA's economic reforms were the peasants: biens nationaux, no tithe and the bourgeoisie: no more monopolies, freer trade

What reforms did the NCA make to the tax system?

The previous unpopular taxes were abolished (taille, gabelles, tithes, feudal dues, internal customs duties), tax farming is abolished and the new system was proportional and direct tax only: tax on moveable goods, universal land tax and tax on commercial profit.

Was the land tax payable by passive citizens?

No, this protected the poorest

Which poor financial practises of the Ancien Regime were abolished?

State monopolies and tax farming (this benefitted landowning peasants and the bourgeoisie)

What value of of the biens nationaux was auctioned off by the state?

400 million livres

How much of the biens nationaux was purchased by the bourgeoisie?

1/2 (a large proportion of the rest was bought by peasants)

When did the new tax system come into effect?

January 1791

Which laissez faire economic policies were adopted?

Abolishing internal customs barriers, abolishing state monopolies, Law Allarde abolished guilds which stopped people joining professions and La Chapelier Law banned trade unions and striking

When was La Chapelier Law established and why was it unenlightened?

June 1791, La Chapelier stripped rights from workers

What did the NCA's commission on poverty find?

2 million beggars, but the state didn't have money to address it

Why were the new tax reforms difficult to carry out?

The NCA failed to do a general land survey to value for land tax, people refused to pay new taxes (they hadn't paid tax for 2yrs), the tax farmers weren't replaced and the NCA had to rely on money from the biens nationaux

What were the social and political effects of the biens nationaux?

Social: It showed social progress as more peasants own land. Political: It won over supporters for the NCA as they were credited for peasants/bourgeoisie gaining new land

When was a general land survey actually achieved?

In 1807 under Napoleon

By May 1792 how many departements have completed a land register for the new tax?

1

How did the state worsen inflation?

Printing too many assignats