France terms Ch3-4

Turgot term

1774-76 (1st)

Turgot key policies

“No national bankruptcy. No increase of taxes. No new loans.”

Turgot methods

• cut expenditure

• fairer taxation (more even across estates)

Necker term

1776-1781 (2nd)

Necker key policies

• finance war by borrowing

• restore royal credit

• publish compte rendu

Necker methods

• hid cost of war loans under ‘extraordinary expenditure’

• centralise accounting for efficiency

• abolished venal positions to save money

Compte rendu impacts

• hid war spending, showed surplus → restored credit to be able to borrow more

• suggested king’s accountability to people for management of ‘public money’

Calonne term

1783-1787 (3rd)

Calonne key policies

believed system of privilege was the problem

1. new tax for all landowners equally

2. new provincial assemblies to assess and collect this

3. abolish internal trade barriers and control

Calonne methods

• call Assembly of Notables to approve his reforms

• ‘useful splendour’ to maintain credit

• nobles’ tax exemptions ended

• vingtieme ended

Aristocratic Revolt

Assembly of Notables refused to approve Calonne’s proposed reforms as:

• not fully informed of the king’s finances

• claimed not to have the power, asked to call Estates-General

Assembly of Notables def.

Assembly of important people eg. nobles, bishops, magistrates, mayors, pays d’etat reps

Assembly of Notables dates

• called 29 Dec 1786 to approve Calonne’s reforms

• dissolved May 1787 after failing to negotiate agreement with Calonne then Brienne

Brienne term

1787-1788 (4th)

Brienne key policies

Brienne methods