French Revolution AOS1

Spirit of the Laws published

1748

“liberty depends on each of the three powers being kept entirely separate”

Montesquieu - power

The Social Contract published

1762

“man is born free, and yet everywhere he is in fetters”

Rousseau - social contract

“undermined the ideological foundations of the established order”

Soboul - Enlightenment

“provided a framework in which [revolution] could occur”

Waller - Enlightenment

Louis XVI crowned

10 May 1774

“the power to make laws belongs only to me”

Louis XVI - himself

American War of Independence

1776

“inalienable rights” / “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

American Declaration of Independence

“no national bankruptcy, no increase of taxes, no new loans”

Turgot - economy

Turgot dismissed; replaced by Necker

12 May 1776

“opulence as a banker”

Doyle - Necker

227 million livres spent on the American War

1781

“…inspires me… I would like… to enjoy such a liberty, as would fit”

Comte de Segur - American War

“laid the foundations for another in France”

Young - American War

Compte Rendu Au Roi published

1781

“a carefully designed publicity measure”

Waller - Compte Rendu au Roi

112 million livre deficit, half of 1787’s income spent in advance

France by 1786

“Notables refused… because their own cherished fiscal immunities were threatened”

Rude - Aristocratic Revolt

22 February - 25 May 1787

Assembly of Notables

Lit de Justice to get tax reforms through

6 August 1787

“it is legal because I will it”

Louis XVI -

France declared bankruptcy

August 1788

Paris Parlement remonstrated

2 July 1787