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- 1st public account of France's finances.
- Necker lies: He says that there is a 10 million livre surplus when in fact it is actually 10 million livres over expenditure.
- Necker lies to secure loans that will keep France afloat and avoid bankruptcy for a short period of time (5 years)
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- 1st challenge of Louis XVI leadership.
- Assembly: Estates-General must approve tax reforms
- Louis is weak
- Led to Exile of Parlement and Day of Tiles
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- 1st time that the King's subject's defied Louis' orders
- Demonstrated that the people weren't afraid of Louis (absolute power in doubt)
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The Laws were:
- The King cannot approve new taxes, only the Estates-General can.
- People cannot be imprisoned without being trialled.
- No lettres de cachet
- King cannot change the privileges and customs of the provinces. Significant because:
- Demonstrated that people wanted Louis to have less power (revolutionary) -
- First violent outburst of the people.
- Louis didn't have a lot of power against the people.
- Louis was a despot leader: he was restricting the meetings of the Grenoble parlement, thus Louis is less popular with people.
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Due to funding the American War of Independence
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- Louis goes back on his word: he appears weak (no absolute power)
- Louis' popularity goes down: he recalls parlement to appease the people
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- Indicated that France is in extreme debt and that Louis is desparate to eradicate it.
- Louis has a lot of power and can do things that are essentially illegal (there is no constitution)
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- It appeared that the Third Estate would have more of a say: Louis appears democratic
- Third Estate was still unhappy: voting was still by order, rather than by head, meaning that the Third Estate would still be outvoted by the Clergy and Nobility, who still had less than the Third Estate.
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- Louis decrees that pamphlets/propaganda can be distributed. Significant because:
- Louis appears democratic: to gain popularity
- It is easier for people to set up anti-Louis clubs and spread anti-monarchy sentiments.
- Easier for people to get information about what is happening in government.
- People can express their opinions - massive in the lead up to the revolution -
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- Demonstrated that people were suffering: bread prices were nearly 90% of a peron's earnings, jobs were being lost, wages were being reduced.
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During a procession, the members of the Clergy and the Nobility enter first and wear elaborate, colourful clothing. The Third Estate are made to enter last and wear simple black robes.
At a meeting with the King, the Clergy and Nobillity are greeted first and are met the Hall of Mirrors. The Third Estate waits for three hours before being met by the King at a 'lesser hall'- Indicated that there was a huge gap between the Estates
- Led to the Tennis Court Oath.
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Louis acknowleged the crowd outside the Town Hall and wore the red, white and blue cockade.
- Louis couldn't use violence to gain power: he had to win the support of the nation by 'pretending' that he supported the revolution like thousands of other citizens. -
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All three estates were a part of the National Assembly. They declare: "[We] take a solemn oath not to separate...until the constitution of the Kingdom is established."
- The first formal act of disobedience against the monarchy (it was a signed declaration)
- Demonstrated that the National Assembly wouldn't let down until it had a constitution
- Nobility and Clergy, despite already having rights, wanted more of a say in parliament.
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Louis declares that the National Assembly is illegal and must disband. The N.A refuses. Mirabeau says: "...We are here by the will of the nation and we will go only if we are driven out by bayonets."
- King has no power.
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- Demonstrated that the King couldn't use his absolute power - completely powerless.
- Done to avoid conflict: upsetting the Clergy and Nobility meant less money and less support in general.
- Although the estates are united, Louis' capitulation meant that the Third Estate ultimately had the most power due to having the most numbers (purpose of voting by head)
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- Indicated that the NCA was fighting for a consitution.
- 18,000 troops were stationed around Paris, which insinuated that Louis was willing to use force to tame the NCA, even if it meant innocent civilians were impacted negatively. This ultimately turned people against the King.
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- 30,000 troops stationed around Paris: people thought that Louis was declaring war.
- Necker being dismissed was significant since he was seen as a hero of France. In dismissing Necker, Louis essentially became an enemy of the people as it seemed that he was getting rid of one of the few things that actually benefited the poor (at least in their eyes).
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- Becomes very radical and plays a major role in the Storming of the Tuileries palace.
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- First act of disobedience to come from common people.
- Done to find weapons: thus leading to the Great Fear
- Some soldiers joined the movement: showed that Louis had no authority and was non-threatening to the French people.
- Arguably the start of the revolution.
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- The National Guard is formed with the intention to protect property of nobility and/or haute bourgeoisie.
- Displayed that whilst nobility did want change, they wanted it to be controlled.
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- Period of violent behaviour of the Third Estate during which tax records were burnt and houses were looted. Significant because:
- Tax records being burnt meant no taxes were being paid - leading to more debt.
- The violence triggered the Night of Patriotic Delrium
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In an attempt to stop the Great Fear, deputies from the NCA meet, with many noble deputies renouncing their titles, as well as the NCA eradicating feudal dues,
