Martin Bartenberger - Pragmatist Political Crisis Management
POLITICAL CRISIS (CONT)
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Transcript of POLITICAL CRISIS (CONT)
POLITICAL CRISIS (CONT)
BRIENNE AND THE PARLEMENT
O When was the Assembly of Notables dissolved?
O Why? O Who took over as finance Minister? O When?
BRIENNE’S ACTIONSO Proposed new reform: maintained
Calonne’s land tax but modified other reforms
O Brienne took the royal edict to the Parlement of Paris to make it law
O What do you think happened? Why?
BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH THE STORY – WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE
OF THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS
ROLE OF THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS
O Who do you think worked for the Parlement of Paris? (Think about the system of privilege…position acquired by birth or paid for office)
O Sovereign Court of Appeal O Register royal edicts so they became lawO Scrutinise royal edicts – ‘maintain the citizens
in the enjoyment of rights which the laws assure them’O Right to remonstrance! (point out any defects
– rally public opposition)O They did not have the power to reject
the King’s edicts
PARLEMENT REJECTS TAXES
O Rejection: 2 July 1787O Only an Estates General had the right to
determine need for tax reform (therefore those who must bear the taxes must approve)
O 6 August 1787 – Louis XVI uses Lit de Justice
O Parlement declared Louis’ action invalidO 15 August 1787 – Louis exiled the Parlement to
Troyes – popular uprisings followedO Mid September – compromise met: Brienne’s
tax reform modified and Parlement passed it.
The situation remained fragile. Co-operation
between the Monarchy and the Parlement hinged on
D_ _L_M_C_!!O France still had debts to pay and loans to take out –
these needed to be approved by the ParlementO Louis XVI’s options:
O Play ball (perhaps be submissive to get his way)O Play the Authoritarian card (reiterate his absolute
authority and order the Parlement to do as asked)
LOUIS v PARLEMENTO Brienne forced to make cutbacksO He needed to borrow 420 million
livres (1788-1792) to pay off short-term debts
O In return, Brienne agreed to calling of the Estates General by 1792
WAS THE PARLEMENT PUSHING LOUIS TOO FAR?
ROYAL SESSION – 19 NOV 1787
O Reiteration of the King’s absolute authority: “Sovereign power in his kingdom belongs to the King alone…legislative power resides on the person of the
sovereign” (Lamoignan – Minister for Justice)O Louis ordered loans to be immediately
registeredO Duc d’Orleans pronounced Louis’ action
illegalO Louis replied: “That is of no importance to
me…It is legal because I will it”
BEGINNINGS OF REVOLUTION
O Parlement refused to register loansO Lettres de Cachet for the Duc D’OrleansO Find a quote on page 40 (HTAV) that
demonstrates Louis’ sentimentsO How did the magistrates respond? (page 40)O Magistrates arrested (11 hour stand-off)O 8 May 1788 – Lit de justice to replace
Parlements with Plenary Court to register royal decrees
O The Monarchy/Absolutism had won…for now
POPULAR REVOLTS: THE DAY OF TILES
O Popular call for Magistrates’ and Parlement’s return
O Provincial Parlements and urban dwellers supported the Paris Parlement – demands for an Estates General
O Provincial magistrates exiled – Lettres de Cachet
O Grenoble 10 June 1788 – people stood on roofs and threw tiles on soldiers who came to arrest magistrates. 2 people killed
THIS SIGNIFIED THE BREAKDOWN OF ROYAL AUTHORITY. INCENTIVE FOR
FURTHER ACTION.
RIOTS/PROTESTS CONTINUE
O Riots in Paris, Rennes, Pau and Dijon – food crisisO More arrests – this time nobility who asked for
royal minister to be condemnedO Hostile pamphlets attacking Ministers (534 May-
Sep)O Clergy – did not pay Don gratuit
5 JULY 1788 – BRIENNE ANNOUNCES THAT THE KING WOULD WELCOME SUBMISSIONS FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE ESTATES-
GENERAL
BANKRUPTCYO 400 000 livres left in treasury (enough for “one
afternoon” Schama)O 13 July 1788 – massive hail storm destroyed much
of the grain harvest around Paris – therefore tax revenues to be lower in coming year
8 AUGUST 1788 – LOUIS XVI ANNOUNCES CALLING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL FOR 1 MAY 1789
O 16 August – suspension of all payments to bureaucracy, army and repayment of foreign debts
O 24 August – Brienne resigns and Necker returns
TO DOO Ensure your timeline is up to date
with: O Events (Parlement of Paris, Royal
Session, Day of Tiles, Bankruptcy)O Evidence (statistics, figures, quotes
and facts)