Chapter 1 - Short Term Causes of the

French Revolution
in which in ten years before the revolution of 1789, a number of events happened that should be viewed in
instigators of the revolution

Foreign Policy
Seven Years War
France viewed Britain as a colonial rival

During the Seven Years’ War (1756 - 1763), French forces suffered crushing defeats against Britain
and lost some of their profitable colonies

Austria was a rival for dominance in Europe (however they were able to resolve their differences)

American Independence
because of France’s resentment towards Britain and Prussia, France aided North American Colonies
against British rule, providing both financial and military support

Benefits in aid - Treaty of Versailles did satisfy French honour

however practical losses:

did not recover the territories lost

cost a great deal of money and weaken financial situation of the crown

french soldiers/militants began to believe in the ideas of liberty and democracy to demand
similar rights when they came home

Financial Crisis
there was a huge building up deficit from the government

this was because of war and tax

war - france was at war for twenty years in different wars. they financed this through Jacques
Necker raising loans and collecting huge amounts of debt

tax - the privileged classes were powerful resistance against any sort of taxation structure

Reform
various successors tried to reform France’s finances

Chapter 1 - Short Term Causes of the French Revolution 1

 Fleury and Calonne sold offices and borrowed more heavily

by Calonne’s time, he embarked on a three part program to reform the tax system:

1. a land tax that would be paid by all land owners regardless of reason (i.e. Church,
noble, etc.) - nobles, clergy, pays d’etats, etc.

2. abandoning controls of trade and internal trade barriers (i.e. free trade of grain across
France)

3. achieving national unity and consensus (for short term loans and parlement
agreement)

this ultimately failed despite Calonne and Louis XVI’s attemptes of handpicking notables

notables would obviously oppose the changes because they had the most to lose from the
changes - notables recommended the reforms to summon the Estates General

However, Louis XVI dropped out too early and dismissed Calonne - led a failure of reform,
but also a failure of authority

Political Crisis
Calonne was then replaced by Brienne, who added even more reforms including removing venal officials,
central treasuries, education, religious and military reform

During this time, the president of Parlement also became head of the judiciary to review Briene’s proposal.
The judiciary refused and said to resort to the Estates Generals. Louis’ response was to exile the
Parlement to Troyes.

nobles and clergy in all of France began to meet in assemblies to support the parlements over the king
in provincial capitals

though the actual situation was resolved when the clergy and nobles settled on a don gratuit,
resentment would continue during the collapse of the finances

August 1788, the treasury was empty and they finally summoned an Estates General

In September of 1788, Louis was forced to bring back the parlement

Necker was recalled, but would not do anything until the Estates General had met (and also rejected the
reform plans)

this crisis showed limitations of royal power and could not do anything to impose reforms on the
State

Economic Crisis
a series of agricultural prosperity came to an end in the 1780s because of natural disasters

Chapter 1 - Short Term Causes of the French Revolution 2

 led to massive unemployment and rise in food price

low demand for manufactured goods (falling production rates in the manufacturing industry)

significant increase in staple foods such as bread (more than half a labour’s daily wage was now
spent on bread) —> led to food shortage

not only were prices high, landowners and tithe owners were hoarding grain and further rising
prices

food riots began as people attacked grain stores

most frequency in spring and summer of 1780 when grain prices were the highest

believed the economic crisis was at fault from the nobility - the third estate began politicizing
because of their blame towards the nobles and want for political change

KEY VOCAB

Deficit- when expenditure is greater than income

pay d’etats - local representatives of three estates that collected and assessed royal taxes
Estates general - elected representatives of all thre estates and only summoned in times of national crisis

Notables - elite controlling political and economic life of France

politicization - process in which people who were unconcerned about politics take active interests in politics
that affect their daily lives

KEY PEOPLE

Carlonne - controller general who drew up ambitious reforms to solve the financial problem. these were
rejected by the Notables
Necker - banker in charge of France’s finances. Often would raise loans to avoid new taxes/fund projects

Chapter 1 - Short Term Causes of the French Revolution 3