TAXATION
This tax was paid to the Church, and generally cost 10% of people's income.
What is the tithe?
DAILY DOUBLE
France fought this many wars between 1733-1783, costing 4000 million French livres and sending the country into crippling debt.
Sieyes wrote 'What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been in the political order until now? Nothing. What does it demand?...?
What is 'to become something'?
DAILY DOUBLE
This Swiss Finance Minister served twice and was extremely popular with the people. His 'Compte Rendu' of 1781 indicated a healthy surplus of funds as he had left out the 'extraordinary' war expenditure.
Two people were killed during this event, which saw the inhabitants of Grenoble attack soldiers who had come to arrest the magistrates of the parlement.
What is the Day of Tiles?
This was the land tax. The Church and Nobility were exempt from paying this tax.
What is the taille?
The royal budget was only this percentage of total expenditure, but the perception was that the royal family were wasteful.
What is 6%?
What are the Cahiers de Doleances (Books of Grievances)?
This Finance Minister was dismissed after the Assembly of Notables refused to agree to his reforms in 1787.
Who is Calonne?
This historian called the Assembly of Notables the 'first revolutionaries', as by demanding to be fully informed of the King's financial situation, they were claiming to be representatives of the nation.
Who is Simon Schama?
These extra payments of food, money or labour were only paid by peasants to their lords.
What are feudal dues?
The American War of Independence cost France this much.
What is 1066 million livres?
A new voting method was proposed for the Estates-General. Necker agreed to double the Third Estate (giving them equal representation) but to keep the privileged estates happy, would not grant this second proposal.
What is voting by head?
Marie Antoinette was the victim of a swindler in this event, but it damaged her reputation further as people believed she had spent an exorbitant amount of money on jewellery.
What is the Diamond Necklace Affair?
A savage storm in August 1788 devastated crops and led to a rise in bread prices. By July 1789, workers were spending up to this much of their income on bread, and starvation threatened.
What is 90%?
The salt tax. This was a different price in every region.
What is the gabelle?
This Finance Minister resigned in 1788 after France slid into bankruptcy due to the parlements refusing to agree to tax reform.
Who is Brienne?
What is 3 hours?
The King's cousin, he opened his home, the Palais-Royal, to radical speakers and supported the rights of the Third Estate.
Who is Philippe, the Duc D'Orleans?
This person warned Louis XVI not to get involved in the American War of Independence as 'the first shot will drive the state to bankruptcy'.
Who is Turgot?
Fourteen days of unpaid service to the King or lord, only required from peasants.
What is the corvee?
These tax collectors kept surplus funds and became very rich. Louis XVI borrowed his own money from them to fund the American War of Independence.
Who are the Farmers-General (tax farmers)?
The Third Estate were upset before proceedings began at the Estates-General, as the King chose to enforce honorific privileges such as forcing them to wear black, entering the Palace of Versailles via a back door and meeting the representatives in a lesser salon, while he had met with the Clergy and Nobility here.
What is the Hall of Mirrors?
This wallpaper factory owner had his house and factory destroyed after a comment he made about bread prices being reduced was misunderstood. The French Guard killed 25 in the ensuing riots.
Who is Reveillon?
These areas were regions on the border which had been gained through conquest, inheritance or marriage. They were exempt from many taxes and privileges.
What are pays d'etat?