Origins of the French Revolution: War in America Seven Years'/French and Indian War ( ) We know the major effect the war had on the fortunes of Great Britain, but what effect do you think it had on France? Louis XIV's legacy of great accomplishments left France with a great sense of national pride; his insistence on absolute rule only heightened the glory of the monarchy and nation. Louis XIV ( ) As with Britain, the Seven Years' War left France saddled with massive debt (and without territorial gains to show for it). As with Britain, the Seven Years' War left France saddled with massive debt (and without territorial gains to show for it). France considered itself to be the greatest European power, and Louis XV wanted to continue the legacy of his great-grandfather. France considered itself to be the greatest European power, and Louis XV wanted to continue the legacy of his great-grandfather. However, France's continual warfare throughout the 18 th century was both expensive and humbling. However, France's continual warfare throughout the 18 th century was both expensive and humbling. Louis XV of France ( ) War Debt The disastrous defeat of France by Prussia and Great Britain meant significant losses in territory, trade, naval power, and money. It also hurt Louis XV's prestige and popularity. The disastrous defeat of France by Prussia and Great Britain meant significant losses in territory, trade, naval power, and money. It also hurt Louis XV's prestige and popularity. The war debt alone ate 60% of the revenue gained from French taxes. The war debt alone ate 60% of the revenue gained from French taxes. Despite these economic troubles, however, France rebuilt its navy over the 1760s and 1770s. Despite these economic troubles, however, France rebuilt its navy over the 1760s and 1770s. The American Revolution Despite having fought against the French in the war, the Americans sought the alliance of France in its fight for independence from Britain. Despite having fought against the French in the war, the Americans sought the alliance of France in its fight for independence from Britain. Benjamin Franklin (the author of the 1754 Albany Plan of Union which urged the colonies to unite against the French threat) traveled to France in the early years of the war to secure that alliance. Benjamin Franklin (the author of the 1754 Albany Plan of Union which urged the colonies to unite against the French threat) traveled to France in the early years of the war to secure that alliance. Benjamin Franklin Louis XVI, the new King of France, was young and inexperienced. Louis XVI, the new King of France, was young and inexperienced. Initially, he refused to even meet with Franklin. Initially, he refused to even meet with Franklin. Franklin played up his simple colonial image and became something of a celebrity in France. Franklin played up his simple colonial image and became something of a celebrity in France. Over time, Louis XVI and others in the French government saw the potential for humiliating their traditional rival, Great Britain, by allying with the Americans, but the king would not commit until he had some proof of military competence by the Americans. Over time, Louis XVI and others in the French government saw the potential for humiliating their traditional rival, Great Britain, by allying with the Americans, but the king would not commit until he had some proof of military competence by the Americans. Louis XVI ( ) The American victory against General Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga (1777) convinced France to sign a military and economic treaty with America. The American victory against General Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga (1777) convinced France to sign a military and economic treaty with America. French money would sustain the American war effort for the next few years and this money had to come from somewhere... eventually. French money would sustain the American war effort for the next few years and this money had to come from somewhere... eventually. Benedict Arnold was instrumental in the American victory at Saratoga, rallying the troops and sustaining a crippling injury in the process. General John Burgoyne made a series of strategic and tactical blunders that left him with a badly whittled-down force at Saratoga. The Marquis de Lafayette, a French noble, was a great admirer of Washington, and eagerly joined the American war effort, securing 6,000 French troops (along with the Comte de Rochambeau, the commander of the French forces in America). The Marquis de Lafayette, a French noble, was a great admirer of Washington, and eagerly joined the American war effort, securing 6,000 French troops (along with the Comte de Rochambeau, the commander of the French forces in America). Lafayette was a bit of a Romantic, and was passionate about this war being fought for the ideal of liberty. Lafayette was a bit of a Romantic, and was passionate about this war being fought for the ideal of liberty. Lafayette was very optimistic about the war, but Rochambeau was less so. The French troops did very little for the better part of a year after they arrived, which frustrated Lafayette. Lafayette was very optimistic about the war, but Rochambeau was less so. The French troops did very little for the better part of a year after they arrived, which frustrated Lafayette. Still, once the opportunity of Yorktown presented itself, Lafayette and the other French forces did their part and achieved a decisive victory for the Americans. (This is why we name streets after him.) Still, once the opportunity of Yorktown presented itself, Lafayette and the other French forces did their part and achieved a decisive victory for the Americans. (This is why we name streets after him.) Lafayette ( ) Why did France, an absolute monarchy, choose to help the cause of American rebels fighting for republican virtues? France had been enemies with Britain for centuries its defeat by the British during the Seven Years' War was felt bitterly by those in the French government. They wanted to humiliate their traditional rival. France had been enemies with Britain for centuries its defeat by the British during the Seven Years' War was felt bitterly by those in the French government. They wanted to humiliate their traditional rival. The French also saw the possibility that they might actually invade Britain in its moment of weakness fighting the war in America. The French also saw the possibility that they might actually invade Britain in its moment of weakness fighting the war in America. The French believed that the economic benefits to defeating and isolating Great Britain would pay for the debt incurred by taking out loans to pay for the American war. The French believed that the economic benefits to defeating and isolating Great Britain would pay for the debt incurred by taking out loans to pay for the American war. Economic Problems In reality, however, once the Peace of Paris (1783) was signed, France didn't get much out of the deal. It acquired no new territory and American- British trade would resume following the war. Though America would also trade with France, it had been hoped that they would cease trading with their former enemy. In reality, however, once the Peace of Paris (1783) was signed, France didn't get much out of the deal. It acquired no new territory and American- British trade would resume following the war. Though America would also trade with France, it had been hoped that they would cease trading with their former enemy. France continued to borrow money rather than pay off its existing loans by raising taxes. France continued to borrow money rather than pay off its existing loans by raising taxes. This deficit, among other factors, led to an economic crisis in France towards the end of the 1780s. This deficit, among other factors, led to an economic crisis in France towards the end of the 1780s. France had economic, political, social, and judicial problems before the crisis, and these problems would come to a head all at once in the Revolution. France had economic, political, social, and judicial problems before the crisis, and these problems would come to a head all at once in the Revolution. Much like the British, the French needed to raise money to pay its debts. And like Britain, taxes seemed to be one way to do it. Much like the British, the French needed to raise money to pay its debts. And like Britain, taxes seemed to be one way to do it. Jacques Necker, Louis XVI's Finance Minister French Government Despite the doctrine of absolutism, the French monarchy was not immune to criticism or influence. Louis XVI even less so, due to his relative youth, inexperience, and personal indecisiveness. Monarchs were expected to take the counsel of competent advisers, pulled from the nobility. Magistrates and courtiers exercised considerable influence over Louis XVI. Despite the doctrine of absolutism, the French monarchy was not immune to criticism or influence. Louis XVI even less so, due to his relative youth, inexperience, and personal indecisiveness. Monarchs were expected to take the counsel of competent advisers, pulled from the nobility. Magistrates and courtiers exercised considerable influence over Louis XVI. French government was structured in an exceedingly complex and corrupt fashion, with little legal or institutional uniformity. French government was structured in an exceedingly complex and corrupt fashion, with little legal or institutional uniformity. French Provinces Vocabulary Intendants Estates Parlements Remonstrances Venal offices Privileges/Exemptions Intendants Estates Chief local representatives of the crown administering a gnralit (a province or a part of a province). They oversaw all aspects of royal authority. There were 34 in Representative, though seldom elected, assemblies. Their consent to taxation was required in certain large provinces. Parlements Remonstrances Supreme or sovereign courts of appeal. The king had to submit new laws to the parlements before they became active. They had the authority to delay laws by issuing remonstrances. There were 13 parlements in France in Complaints about a royal edict that explained why the parlement refused to register it. Remonstrances were an important means of publicizing judges resistance to the monarchy and a method of delaying the implementation of measures they opposed. The king could overrule them, but the process was costly in practice. Venal offices Privileges/Exemptions Venal offices Privileges/Exemptions Political and judicial offices (such as parlements) that were sold to their holders as a way of raising revenue for the state. More important, expensive offices also conferred nobility, so this was an avenue of social mobility as well. Venality led to widespread corruption, as owning the offices meant that it was nearly impossible to get rid of the officeholders. Alongside venality, these were sold as a way for their holders to avoid paying direct taxes. It was easier for the state to sell privileges/exemptions to raise some money all at once than to force the rich to pay taxes. The clergy and nobility frequently argued that the value of their contributions to society exempted them from taxation. While privileges and exemptions started losing weight over the 18 th century, nobles still avoided paying the taille, a direct land tax. Parlements generally resisted new taxation. The various ways that nobles and clergy could avoid paying taxes meant that when it came time to use taxation as a means to pay off the debt, the burden fell on those least able to pay. This had been the case in earlier decades as well. Parlements generally resisted new taxation. I'll pay what I feel like! During the American War of Independence, France had managed to financially support her allies without raising taxes, which made people skeptical of the need to raise taxes later.During the American War of Independence, France had managed to financially support her allies without raising taxes, which made people skeptical of the need to raise taxes later. The reason that taxes weren't raised is because Necker managed to skim some money at the expense of venal office holders, which he used to pay down debts to boost French credit internationally, which allowed him to borrow more to sustain the war effort. However, the borrowing was not revealed to the public only the milking of the venal offices. The reason that taxes weren't raised is because Necker managed to skim some money at the expense of venal office holders, which he used to pay down debts to boost French credit internationally, which allowed him to borrow more to sustain the war effort. However, the borrowing was not revealed to the public only the milking of the venal offices. Necker went as far as to publish the first-ever public statement of royal accounts (Compte rendu au roi).This showed that the king had a surplus in his ordinary expenses, which was what people wanted to hear. His extraordinary expenses amounted to massive debt, however, obtained on account of the supposed surplus. This was unmentioned in the statement. Necker went as far as to publish the first-ever public statement of royal accounts (Compte rendu au roi).This showed that the king had a surplus in his ordinary expenses, which was what people wanted to hear. His extraordinary expenses amounted to massive debt, however, obtained on account of the supposed surplus. This was unmentioned in the statement. In short, Necker cooked the books and this led to problems. In short, Necker cooked the books and this led to problems. In a nutshell, France was in an economic mess, and couldn't rely on tax revenues from the wealthy to fix it. In a nutshell, France was in an economic mess, and couldn't rely on tax revenues from the wealthy to fix it. Attempts were made to allow free market capitalist trade to raise revenue, drawing upon the Enlightenment- influenced economic policies of the physiocrats. Attempts were made to allow free market capitalist trade to raise revenue, drawing upon the Enlightenment- influenced economic policies of the physiocrats. What was poor Louis XVI to do (aside from locksmithing, his hobby)? The Grain Trade The physiocrats believed that a nation's wealth was tied to its agricultural production. Production and trade should proceed by natural laws, and not be impeded by artificial government policies. The physiocrats believed that a nation's wealth was tied to its agricultural production. Production and trade should proceed by natural laws, and not be impeded by artificial government policies. For example, grain should be sold at the highest price it can fetch, rather than being fixed at an artificial price. If France could make more money off of the grain trade, it would help its finances. For example, grain should be sold at the highest price it can fetch, rather than being fixed at an artificial price. If France could make more money off of the grain trade, it would help its finances. France allowed its grain to reach its natural high price. This was fine for those who made money from it, but devastating on the poor, because it dramatically increased the price of bread, the staple food of their diet. France allowed its grain to reach its natural high price. This was fine for those who made money from it, but devastating on the poor, because it dramatically increased the price of bread, the staple food of their diet. French Peasants The increased bread prices led to bread riots. The increased bread prices led to bread riots. Bread riots were not a new phenomenon, (notable bread riots occurred in France in the 1720s, and similar incidents occurred in Britain from time to time) but they helped feed into the growing frustration the lower classes had with economic inequality. Bread riots were not a new phenomenon, (notable bread riots occurred in France in the 1720s, and similar incidents occurred in Britain from time to time) but they helped feed into the growing frustration the lower classes had with economic inequality. Worth dying for, or, if you were a desperate French peasant, worth killing/beating someone up for (because you'd die without it). The Estates-General Desperate to resolve the nation's financial crisis, Louis XVI took the drastic step of calling together a meeting of the Estates-General (which had not met since 1614) in 1789 on the advice of the newly- popular Necker. Desperate to resolve the nation's financial crisis, Louis XVI took the drastic step of calling together a meeting of the Estates-General (which had not met since 1614) in 1789 on the advice of the newly- popular Necker. Necker gained popularity by suggesting that government expenses should be reduced, nobles and clergy should be taxed, and that the government had a responsibility to ensure its population was fed. Necker gained popularity by suggesting that government expenses should be reduced, nobles and clergy should be taxed, and that the government had a responsibility to ensure its population was fed. The Estates-General was a body of representatives culled from each of the three estates: First Clergy, Second Nobility, Third Everybody Else. The Estates-General was a body of representatives culled from each of the three estates: First Clergy, Second Nobility, Third Everybody Else. Meeting of the Estates-General