Early Seeds of the French Revolution

Once Middle Class appointees From Louis XIVKept Nobles out of the power structureTitles are based on hereditary

Became “The Nobility of the Robe.”Began to usurp power from the kingEventually will gain and then lose the power of

the “Legal Decree.”

The Parlements – The French Judiciary

Louis XV1715-1774

Duke of Orleans

The Parlements Oppose the King1748 War of Austrian

SuccessionLouis imposes a 5%

tax on all social classes

Vigorous opposition led by the Parlements

Tax was retracted

The King loses the legal decreeThe Seven Years War King issues

emergency taxes to pay for enormous French loses.

Parlements of Paris decrees that the King does not the right to tax

1764 Louis XV with drawls the tax

Louis Appoints Maupeou1768 Abolishes the

ParlementsExiles or imprisons

ringleadersCreates a docile

JudiciaryTaxes the privileged

groups

The Philosophes are harsh critics Illegal publications lampoon the King

Tabloids –Scandal mongeringPornography

Lurid stories and pictures of the King And members of his court

The aura of the French King was dissolving

Enlightened Reaction

1770 Louis XVI- and now “the deluge.”“What I should like

most is to be loved.”Let’s Maupeou goMarries an Austrian

princessLiked to “tinker”

with locks and clocks.

The Parlements of Paris continue to challenge the royal authority