Developments 1787-1789

• Feb 1787 = Assembly of Notables summoned by King to discuss financial reform
• July 1787 = The parlements of Paris rebel against the King's authority and are exiled
• 8 May 1788 = King tries to disempower the parlements by redefining their role and powers
• 7 June 1788 = protests in Grenoble, demanding the reinstatement of their local parlement.
• September 1788 = King reopens the parlements. The Paris parlement demands that the Estates General meet and vote by order
• January 1789 = 'What Is the Third Estate' is published
• May 1789 = Opening of the Estates General
• Assembly of Notables = called due to political deadlock, parlement refused financial reform, nobles still disagreed due to being negatively affected by them.
• May 1788 = the Paris Parlement issued the ‘Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom’ claimed they could not be changed even by royal demand
• May edicts were forced by lit de justice, caused riots.
• RESPONSE TO MAY EDICTS = Parlement calls to end lettres de cachet and prison without trial, clergy also involved (SIGNIF!)
• Why the estates general?

  • Demands for an estates general
  • short term loans dried up
  • Necker's removal, he was liked
• Parlements became disliked as they announced traditional (unfair, due to vote per estate) estates general rules.
• Politicisation of third estate:

  • Society of the Thirty (Lafayette) encouraged 3rd estate to fight for rights.
  • Sieye's what is the third estate in Jan 1789.
  • Beginning of drawing up of cahiers de doleances
• 1789 Cahiers de doleances - concerns of taxation, 1st estate wanted higher wages.
• May edicts:

  • Parlement legal work to lower courts.
  • Judges in Paris parlement reduced.
• The day of tiles = June 1788 in Grenoble
• Declaration of Bankruptcy in August 1788
• Louis' response to laws of kingdom, MAY EDICTS, reduced parlement power.