The Enlightenment

Nota:

• - 3rd estate paid brunt of taxation - 1st and 2nd estates largely exempt, e.g. gabelle and taille - Church only paid don gratuit - 3rd estate therefore demanded reform- 85% of population!

Nota:

• - feudal rights over peasants.... payments, seigneurial courts, hunting and fishing rights, monopoly of operating mills, ovens, winepresses etc. - excessive privileges... tax exemptions, exempt from military service and corvée - could buy your way into nobility (venality)- unfair and prevented meritocracy.... in 1749, nearly everyone with an income of over 1/2 a million were nobles in Paris

Nota:

• - Parish Priests not treated fairly.. e.g. problems with the tithe - In 1789, all but one of the 135 bishops were of noble birth - Some bishops more interested in pursuing political power... leading to absenteeism - Many criticised this Church hierarchy and also the monarchy... as the monarchy supported the persecution of the Jansenists (Catholics who disliked power and corruption of Pope and bishops)

Nota:

• - The system of venality prevented meritocracy - Tax collection was also collected by those under this system of venality and they could not be dismissed, therefore causing resentment as people paying taxes knew not all of their money wold reach the treasury

Nota:

• - standard of living was very low... life expectancy at birth was a staggering 28.5 years! - prices in grain were incredibly significant and rises could create huge unrest and public disorder as peasants largely relied on bread

1. He therefore saw nobility's privileges as necessary for protection against despotism

1. 1) Noble Privileges necessary
   1. 2) Should be a balance of powers, i.e. separation of powers to avoid absolutism (favoured a CONSTITUTION)

      Nota:

      • Ideas of a separation of powers cna be found in the American Constitution... the executive, the legislative and the judiciary
      1. 3) Disliked organised religion and mocked principles of Catholicism
         1. 4) Believed in reform of criminals
            1. 5) Argued that arms races increased likelihood of war and urged countries to stop
               1. 6) Argued that the State existed to protect the poor

Nota:

• He therefore upheld various campaigns against the abuse of laws

1. Wanted an absolute monarchy, but with nobles/philosophers guiding the King (enlightened despotism)
   1. He didn't believe in equality, but he also didn't agree with tyranny

      Nota:

      • "No government can be effective unless it has absolute power"
      1. Ultimately wanted to reduce power of RC Church

         Nota:

         • "If God did not exist it would be necessary to invent him"
         1. Favoured education of upper class
            1. Great advocate of liberty

1. Revolution therefore heavily inspired by him
2. Hated classism and social inequality

1. However, also realised that one person might know what is in everyone's best interests and at times should impose general rules, i.e. dictatorship

1. Polish gov. asked for his advice on how to reform their constitution
2. Robespierre tried to introduced system of gov. based on the general will- collapsed after one year
3. However... in 'Confessions' he admitted to being a thief and having several illegitimate children!

1. Can be seen in implementation of free trade in grain and a single land tax

1. Had the chance to put Physiocratic ideas into practice and failed
   1. However, concepts of laissez-faire were widely accepted in the 19th century