Western History 130: Who were the key French Finance ministers in the run-up to the Revolution? What economic factors contributed to the Revolution?

Anne Robert Jacques Turgot (1774-1776) - Physiocrat and champion of Free Trade. Attempted to liberalize the economy.

Jacques Necker (1777-1781). and (1788-1789) -  Critic of Turgot. Focused on making the tax system fairer. Favoured loans to pay off French War debt. Believed in high interest rates as opposed to taxes.

Necker was a Protestant of Swiss origin. Had many enemies amongst the nobles and clashed with the  French Queen Marie Antoinette.

Jacques Necker source: en.chauteauversaiiles.fr

Charles Alexandre de Calonne (1783-1787) - Chosen by assembly of notables to look into the idea of new taxes. Advocated reform that included the cutting of government spending, a revival of free trade, sale of Church property, better salt and tobacco taxes and a land value tax. King proved to be weak in forcing the First and Second Estates to agree to this. The result was failure.

Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne (1787-1788) -  His tax reforms and edicts dealing with general land tax were resisted by the Parlements (provincial appellate courts in the Ancien Regime).

Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne source: prabook.com

In Summary - An unfair tax system, a huge national debt, ceilings on advancement beyond the Estates, infighting, rising commodity prices brought about by scarcity were crippling the French economy. Something had to give.

By 1788 - France was bankrupt. A decision is made to call the Estates General - an assembly gathering of the three Eastates - that has not met since 1614. Brienne resigns and is replaced by Necker (a favourite of the Third Estate) . French bankers promise to lend the government money on condition that the Estates- General is reformed. Representation of Third Estate will be doubled to counteract the other two Estates.