Question

'there were certain drawbacks in the French legal systems prior to the French revolution of 1789' explain.

Answer 1

1756–1783 France builds up enormous debt by participating in theSeven Years’ War and American RevolutionNovember 2, 1783 Louis XVI appoints Charles de Calonne controller general of financeFebruary 22, 1787 Assembly of Notables convenes, rejects Calonne’sdebt-relief proposalsKey PeopleLouis XVI- French king of the Bourbon dynasty who took the throne in 1774; inherited massive debt problems but was unable to fix themMarie-Antoinette- Wife of Louis XVI, whose self-indulgent tendencies became a symbol of royal excess and extravaganceCharles de Calonne- Controller general of finances appointed by Louis XVI in 1783; recommended across-the-board taxation as the only way to salvage France’s dire financialsituationThe French Monarchy and ParlementsThe French royalty in the years prior to the French Revolution were a studyin corruption and excess. France had long subscribed to the idea ofdivine right, which maintained that kings were selected by God and thus perpetually entitled to the throne. This doctrine resulted in a system ofabsolute ruleand provided the commoners with absolutely no input into the governance of their country.In addition, there was no universal law in France at the time. Rather, lawsvaried by region and were enforced by the localparlements(provincial judicial boards), guilds, or religious groups. Moreover, each of those sovereign courts had to approve any royal decrees by the king if these decrees were to come into effect. As a result, the king was virtually powerless to do anything that would have a negative effect on any regional government. Ironically, this “checks and balances” system operated in a government rife with corruption and operating without the support of the majority.