Origins of the French Revolution
Long-term government financial chaos played a lead role in the cause of the French Revolution. This point is supported by William Doyle, in Origins of the French Revolution. Government debt and lack of available funding seriously deteriorated authority and credit, leading to extreme measures in taxation, thereby acting as a catalyst of the French Revolution.
Doyle makes his point by arguing that France was approaching a state of fiscal ruin as far back as August 20, 1786, indicating that "Calonne, comptroller-general of the royal finances, first came to Louis XVI and informed him that the state was on the brink of financial collapse," at that time. (p.43) Although Doyle enforces the point that there are no concrete records to support the state of the government at that time, there are figures derived by Calonne, after extensive research on his part, that present the dire financial situation of the French government. The evidence shows a debt of approximately a quarter of the annual revenue, steadily rising, through increased short and long term loans. (p.43)
Debt was not a new problem for France around the time of the Revolution. According to Doyle, previous wars and conflict left the government finances in serious trouble. Expenditures grossly outweighed revenue. In an attempt to rectify the situation, proposals were put in place to save money, however, debt reduction was seemingly impossible and reduction in armed forces funding would put France 's stability at risk. Taxation appeared to be the only release from debt, therefore, there were substantial rises in direct and indirect taxation. The problem with that solution was that all that could really be done was to "redistribute the burden so that it fell more equitably and was levied with more accuracy." (p.46)
Bankruptcy might have been an option for France, but to declare such a thing would put the creditability of the government at risk. In order to maintain the ability to borrow funds and
Doyle makes his point by arguing that France was approaching a state of fiscal ruin as far back as August 20, 1786, indicating that "Calonne, comptroller-general of the royal finances, first came to Louis XVI and informed him that the state was on the brink of financial collapse," at that time. (p.43) Although Doyle enforces the point that there are no concrete records to support the state of the government at that time, there are figures derived by Calonne, after extensive research on his part, that present the dire financial situation of the French government. The evidence shows a debt of approximately a quarter of the annual revenue, steadily rising, through increased short and long term loans. (p.43)
Debt was not a new problem for France around the time of the Revolution. According to Doyle, previous wars and conflict left the government finances in serious trouble. Expenditures grossly outweighed revenue. In an attempt to rectify the situation, proposals were put in place to save money, however, debt reduction was seemingly impossible and reduction in armed forces funding would put France 's stability at risk. Taxation appeared to be the only release from debt, therefore, there were substantial rises in direct and indirect taxation. The problem with that solution was that all that could really be done was to "redistribute the burden so that it fell more equitably and was levied with more accuracy." (p.46)
Bankruptcy might have been an option for France, but to declare such a thing would put the creditability of the government at risk. In order to maintain the ability to borrow funds and
Cited: Origins of the French Revolution by William Doyle