Liberalization of the grains

The idea was that the Libéralisation of the grains by removing the fixed Prix, by increasing competition and by removing the commercial privileges would have cause a drop in the prices of the Commerce of the grains while encouraging the circulation of these grains.

These attempts, however quite disposed, will be taken between speculators, bad harvests, political attacks and popular discontents.

The owners of the grains, from now on free to await the highest courses speculate by storing the Blé S, even by buying them in areas of good harvests towards the areas where the profits could be more important.

Attempt known as of the “Pact of famine”

The pact of the famine is a myth which circulates in the popular classes since 1660, one thinks qeu Louis XIV could enrichire while speculating, however no document enables us to affirm that.

The fact is that this liberalization of the Commerce of the grains and a Famine coincides. It was thus described as “Pacte of famine” by its opponents.

Misfortune wanted that this attempt at Libéralisation coincided with bad harvests: the Prices, from now on free, rose. Poorest could not nourish itself. The implicit pact between king and population, which requires of the king to take care of the safety of her subjects and with their supply food products was broken. A great agitation followed and the attempt had to end: Prix fixed by the king returned.

Attempt at Turgot and “War of the flours”

The attempt at Liberalization of the Trade of the grains of Turgot, by an edict of September 13rd 1774 supplemented little by little by other stops suspending of the rights or the preferences. The freedom of the trade of the grains became quasi complete with interior kingdom, and it was in project to establish same freedom with the external one of the kingdom.

This liberalization coincides unfortunately with a bad harvest for the summer 1774. At the time of the Welding of spring 1775, the cereal reserves become exhausted whereas new harvests did not arrive yet, the price of the grains rises so much so that poorest cannot of procurrer any more. It follows from there an important working class unrest and riots known as of the Guerre of the flours from April at May 1775. The order east restores by a double action, repressive: two rioters are hung, intervention of the army, etc; and of assistance to the populations by the organization of a provisioning as well as obligations with the owners of stock to sell their product at imposed prices. But the idea of liberalization of the grains is discredited.

See too

Trade of the grains
Pact of famine

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