Ch. 12 FRENCH REVOLUTION Flashcards
Jacques Necker
Minister under King Louis XVI
- gave a lot of money to America to fund their revolution
- caused economic trouble in France
Louis XVI
King of France from 1774 to 1792, 1789 he summoned the Estates-General, but he did not grant the reforms that were demanded and revolution followed. Louis and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed in 1793.
Marie Antoinette
Queen of France (as wife of Louis XVI) who was unpopular her extravagance and opposition to reform contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy; she was guillotined along with her husband (1755-1793)
-“Let them eat cake”
“Affair of the necklace”
Marie posed as a prostitute and stole the necklace from a Cardinal ambassador to France
“Austrian whore”
Assembly of Notables
Called for in 1787 by Louis XVI. Made up of leading aristocrats and churchmen gathered to see if they would be willing to pay a new land tax that would apply to everyone regardless of social status. They refused, instead demanded a greater share of governing the nation.
Marquis de Lafayette
Led the National Guard, which Louis XVI allowed to be formed after the Bastille. A champion of liberty, having been involved with the American Revolution.
Estates General
France’s traditional national assembly with representatives of the three estates, or classes, in French society: the clergy, nobility, and commoners. The calling of the Estates General in 1789 led to the French Revolution.
Cahiers De Doleances
Lists of grievances presented to the King by various electoral assemblies in the Estates General. Still loyal to the monarchy but wanted to lessen absolutism.
Tennis Court Oath
Oath between the members of the Third Estate in which they promised to continue to meet until a new constitution was established.
-met even though gov. shut them down
National Assembly
After the Estates General met, the Third Estate demanded more representation. When it was denied, they formed a legislative body, along with a few members of the first and second estate, known as the National Assembly. They made an oath to write a new Constitution for France and to reform the administrative, constitutional, and economic state of the country. Their members were the main leaders and driving force of the revolution.
Bastille
A prison that revolutionist captured
- few political hostages
- few weapons
Great Fear
During the French Revolution, a period filled with rumors about the nobility ganging up on the peasants. This resulted in massive attacks on noble estates. Led to the aristocrats renouncing their feudal rights.
-Poor burned rich peoples houses
Jean Paul Marat
- french revolutionist
- Created the Friend of the people newspaper
The Friend of the People
- revolutionist newspaper
- criticized many powerful people and groups
October Days
Uprising of sans-culotte and petite bourgeoisie women angered by the overpriced/lack of bread
They want for the National Assembly to go to Paris-they get a real sense of the key issues-food/bread; peasants need more land to be more productive-this results in the confiscation of Church land leading to more productive land, more taxable land, and also assignats
emigres
-about 20,000 nobles and other rich people left France with the kings brother
assignates
- Money issued by the national assembly
- based on value of church land
- led to inflation
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Very controversial document that declared the Church a state Church-made priest swear an oath of loyalty to the Revolution; bishops elected by local assemblies
-Church land = state land
Constitution of 1791
All 3 estates have equal power in government, National Assembly becomes Legislative Assembly, absolute monarchy is abolished, forcing the king to obey
Olympe de Gouges
Woman who demanded equal rights for women and published “The Rights of Women”
Jacobin Club
French club backed by sans-culottes that wanted a centralized government, no external warfare, democratic republic, and wanted to continue the Revolution
Sans- Culottes
France’s unskilled laborers who worked in cities doing unskilled manual labor and were most affected by famine or inflation
- wanted a voice in government
- more food
- lower prices
Champ de Maes Massacre
July 17, 1789: A crowd gathers in a public park to demand the overthrow of the king and declaration of a republic. The National Guard under Lafayette dispersed crowd w/ gunfire killing 50.
Terror
Period in which the Jacobins terrorized counterrevolutionaries it was monitored by the Commitee of Public Safety and led by Robespierre
-Paris’s secret police
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
the demands of the revolutionists
Declaration of Pillnitz
Afraid that other countries would follow France’s lead and begin revolutions, Emperor Leopold II of Austria and King Frederick William II of Prussia issued this declaration in August 27, 1791, inviting other European monarchs to intervene on behalf of Louis XVI if his monarchy was threatened.
September Massacres
Under the direction of the Pairs Commune about 1,200 prisoners were taken from the jails of Paris and executed as suspected counterrevolutions
Guillotine
The favored execution method of the French Revolutionist
-fast way to die
The Jacobins
Radical political club dominated by aristocrats which criticized the work of the National Constituent Assembly and called for the establishment of a republic
Antoine Saint Just
Youngest of the deputies elected to the NC in 1792
Robespierre’s right-hand man
Called for king’s death
Maximilen Robespierre
A French lawyer and politician, and one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution.
As a member of the Estates-General, the Constituent Assembly and the Jacobin Club (Jacobin leader during the Reign of Terror), he advocated against the death penalty and for the abolition of slavery, while supporting equality of rights, universal suffrage and the establishment of a republic. He opposed war with Austria and the possibility of a coup by the Marquis de Lafayette. As a member/ LEADER OF the COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, he was an important figure during the period of the Revolution commonly known as the Reign of Terror, which ended a few months after his arrest and execution in July 1794.
“Representatives on a mission”
killed people for the revolution
Committee of Public Safety
Established and led by Robespierre, fixed bread prices and nationalized some businesses. Basically secret police and also controlled the war effort. Instigated/ oversaw the Reign of Terror.
De-Christianization
An unsuccessful aggressive campaign by radical revolutionaries that denounced religious institutions and symbols
Cult of the Supreme Being
A religion based on deism devised by Maximilian Robespierre, intended to become the state religion after the French Revolution.
Termidor
-named after event and the month it takes place
ROBESPIERRE is EXECUTED, end of terror
Directory
The body of five directors forming the executive power of France from 1795 to 1799
-overthrown by Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte
French general who fought the Austrians in Italy; overthrew French Directory with Sieyès and became consul for life
- became ruler of France
- took a butt load of stuff
Coup de Brumaire
Napoleons overthrow of the Directors through tricks and the help of Sieyes
First Council
Title used by Napoleon following his seizure of power in France in 1799. He used it until 1804, when he declared himself to be the new “Emperor”
