Chapter 13: The French Revolution Flashcards
Absolute Monarch
Total power over the country and claimed he had a divine (god-given) right to rule, so could do whatever he wanted
Enlightment
A movement of thinkers who valued reason and science above faith or authority as a basis for society.
They criticised Louis XVI absolute monarchy
Social Divisions
First estate
Second estate
Third estate
First estate
Clergy (priests and bishops). They owned 10% of the land and did not pay taxes. The population was around 100,000 people
Second estate
Nobility (wealthy landowners who controlled the government and the army). Owned 60% of the land. They did not pay taxes. The population was 400,000 people
Third estate
The common people: everyone from well-off doctors, lawyers, teachers and merchants to poor peasants and workers. The population was around 25 million people. They paid taxes, many of the peasants still lived under feudal law
Taille
A land tax
Gabelle
A salt tax
Corvée
Third estate had to work for free, repairing roads
Tithe
Tenth of earnings went to church
Reasons for the French Revolution
The American Revolution inspired people
The social divisions increased hatred from people from the Third estate
The enlightment increasing people knowledge
Frances absolute monarchy
The estates general
A kind of French parliament that was made up of three parts, each representing one of the 3 estates.
Nobles and Clergy fought for one vote for each state, this would lead to the the First and Second estate being able to vote out the Third Estate.
The National Assembly formation
The Third Estate lost patience and left the estates general and called themselves the National Assembly.
They swore the Tennis Court Oath, promising to stay together until a constitution for France was drawn up.
The Storming of the Bastille
The citizens of Paris formed their own militia called the National Guard
On 14 July 1789, an angry crowd attacked the Bastille Prison in Paris, they expected to find weapons there. It was also a way to prove their power.
What was the mob in Paris called
The Sans - Culottes
The Reforms of the National Assembly
They abolished the feudal system
All men are born free and equal
Abolished tithes, seized all church property for the state
Liberty
All men are free
Equality
All men are equal
Fraternity
All men should treat each other as brothers
Louis and Marie Antoinette escape plan
Louis and Marie Antoinette attempted to leave France and were caught near the border at the town of Verannes. They were stripped of most of their powers.
The War with Austria
Austria had several victories over France. The sans - culottes of Paris suspected King Louis of helping France’s enemys. The royal family was imprisoned
The execution of the king
The National Convention declared France a republic. They then executed Louis and Mary Antoinette. Britain, Spain and the Netherlands declared war on France. This crisis would lead to the power of Maximilien Robespierre and the Comitee of Public safety
The Comitee of Public Safety: The Reign of Terror
The punished anybody they suspected of betraying the revolution
The rebellion in the Vendée was put down, killing nearly 250,000.
Another mass enlistement made the French army so massive (over 1 million people)
Harsh punishments were used on those found to br overcharging citizens for food and other goods
The fall of Robespierre
Many feared that Robespierre had to much power. The sans - culottes turned against him and arrested him (along with his supporters) and executed him just a few hours later. The convention elected a five - member directory to run a more moderate goverment. This is considered the end of the French Revolution
