Chapter 18: The Revolutionary Era Flashcards
Causes of the Crisis leading up to the French Revolution
Could not command sufficient taxes to finance itself, the royal family had a bad reputation (especially Marie Antoinette, known as Madame Deficit and the Austrian Whore)
Facts about Compte Rendu
- Proposed by Jacques Necker that France would have a surplus of money if France stopped paying yearly pensions of the nobility and ignored the debt from the American Revolution. The dissatisfaction of the aristocracy of this idea caused unrest which ultimately led Necker to be dismissed.
Makeup of the Estates General and reasons for its convening in 1789
Called into session because of a political deadlock between royal interests and that of the aristocracy and the church. Made up of the First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (practically everyone else, but representatives who did have little say were usually from the wealthy middle class)
Financial reforms of Charles Calonne
Universal land tax
1st and 2nd Estates attempts to limit the rights of the 3rd Estate
Assembly of Notables proposed voting by representatives. Parlement of Paris proposed to vote by estate. No matter what, there’s always going to be a 2:1 ratio in votes.
Grievances included as part of the cashiers de doleances
Indirect/unfair taxes, government waste, absolutism, wanted regular meetings
Creation of the National Assembly
The 3rd Estate realized their voices were being ignored and sot hey created the National Assembly and invited the enlightened minds of the 1st and 2nd Estate to join if they so pleased.
Facts about the Tennis Court Oath
June 20, 1789. National Assembly changes name to National Constituent Assembly and swears and oath to not stop meeting until a constitution is drafted.
Reasons for riots in winter of 1788 and spring of 1789
High bread prices
Facts and Significance of the Storming of the Bastille
July 14, 1789: Crowd marches to Bastille to get weapons. Troops of the Bastille kill 98 people by shooting randomly into the crowd. The crowd storms in and releases 7 prisoners (not even political prisoners – these people were actually criminals). Showed that the National Constituent Assembly wasn’t alone in wanting reform – inspired similar events in numerous French provinces. Established themselves as an independent political force.
The Great Fear
Attack on the 1st and 2nd Estates in fear that the king would steal their food. This highlights the fact that the lower class was at a tipping point and ready to act.
The Night of August 4th
Feudalism is abolished: Gets rid of social classes and their privileges attached in order for a constitution to take standing
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
August 27, 1789. Promised freedom of religion, viciv equality, popular sovereignty, fair punishment for crimes and a fair tax. Note that women are left out and not granted citizenship.
Jean Paul Marat
Writer of The Friend of the People, filled with radical ideas of anti-government and anti-aristocracy. Published statements such as the royal family stomping on the tricolor and Marie Antoinette’s infamous reply upon hearing that her people didn’t have enough bread, “Then let them eat cake.” Murdered by Charlotte Corday in his bathtub.
The “October Days”
Started October 5, 1789. Fearsome fish ladies from the marketplaces marched to Versailles and took up arms, demanding bread, ratification of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, and eventually Marie’s head due to Marat’s statement, “Let them eat cake.” Wins the bread and ratification and ends up taking the royal family back to Paris.