Enlightenment/French Revolution #3 Flashcards
Estates-General
The representatives from the three estates. Louis XVI was forced to call a meeting when France was on the verge of a financial crisis, so taxes could be raised. The Estates-General hadn’t met since 1614 since the king was so powerful.
National Assembly
After a lot of time arguing about the voting system, on June 17, 1789, the Third Estate declared it was the National Assembly, and they would draft a constitution.
Tennis Court Oath
When on June 20, 1789, the Third Estate arrived to find the doors locked, they instead held the meeting in an indoor tennis court. When everything was settled, everyone there swore to not leave until a constitution was drafted. This is called the Tennis Court Oath.
Legislative Assembly
In the new constitution of 1791, a limited monarchy was set up. There would still be a king in charge, but a legislative assembly would draw up the laws.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
On August 26, 1789 the National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. It was inspired by the 1689 English Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. It reflected Enlightenment thought.
Jacobins
Also known as the radicals, and they sat on the left of the National Assembly. They demanded a republic, wanted the king executed, and fought the moderates for government control.
Girondists
Had a moderate political view (between monarchy and republic). They sat in the center of the National Assembly.
Bourgeoisie
The “middle class” who were a part of the Third Estate. It was about 8% of the population, and were 2.3 million people. They included merchants, bankers, lawyers, and public office holders. They were upset by the noble’s privileges, but didn’t want to abolish them and instead, they wanted to make their own situations better. About 6,500 of them became nobles through being appointed to public offices that conferred noble status. They also shared goals with the nobles. Both loved the political ideas of the Enlightenment, both hated the monarchial system based on social order, and this led them to take drastic action against Louis XVI.
Bastille
On July 14, 1789, 900 Parisians gathered in the Bastille (an old fortress used as a prison) because the price of bread had reached too high for anyone to afford it. A group of attackers lowered the two drawbridges over the water after hearing the king’s troops were on their way. Some French Guard members joined the attack, and the Prison Guard surrendered after 4 hours. After that, the rebels let the 7 prisoners go and cut the Prison Warden’s head off. Then, they destroyed the Bastille brick by brick.
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
Most famous slogan in the Revolution. States that men and women are both born free and remain equal in rights. Social distinctions are only founded when it comes to the common good.
Universal Manhood Suffrage
After the revolution, France became a republic where all adult males can vote (universal manhood suffrage)
Guillotine
On January 21, 1789, the king was executed on a guillotine. Revolutionaries loved this machine because it killed quickly and, according to them, humanely.
National Convention
A legislative body that replaced the Legislative Assembly. It changed France into a republic, destroying the monarchy, and saw the French Revolution get radical.
Committee of Public Safety
A political body created by the National Convention to protect the French Republic from enemies. They ruled for a year (1793-1794) and this time became known as the Reign of Terror.
Reign of Terror
The time that the Committee of Public Safety ruled is now known as the Reign of Terror. They executed 1,880 Lyon citizens who they believed opposed the government. They thought guillotining eventually became too slow, so they became to grapeshot and shoot the rest into open graves. They killed people of all social classes throughout the year they ruled, but continued to assure that this bloodbath was only temporary.
