Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

History > France > Flashcards

France Flashcards

1
Q

The Ancien Regime details

A

= the monarchic, aristocratic, social and political system of France
3 Estates:
• Clergy, Nobility, Everyone else
- bourgeoisie
- workers
- peasants
Very restrictive structure - didn’t allow to increase power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Impact of the Ancien Regime

A

• Restrictive social structure did not allow to move up and increase power
- Bourgeoisie angry, had to pay 1/10th of income straight to church
• rents too high in towns => debt
• long working hours for peasants - unmotivated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Absolute Monarchy details

A
  • King had absolute power - liked to enforce
  • Louis XVI = fairly uneducated but controlled France
  • King could imprison anyone without trials
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Impact of Absolute Monarchy

A
  • After 73 yr old advisor died, made bad decisions
  • no cabinet / PM -> nobody else to govern country
  • little knowledge of country/population -> bad decisions
  • difficult to control France
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

War & Debt details

A 
• Seven Years' War -> debt
• Costs of maintaining monarchy -> debt
Eg. Marie Antoinette's excessive lifestyle
- Gambled millions of Livres
- Fashion figure
= "L'Autrichienne"
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Impact of War & Debt

A

= food crisis - people are hungry so want change

• Appoints Calonne - leads to (ultimately) Assembly of Notables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The Enlightenment details

A

= time of philosophical, intellectual and cultural movement of 17th &18th Centuries
• Stressed reason, logic, criticism and freedom of thought over faith and superstition
• Argued that humans life could be better through education

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Impact of The Enlightenment

A
  • during revolution, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was referred to by almost every revolutionary leader -> ideals = highly influential
  • thoughts = accessed by peasants who fought for ideals in revolution
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Calonne

A

• 1783: King appoints Charles Calonne as Controller general to deal with debt
• 1786: France asks foreign banks for loans - refuse
• 1787: Calonne asks Louis XVI to call Assembly of Notables
- explained need for reforming tax system, didn’t agree
Sacked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Calonne’s reforms

A
  • simplify internal customs duties (corvée and gabelle)
  • revise land tax - all land owners pay 2.5-5% of holding value p.a.
  • new provincial assemblies created - administered new land tax
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Brienne

A
  • Hired as Controlled General after Calonne
  • turned to Paris Parlement - unsuccessful
  • needed meeting of Estates General
  • Louis refused to call E-G, proposed ‘lit de justice’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Calling of the Estates-General

A

• 1787: Brienne wants +loans and to call EG by 1792
• 1788 Spring: rumour of King -> Parlement listed fundamental laws
-only EG to approve taxes
-arbitrary arrest = illegal
• protests all over France
• B announced meeting to be held on May 1st and resigned

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Planning for the Meeting of the Estates-General

A
  • 1 vote per estate, so 3rd estate = outweighed

* Cahiers de Doleances drawn up by each estate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Context of the Meeting of the EG

A

Dreadful winter (88-89), poor harvest, +food prices (89% of Workers’ wageon bread), Revellion riots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Representatives assemble in Versailles…

A

• 4th May 1789
- 1st/2nd Estate ~ 300 delegates, 3rd ~ 500 delegates
• tense
• 3rd Estate refuse to register (voting issue)
• King didn’t mention social / political changes
• Abbé Sieyes - ‘What is the Third Estate?’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

3rd June 1789

A

1st Estate invites other two to join in protest - some priests do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

June 17th 1789

A

3rd Estate declares themselves

- offers last chance to join N.A

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

19th June 1789

A

1st Estate votes to join National Assembly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

20th June 1789

A

• Royal Troops excluded 3rd Estate from meeting room
• go to King’s Tennis court and swear the ‘Tennis Court Oath’
- wouldn’t disperse until constitutional reform complete

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

23rd June 1789

A
  • Royal Session held - Louis refused to recognise N.A

* Louis offered to abolish Gabelle (salt tax) and Corvée (labour tax), promised land tax on value not social

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

27th June 1789

A

• King accepted legitimacy of National Assembly
- ordered nobility to join
BUT moving troops to Paris at the same time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Bourgeoisie Rebellion covers what timespan?

A

May - June 1789

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Revolt of the Sans-Culottes covers what timespan?

A

June - July 1789

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

22nd June

A
  • Louis XVI ordered troops to be positioned around Paris & Versailles
  • —> late June: 4000 troops stationed around Paris
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
By 11th July
~ 25,000 troops in Paris-Versailles area - dismissed Necker • fears of dismissal of NA caused large scale popular demonstrations against the King • feared King was going to restore power by force • Parisians to Palais Royal - speakers encouraged to take up arms • Gardes Français deserted King
26
13th July 1789
barricades set up to impede movement of Royal Troops | Seized ammunition from "Les Invalides"
27
14th July 1789...
5/6 battalions of Les Gardes Français were deserted deLaunay defending Bastille, killed 98 revolutionaries Mob of Parisians storm Bastille Prison and confiscate weapons
28
20th July 1789
Rural violence of the Great Fear breaks out
29
The Great Fear
• bread prices rising uncontrollably • rumours of seigneurs and grain dealers hoarding corn form peaking prices • riots in markets across France • rumours of hordes of brigands stealing grain, and attacking peasants FEAR
30
Long term causes of the French Revolution
* Ancien Règime * Absolute Monarchy * War & Debt 1770s-1780s * The Enlightenment
31
The August Decrees: Why/what?
4th August • Members of the nobility were victims of assault and homes destroyed • Some National Assembly member had large(ish) homes - feared • Feared separation of nobility • Issued August Decrees to nullify feudal obligations of peasants to landlords
32
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
August 27th 1789 - N.A. issued DOROMAC • established sovereignty amongst the French people • every person is equal • French people embraced - Nobles did not
33
Reaction of the Monarchy to DOROMAC
* King = * could not use force - army no longer reliable * refused to officially support DOROMAC * N.A gave king 'suspension veto' - could delay all () laws * legislative power still with N.A
34
Voting restrictions of DOROMAC
• 'active citizens' could vote (males +25 paying 3 days labour in taxes) • for office / vote in 2nd election stage - 10 days labour • N.A. deputy - 50 days labour in taxes => 61% men = active citizens => 100 eligible deputies
35
The October Days: what happened?
• Louis summons 'Flanders' regiment to Versailles • 1st October 1789 - banquet to celebrate arrival • anti-revolutionary demonstrations during banquet - officers trampled tricolours • reached Paris - demand brought back • 5th Oct - (6-7000) Women at Hotel de Ville demand bread —> Versailles (5 hours) • 20,000 National Guard • King agreed to provide Paris with grain • Royal family left Versailles
36
Significance of the October Days
* once in Paris, king = self proclaimed prisoner of mobs * Assembly = humiliated - mob achieved reduction of King's powers not N.A * Louis = subordinate to law - subjects = citizens
37
Immediate events leading to the Overthrow of the Monarchy
Revolutionary Clubs Popular Discontent Flight to Varennes Champs de Mars Massacre
38
Revolutionary Clubs
• Absence of political parties —> clubs established to support popular movement • @ clubs gave speeches & debate issues of the day - kept public informed on issues - supported election of candidates - acted as pressure groups to influence deputies eg. Jacobins
39
Popular discontent in the Countryside
Start of 1790: Peasants = disillusioned with revolution Angry as feudal dies not abolished Rural revolution (Brittany and Central France) until 1792 Peasants attacked chateaux, put pressure on Jacobin —> King
40
When was feudalism abolished?
17th July 1793
41
Popular discontent in towns
``` Sans-Culottes receive no reward for help Passive citizens Inflation after revolution 1791- falling wages -> strikes Grain prices +50% after poor harvest in 1791 ```
42
Flight to Varennes
Louis regretted Civil Constitution of Clergy (=v. Religious) 1) 20th June 1791 - Left Paris 2) 21st June reached Varennes 3) recognised by postman - Brought back to Paris Drawn up proclamation said the N.A wouldn't be able to govern
43
Significance of the flight to Varennes
``` • pre 1791 - moderates dominated N.A. • clear opposition to revolution • could Louis remain as head of state? • 16th July: Assembly suspend king until constitution = complete • rev. Clubs = louder -> declaration of Pillnitz ```
44
Declaration of Pillnitz
Prussia and Austria issued Aug 27th 1791 Warn France against harming King - monarchy should be restored/else April 1792: war with Austria July: LA promise Sans-Culottes more voting if fight
45
Jacobins
* set up after E-G meet * elite members * 900 national clubs by 1791 * minority = radical republicans eg. Robespierre
46
Cordeliers
• more radical than Jacobins • objected to voting qualifications • want direct democracy Include: Danton, Marat, Desmoulins
47
Champs de Mars massacre
* 17th July 1791: 50,000 people sign petition for Republic * crowds drawn from poorer sections * Paris Commune, under pressure from assembly, impose martial law * National Guard sent to break up the crowd - kill 50 * moderates retake control
48
Constitution of 1791
* legislative power to elected assembly * King appointed ministers, suspension veto * king = citizen * September 1791: King agreed
49
When was constituent assembly replaced with a _____________ ______________
Legislative Assembly | September 1791
50
The Convention
Mid August: elections for new voting body to replace LA All men +21 could vote 20th Sept: Convention met 21st Sept: abolish monarchy Girondins say no trial, Montagnards want trial
51
September Massacres
September 1791 France losing war Clergy and nobles rounded up on suspicion of plotting counter-revolution Marat's orders +1000 killed
52
Trial of Louis XVI
Convention tried King for treason | 361 votes for death penalty, 319 votes for arrest
53
When was the King executed
21st Jan 1793
54
Causes of the October Days
Poor harvest —> high bread prices + rising unemployment Populist journalist kept public informed of events at Versailles Trigger: drunken officers trampling on tricolour cockade, toasted Bourbons
55
Reasons for reform after a constitution is established
* enlightenment * loyalty to government * money
56
Local government reforms
France divided in 547 districts | Each tier run by elected councils
57
Finance reforms
1790-1: abolish indirect taxes Money raised by selling off church lands (assignats); 52% bought by peasants 1791: land tax/property tax/customs duties introduced
58
Economic reforms
Free trade introduced - got rid of price controls and internal tariffs Decimal system applied to whole country Collective bargaining and strikes = illegal Poor relief = state (not church) responsibility
59
Justice reforms
Uniform system of courts applied across whole country Each canton would have Justice of the Peace Changes to penal code - more humane (guillotine)
60
Religious reforms
NA wanted to strengthen revolution by tying church to state (not Rome) 1789: tithe abolished; civil rights to Protestants 1790: CCC- swear oath to state not popes (55% did), fewer bishoprics 1791: civil rights to Jews

History (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions