French Rev

Question 1

Tradition

Answer 1

The passing down of culture from generation to generation. No social mobility, one couldn’t change their social class. Tradition ruled the relationship b/w the peasants and other classes.

Question 2

Feudalism

Answer 2

Was the political system between the 5th Century and the 15th Century. The church had considerate influence over the peasants, often owned much of the land, and served as advisors to the government.

Question 3

Peasants/ serfs

Answer 3

Few rights, paid taxes, no social mobility, and no influences in governing country.

Question 4

Middle Ages

Answer 4

1400-1500’s.

People lived simple, agricultural lives, relationships were very important and little change in tradition and family.

Question 5

Divine Right of Kings

Answer 5

Kings derives their authority from God, not from their subjects, therefore rebellion is the worst of political crimes.

Question 6

Absolute monarch

Answer 6

King has absolute power against people.

Question 7

How was Louis XIV involved in absolute monarchy/ divine rights of king?

Answer 7

The king ruled an absolute monarchy, and also had the beliefs of Devine rights of king while holding leadership, because none of his subjects were of use to him, he was the only decision maker.

Question 8

The Enlightment

Answer 8

The spread of ideas about reason. It began with ideas being thought by the philosophers at the time, beginning in basements and scientific academies, then to salons, to coffee houses, ending in printed books and pamphlets. The ideas of the enlightenment undermined the church and monarchy.

Question 9

John Locke

Answer 9

Optimistic view, believed people had natural rights. Believed people co-operate with one another. He thought that if a democracy happened that freedom would follow. Rulers could stay in power as long as they were voted in, had the consent. Government was responsible for protecting life rights. Ruler had limited power. People had the right to rebel of they believed their ruler was a tyrant.

Question 10

Hobbes

Answer 10

People constantly fight among themselves, were chaotic, naturally seek conflict. Giver up their freedom for absolute rulership. Believed the best way of government was one ruler who had absolute power. Was to find a ruler who guaranteed peace. Believed with absolute power, no one could rebel. Even if they thought the ruler was a tyrant.

Question 11

Montesquieu

Answer 11

Not everyone is evil, not everyone is good. Believed in a democracy, but with three branches of government: the legislature, executive, and judiciary. You could rise up against the government ( when applicable). Though you would need to go through the branches.

Question 12

Voltaire

Answer 12

Argued for common sense, religious toleration, and freedom of thought. Thought the best ruler was an “enlightened monarch”. Meaning a monarch who studied the science of government and protected the basic rights of people.

Question 13

Rousseau

Answer 13

People had the natural ability to be good, people were born good, it’s society that changes you. Wanted everyone to be equal to one another, get rid of the class system. Equal democracy, no monarchy/structure. Still need people to make sure everyone is equal. Never would there be a reason to rebel, everyone would be equal so there would be no need to rebel.

Question 14

Ancient Regime

Answer 14

France used the feudal system politically/socially.
Characteristics:
- king is absolute monarch
- royal authority and rigid social structure
The old regime in France divided people into three classes.

Question 15

Estates system- 1st estate

Answer 15

3 estates. Divided them into these three classes. 
1st estate: clergy. 
-100 000 clergy
- nobles (wealthy) 
- collected tithes
Tithes- used for church administration.
- owned 20% of all land in France 
- paid no taxes

Question 16

2nd estate

Answer 16

• 400 000 nobles
• many well paid gov’t and church positions reserved for nobles.
• paid no taxes (except for some tithe)
• enjoyed great wealth/ privilege

Question 17

3rd estate

Answer 17

• 23 000 000 people
• carried the burden of paying the most taxes.
• ## peasants had to lay ancient feudal dues

Question 18

Bourgeoisie

Answer 18

• “wealthy”, educated 3rd estate.
• believed in enlightenment ideals, resented privileges of the nobles.
  ie// Robespierre

Question 19

Role of the enlightened bourgeoisie?

Answer 19

They brought forward the ideas to the 3rd estate, showing there knowledge in the subjects of the enlightenment. They fought for what they believed in, for their voices to be heard before the revolution began. The emergence of an influential bourgeoisie which was formally part of the Third Estate (commoners) but had evolved into a caste with its own agenda and aspired to political equality with the clergy (First estate)

Question 20

Robespierre

Answer 20

Was a French politician and lawyer. Outspoken advocate in the face of the revolution.

Question 21

George Danton

Answer 21

Was a leading figure in the early stages of the revolution. First president of the Committee of Public Safety.

Question 22

JP Marat

Answer 22

Physician, radical political theorist, and scientist. Best known for his career as a radical journalist/ politician during the French rev. Journalism known for his fierce tone, uncompromising stance toward the new leaders and institutions of the revolution, and advocacy of basic human rights for the poorest members of society.

Question 23

Role of food crisis in the rev?

Answer 23

Bad weather led to bad crops and not very much bread, therefore having to increase the price, making the whole country hungry. This led to men and women protesting and having the women of the Paris stampede the palace looking for the Queen. Blaming the king/ queen for eating all the food and the high prices. An important part for the pre-revolution.

Question 24

Nationalism.

What is it and how did it play a role in the revolution.

Answer 24

The feeling that people have to be loyal to and proud of their country, often with the belief that is is better and more important in the revolution. It plays a role in the rev when the people cheer loudly in the executions and if u feel pity it is considered treason to your country, meaning u don’t support your country leading to (usually) your death as well.

Question 25

Meeting of the estates general

Answer 25

Due to a financial crisis Louis called together the estates general. The third estate wanted a lot of things, with the voting system there was no way of them achieving these needs. The deputies came together with their needs, usually the estates general meet separately, but they met all together. The third estate did not get what they asked for because of bias, and un-fair voting. Which led to the tennis court oath.

Question 26

King Louis XVI

Answer 26

He was the king during the French Rev. It was because of his incompetence that France fell into a financial crisis.

Question 27

Marie Antoinette

Answer 27

Queen during the French rev, when married to Louis was a comical figure because of their incapability to have a child. She consumed all the countries money and food. A careless and un-insightful part of the revolution.

Question 28

Voting Structure

Answer 28

There was one vote per estate, making the 1st and 2nd estate outvote the 3rd. The first and second estates wanted the same thing, while all the 3rd wanted something else, they would never get enough votes to achieve it.

Question 29

Abbie Seyes

Answer 29

Prior to the EG, a prominent member of the Clergy, publishes the pamphlet: “What is the Third Estate?

Question 30

What is the 3rd estate?

Answer 30

Abbé Sieyes wrote the pamphlet, saying the common people of France- constituted a complete nation within itself and no need of the other “dead weight” of the two other estates, he states that the people wanted genuine representatives in EG.

Question 31

Tennis court oath

Answer 31

third estate declared themselves the National Assembly. They swore an oath to:
1) not disband until they had written a constitution.
2) end the old regime
3) crate a gov’t based on the will of the people.
Louis surrounds the National Assembly with troops, the 3rd estate fear for their lives, along with the idea that they may not be at relief from the inflation, unemployment, and food shortages.

Question 32

Storming of the Bastille

Answer 32

July 14, 1789

An attack on the injustice and inequality of the old regime. Was a symbol of the abuse of the monarchy.

Question 33

Legislative Assembly

Answer 33

Legislative assembly was a constitutional monarchy, few people were happy with the monarchy. Lead to the development of the political spectrum. There is division in the legislative assembly, between groups of revolutionaries.

Question 34

Political spectrum

Answer 34

Was created from revolutionaries in the legislative assembly disagreeing, creating a variety of political opinions.

Question 35

Radicals

Answer 35

The jacobins, led by Robespierre. Wanted to eliminate divine rights and the old regime. Wanted Liberty, equality, and Fraternity.

Question 36

Reactionaries

Answer 36

Monarchists, opposed to the revolution. Mostly made up of clergy, aristocracy, royal family. Wanted to restore the old regime.

Question 37

Robespierre and Jacobin club

Answer 37

Nation wide republican movement, consisted of radicals fighting for the abolishment of the monarchy/old regime. Lead by Robespierre, went from democratic initiatives to public violence.

Question 38

Brunswick manifesto

Answer 38

Duke of Brunswick (Prussia), sends warming to surrender, peacefully or revolutionaries will be “put to the tortures they deserve”.

Question 39

Foreign threats to Revolution

Answer 39

Other surrounding countries were telling France to bring back the old regime or war was to be brought on to France.

Question 40

Emirges

Answer 40

Nobles who believed the constitution went too far, fleeing France and urging other European ruler to oppose the French Revolutionaries.

Question 41

National convention

Answer 41

Collapse of legislative assembly, the national convention is created. Power shifts from the bourgeoisie to the working class- controlled by the Jacobins. National convention abolishes monarchy. France becomes a republic.

Question 42

Committee of Public safety

Answer 42

Threats from other nations as well as at home, cause the NC to create the Committee of public safety- nine members. Robespierre led the committee of safety during the reign of terror. Committee of safety had almost dictatorial powers. It waged a brutal campaign against people it considered enemies of France.

Question 43

Reign of terror

Answer 43

Public safety bringing brutal campaigns to France. Robespierre believed that the state must be ruthless against its enemies. Up to 40, 000 “enemies of the republic” were arrested and executed, many without trial. Reign of terror brought to an end when citizens started questioning the need for constant executions.
“Pity is treason”

Question 44

Robespierre response to internal and external threats to the revolution.

Answer 44

When there were threats throughout the revolution, Robespierre would get more and more aggressive with his push back. He believed that the state must be ruthless against its enemies. Leading to more executions and deaths in the country. Whenever faces with a new issue Robespierre would create a new group to fight back, each time more violent and dictatorial than the last.

Question 45

Fate of Louis XVI

Answer 45

Louis was tried, and executed. His lack of judgment in the revolution, caused the country to take there vote and execute him with the commonly used Guillotine. Louis’s indecisiveness and conservatism led some elements of the people of France to view him as a symbol of the perceived tyranny of the Ancient Régime.

Question 46

Fate of Robespierre

Answer 46

Citizens began to question near the end of the reign of terror, if all the executions were really necessary. Robespierre was arrested, tried, convicted and executed for his crimes. Thought he started and led a revolution, he failed to end it.