french revolution Flashcards
what is the french revolution
when absolute monarchy ended in France (1789-1799)
what is deficit spending
spending more money than you make
what is the great fear
peasants rioted in rural areas out of fear or starvation and concern that nobles would use private armies to kill them; chateaus and monasteries were burned, food was looted, and financial documents were destroyed; some nobles fled france and others didn’t (royalists)
who was louis xvi
sixteenth king of France; ruled during the French Revolution
who was Marie antoinette
queen of France with Louis xvi during french revolution
who was the bourgeoisie
part of the third estate; urban middle class, professionals and merchants
who was the emigres
person who fled their country to settle in another (emigrants)
who was the royalists
nobles that remained in France and remained loyal to the king during the great fear
what was the bastille
a medieval prison in Paris; was stormed on July 14, 1789
who was the national assembly
created by the 3rd estate because they were fed up with only having one vote; wanted a constitutional monarchy
what were the enlightenment ideas and why did they cause the french revolution/ how
some include democracy, popular sovereignty, justice system, etc and caused revolution because ppl. argued what is right and true and what is not
what were the old regime and why did they cause the french revolution/ how
estate system in France and people argued that everyone should have equal power and equal rights and not put into different estates
poor leadership why did it cause the french revolution/ how
Louis xvi and Marie Antoinette showed poor leadership bc they spent a lot of money on Versailles and didn’t really help France at all; Louis tried to escape also which shows he was not loyal to his country
economic crisis how did it cause the french revolution
deficit spending bc Louis and Marie spent too much money on luxury items and they had to borrow money or tax people to keep the flow of currency going
estates general meeting explain the events
Louis asked reps to vote for new taxes to end economic crisis and each estate got one vote but 3rd estate argued abt. that and they wanted one vote per man to make it more fair; The Third Estate formed the National Assembly and refused to stop meeting until a new constitution gave them rights. They wanted a Constitutional Monarchy.
describe the storming of the bastille
wanted to seize the weapons held in the prison and set political prisoners free so they fired horse manure and set it on fire to create smoke and charged the prison
describe the attack at versailles
women marched to Versailles to protest about the price of bread; broke into the palace and killed some of the guards and demanded louis and Marie return to Paris; eventually they did
what was the declaration of the rights of man
adopted in August 1789 and stated all men are born and remain free and equal in rights, the gov must protect these natural rights and political power is derived from the people
who was olympe de gouges
butchers daughter who wrote plays and pamphlets; argued that the Dec. of rights of man should be extended to women as well but her idea was rejected so she wrote her own dec. of rights of women.
what was the legislative assembly
during the constitutional monarchy; had 3 factions: radicals (no king), moderates (fickle/couldn’t choose), conservatives(keep king)
what was the national convention
during the Republic gov;
who was max robespiere
leader of one Jacobin club; then he slowly gained power and eventually governed France in 1973 and his ruling period was known as the reign of terror
what was the reign of terror
a ruling period of max robespierre when he governed France in 1973 as a dictator
what was the guillotine
a violent weapon used to behead people; most of these people who were beheaded were part of 3rd estate
what were catacombs
tunnels underground filled with skeletons, bones, skulls, etc.
what is the directory
5 people legislative branch, oligarchy
who was napoleon
he was a famous military leader who became the emperor of France because everyone thought he would be a good and strong leader; seized power by military force
define coup d’ etat
stroke of state
define absolute monarchy, how it ruled France and the problems it had
1789- Sept. 1791; King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette; ruler has all the power over the people; financial problems because lower classes paid higher taxes and higher classes didn’t pay any; unfair treatment and no civil rights
define constitutional monarchy, how it ruled France and the problems it had
Sept. 1791- sept. 1792; Louis xvi and Marie; limits the power of the monarch; civil rights exist; legislative assembly-3 factions; established w/constitution of 1791; problems with the radicals who didn’t want a king and emigres who fled France; Jacobin club created by radicals who wanted a republic
define republic, how it ruled France and the problems it had
Sept. 1792 - Aug. 1795; legislative + executive branches; national convention w/749 men; max robespierre gained power and his ruling period was the reign of terror
define oligarchy, how it ruled France and the problems it had
small group of people ruling; Aug 1795 - Sep. 10 1799; 5 man legislative branch (the directory); poor governing
define dictatorship, how it ruled France and the problems it had
one person holds all the power wo/consent of the governed; Nov 1799: Napoleon coup d’etat
what is the old regime
the estate system
who was in the first estate
at the tippy top were the absolute monarchs and the rest were the clergy which included priests and bishops; 1% of the population, owned 10% of land, paid no taxes, collected rent and fees (church fees called tithes)
who was in the second estate
nobility- 2% of the population, owned 20% of land; paid few if any taxes, held high offices in gov. and military
who was in the third estate
97% of the population; paid high taxes, fees, had no rights, wanted equality, starved and overworked; bourgeoisie: urban middle class-professionals and merchants
artisans: skilled craftsman
urban workers: manual laborers
peasants: farmers (80% of 3rd estate)
