French Revolution Flashcards
Conservative
A person who would like to see the political system stay as it is admitting only the slightest changes and making these changes slowly and carefully
Radical
A person who wants extreme change now and is willing to use violence and illegal means if necessary
Reactionary
A person who wants to change back to “the good old days “
1st estate clergy
Wealth and privilege
Didn’t pay taxes
Own 10% land
Tithe
Church taxes
2nd estate nobility
Top jobs in gov.
Army church
Live at Versailles
Don’t pay taxes
3rd estate - bourgeoisie and peasants
Lack of jobs and opportunities
Taxes heaviest
Some beggars and crime
No gov. Position
Bourgeoisie
Middle class
Cause of financial troubles
Deficit spending 7 year war American Revolution Bad harvest Overspending monarchs
Effects of financial troubles
Starvation
Attempting to reform
Nobility calls meeting of estate general
Cause meeting of estate general
France is on verge of bankruptcy
Taxation only third estate
Effects of meeting of estates general
All three estates prepare grievances
3rd estate declares themselves National Assembly
Cashiers
Notebook listing grievances
Tennis court oath
3rd estate demands constitution and refuse to leave until given one
Bastille
Grim medieval fortress used as a prison for political and other prisoners
Fall of Bastille
Angry Parisians storm and tear down Bastille fortress that represents everything unfair in French society
Liberal
A person who wants to reform the political system using every legal means
The great fear
Out of desperation and fear peasants attack nobles and storages
Causes of revolution
Poor leadership Economic problems Unfair estate system Enlightenment Success of American Revolution
National Assembly
Liberal Church under state control Limited monarchy Declaration rights of man Supporters of enlightenment Taxes on property Constitution 1791 Made up of 3rd estate
National convention
Remove titles from nobles Executed King Committee of public safety New constitution 1792 Radicals War against other monarchs
Committee of public safety
Executed traitors
Ends radicals
Protected internal and external execution
Reign of terror
Robespierre
Killed many
Reigh. Of terror
Guillotine
Killed many
17,000 fast equal deaths
