French Revolution Flashcards
Suggested essay plan for: Explain the causes of a revolution you have studied.
Introduction - long and short term factors: Unfair constitution - long term Financial crisis - long term Growing middle class - long term Climate - short term Changing ideas about human organisation Conclusion
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Suggested introduction:
A revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a completely new system.
France had been ruled by an absolute monarchy for several hundred years.
In 1789 a combination of social, cultural, political and climatic factors created an environment where revolution became a reality.
A combination of long term and short-term problems triggered the French Revolution.
How was society organised before the revolution?
During the years leading up to the revolution the government consisted of three Estates under the rule of the King. The clergy were the First Estate, nobles we the Second Estate and everyone else belonged to the Third Estate.
Why were voting rights between the Three Estates unfairly distributed?
The Third Estate represented 98% of the population. Each Estate had one vote and so the Third Estate could never create change as they were always out voted by the Frist and Second Estates.
When had the Estates General (equivalent of the French parliament) last sat before the reign of Louis XVI? W?hat effect did this have?
When Louis XVI was on the throne, the Estates General had not sat for 150 years.
This made the government out of touch with appropriate policies for the general population.
What caused the crisis in French finances?
What did prices and wages do in the 1770s and 80s?
Following their involvement in the American revolution and the 7 Year War France had enormous debts.
Prices of goods rose sharply by approximately 65% in the period 1773 to 1789. However, wages only rose 22%.
What angered the Third Estate about taxation?
The second estate, the nobles, were exempt from taxation but they were the richest people.
What effect did paying all taxation have on the Third Estate?
As a result, the Third Estate, the poorest people in society were burdened by ruinous levels of taxation.
This lead to great poverty and suffering.
Which new emerging social class resented the ancient privileges of the nobles?
There was a growing middle class (the bourgeoisie) in the Third Estate. They were more educated than the rest of the Third Estate and did not feel properly represented.
The refusal of the nobles to give up any of their ancient privileges proved to be a great source of resentment.
What climate related events contributed significantly to the feeling of crisis and anger in the late 1780s?
In the years leading up to the revolution there were two failed harvests in a row.
This caused famine all over France and great suffering.
What did the wife of Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette say famously when she heard people were starving and could not afford bread?
“Let them eat cake”…
This shows how although the poor were starving the wealthy had an abundance of exotic cuisine and no idea of the choices that the ordinary people had to make.
This illustrates the divide between the ruling classes and the peasants and was a catalyst for rebellion.
What ideas did Henri Rousseau publish that inspired the revolutionaries?
The philosopher Henri Rousseau had brought in the idea of human rights and social organisation.
For centuries scholars like Thomas Aquinas believed that history and society were unchanging and outcomes were determined by God.
Rousseau argued that government not God was fundamental in determining human history.
Then if that were the case everything should be done to take political action to change the shape of government.
He also argued that humans were naturally happy and contented and should be able to find a social framework that worked for everyone.
These ideas inspired revolutionaries as people in the lower classes had very few rights and therefore created a desire for reform
Suggested conclusion:
In conclusion France’s Third Estate had been poorly governed.
The first and second estate abused their positions.
New ideas about human rights made lower class people question their lack of power.
Driven by desperation following two crop failures and harsh winters the third estate had little to lose by creating a revolution.
A new legislature the National Assembly was established in June 1789 representing ordinary people.
A constitutional monarchy was proclaimed in 1791 but the king was executed in 1793 and France became a republic.
Both long and short term factors contributed to the revolution.
