French Revolution: Events; Cause, effect + significance Flashcards
Poor Harvests
1781/2, 1785/6 and 1788/9
Cause: Harsh weather and inefficient agricultural methods.
Effect: Food shortages, rising bread prices, and famine.
Significance: Increased discontent among the populace, contributing to revolutionary unrest.
Compte Rendu
February 1781
Cause: Frances poor financial situation
Effect: Provided an optimistic but misleading view of France’s fiscal health.
Significance: Encouraged further loans, masking the extent of France’s debt crisis.
Assembly of Notables
22 February 1787 - 25 May 1787
Cause:
King Louis XVI called together important people (the Assembly of Notables) to get their support for new taxes because France was deeply in debt.
Effect:
The Assembly refused to approve the taxes, saying a larger group should decide. This showed people that the king couldn’t handle the crisis alone, adding pressure for big changes.
Significance:
The Assembly’s refusal was a key step toward the French Revolution. It showed that the king’s power was weakening and that people wanted more say in government.
Louis Rejects Parliaments
May 1788
Cause: Attempt by Louis XVI to assert his authority over regional parliaments.
Effect: Strengthened opposition to the king.
Significance: Deepened the divide between the monarchy and parliaments, fueling discontent
Day of Tiles
7 June 1788
Cause: Protest against royal reforms reducing regional parliaments’ power.
Effect: Violent clashes as people threw roof tiles at soldiers.
Significance: One of the first widespread uprisings; showed resistance to royal authority.
France Bankrupt
16 August 1788
Cause: Years of deficit spending and costly wars.
Effect: Halted government payments and operations.
Significance: Directly triggered calls for the Estates-General to resolve the crisis.
Cahiers De Doléances
January - April 1789
Cause: King’s invitation for grievances in advance of the Estates-General + Calling of Estates General
Effect: Compiled lists of grievances from all estates.
Significance: Gave voice to widespread dissatisfaction and demands for reform.
Relaxation of Censorship laws
Cause: Pamphlet published
Effect: What is the third estate - Articulated the idea that the Third Estate was the nation.
Significance: Influential in shaping revolutionary thought.
Estates General
May 1789
Cause: King’s attempt to address France’s financial crisis.
Effect: Led to political deadlock and division among estates.
Significance: Marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
Revellion Riots
27 April 1789
Cause: Rumors of wage cuts by wallpaper manufacturer Réveillon.
Effect: Violent protests and destruction of property.
Significance: Showed the volatility of the populace and their anger at economic hardship.
Declaration of National Assembly
17 June 1789
Cause: Frustration with the Estates-General’s ineffectiveness + issue of voting
Effect: Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly.
Significance: Key step in the assertion of the people’s political power.
Tennis court oath
20 June 1789
Cause: Lockout of the National Assembly members from their meeting hall.
Effect: Oath to continue meeting until a constitution was established.
Significance: Symbolized unity and determination to reform government.
Louis allows voting by head
27 June 1789
Cause: Pressure from the National Assembly.
Effect: Allowed decisions by individual vote, not by estate.
Significance: Increased Third Estate’s power, advancing democratic reforms.
Storming of the Bastille
14 July 1789
Cause: Search for arms and gunpowder amid fear of royal military action.
Effect: Symbolic victory as the fortress was taken by revolutionaries.
Significance: Became a powerful symbol of resistance and the start of widespread revolution
Night of Patriotic Delirium
4 August 1789
Cause: Pressure to respond to peasant unrest and fear of feudal retaliation.
Effect: Abolished feudal privileges in a single night.
Significance: Major step toward equality and the dismantling of the feudal system.
