French Revolutions Flashcards
What age did Louis XVI become King of France?
20
What significant financial burden did Louis XVI inherit from previous wars?
Debt from the Seven Years’ War and the War of Austrian Succession
Who did Louis XVI marry, and what did this marriage symbolize?
Marie Antoinette; an alliance between France and Austria
What was Louis XVI known for during his reign?
Indecisiveness and reluctance to implement necessary reforms
What was France’s role in the American War of Independence?
Provided military and financial support to American revolutionaries
What was the Treaty of Alliance?
An official alliance between France and the United States in 1778
How much did the American War of Independence cost France?
Over 1.3 billion livres
What did French officers, including the Marquis de Lafayette, bring back to France after the American War of Independence?
American democratic ideals
What was the purpose of the Revolt of the Notables?
To propose taxing the nobility to solve France’s financial crisis
Who was the finance minister that proposed taxing the nobility?
Charles Alexandre de Calonne
What was the outcome of the Assembly of Notables’ refusal to approve reforms?
Louis XVI dismissed Calonne and turned to Jacques Necker
What event on June 7, 1788, symbolized growing unrest in France?
Day of Tiles
What were the consequences of poor harvests in 1788?
Severe food shortages and rising bread prices
What did the Estates-General convene in response to?
France’s bankruptcy declared on August 8, 1788
What significant event took place on May 5, 1789?
The calling of the Estates-General
How many votes did each estate have in the Estates-General?
One vote each
What did the Third Estate demand during the Estates-General?
Representation based on population rather than estate
What did the Third Estate declare on June 17, 1789?
It declared itself the National Assembly
What was the Tennis Court Oath?
A vow not to disband until a new constitution was created
What were the ‘Cahiers de Doléances’?
Lists of grievances from each estate submitted to the king
What were common demands in the ‘Cahiers de Doléances’?
- End of feudal dues and unfair taxation
- Freedom of speech and press
- A constitutional monarchy
What was the significance of political pamphlets during 1788-1789?
They spread revolutionary ideas and criticized royal corruption
What sparked the Réveillon Riots on April 27-28, 1789?
Jean-Baptiste Réveillon suggested lower wages to counter inflation
What happened during the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789?
Parisians stormed the Bastille to seize weapons and free political prisoners
