history-French Revolution Flashcards by Emaan Amir

Two main stages of FR

1789-1799 : Revolutionary Governments

1799-1815: Napoleón

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When was the French Revolution

1789-1815

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Causes of French Revolution

Unequal social structure (population divided into 3 estates )
Age of Enlightenment ideas
France sent troops and supplies to the American revolutionaries
Financial difficulties
France was an absolute monarchy with a weak monarch

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Old regime

France prior to FR- when it was an absolute monarchy

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What were the three estates under the old regime

First estate
Second estate
Third estate

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First estate:
Who made it up?
What % of the pop?
Land ownership 
Problems and/or privileges

Made of Roman Catholic clergy
Made up 1% of the pop
Owned 10% of land
Exempt from paying taxes; grand lifestyles paid for by tithe $ (10% of everyone’s income that’s paid to the church)

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Second estate:
Who made it up?
What % of the pop?
Land ownership 
Problems and/or privileges

Made of nobility
Made up 2% of pop
Owned 20-25% of land
Top govt and military jobs saved for them; exempt from paying taxes; main income= feudal dues (taxes that peasants must lay nobles)

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Third estate:
Who made it up?
What % of the pop?
Land ownership 
Problems and/or privileges

Made of peasants, laborers, artisans, bourgeoisie,etc.
97% of pop
65% of land
V poor; about half their income was paid in taxes

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Bourgeoisie

V small group
Middle class (our lower rich/upper middle class)
Hosted and attend salons

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What Age of Enlightenment ideas caused the FR

Challenging the absolute right to rule, ppl have a say in govt, liberal freedoms, overthrow a govt, justice system, etc.
appealed to bourgeoisie’ grievances

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Affect of France sending troops to assist American Revolutionaries

Wars = expensive (led to financial hardships for France)
Introduces revolutionary ideas to 3rd Estate foot soldiers that just fought in American Revolution (Republic>monarchy, no taxation without representation, liberal freedoms, take up arms against tyranny)

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Causes of frances financial problems

Govt had large debts with heavy interest
Costs of over ambitious wars of Louis XIV and XV
Cost of helping America in .their revolution
Bad harvests -> increased food prices -> hunger spreads
Extravagant spending of royal family + upkeep of Palace of Versailles

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Louis XVI

Weak monarch of France
Preferred personal interests over court interests
Heavily influenced by wife Marie Antoinette
Incapable of strong decisive action

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Marie Antoinette

Married to King Louis XVI
French people didn’t trust her bc she was part of Austrian royal family
Spent extravagantly on gowns, gambling, jewelry, etc
Nicknamed Madame Deficit

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Revolutionary Governments: 3 phases

Moderate phase (1789-1792)
Radical phase (1792-1794) 
Reactionary phase (1795-1799)

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Govts in the moderate phase

National Assembly 
Legislative assembly (created by National Assembly)

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Meeting of the Estates General- why?

King Louis decides to tax first and second estates bc of financial problems -> second estate forced king to call meeting is estates-general (first time they met in 175 yrs) bc they didn’t want to pay taxes

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Meeting of the estates general- what happened during meeting?

Representatives from each estate came (most from the third estate) -> each estate only got one vote-> third estate was always outvoted bc first and second estate always voted to benefit themselves and hurt third estate (keep things the way it was) -> third estate demands to vote per delegate-> other estates refuse

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What happened as a result of the meeting of the estates general?

The third estate voted to establish themselves as the National Assembly and to pass laws/reforms in the name of French people -> first deliberate act of FR

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Goal of National Assembly

To write a new constitution, creating a new fair govt

Storming of the Bastille

Louis sent troops to protect Palace of Versailles-> rumor spread that the troops were sent to attack and dismiss National Assembly-> people began to gather weapons-> a mob looking for gunpowder and arms stormed Bastille-> killed several guards

What was the Bastille

A grim medieval fortress used as a prison for political prisoners , and other prisoners, representing abuse of the monarchy

What affect did the Storming of the Bastille have

The Fall of the Bastille became symbolic act of Rev for French ppl
July 14= Bastille day - French National Holiday

The Great Fear

Poor harvests led to famine -> rumor spread among peasants that it was bc of the nobles doing -> armed peasants attack nobles and their homes-> wave of panic and fear

Result of the Great Fear

Nobles were either scared or believed in equality -> voted to end their privileges-> old regime is dead -> called the August Decrees

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Inspired by U.S. DofR, Constitution,and English BofR Says : all ppl are equal b4 the law, freedom of speech / press/ religion, no random arresting and punishment, no equal rights for women Still in French constitution

Symbols of FR

Tricolor (blue, white, red) | Slogan of Rev: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Women's March on Versailles

Thousands of Parisian women mad about rising price of bread-> armed women march in Versailles and demand that Louis move back to Paris -> Louis moves , signaling his loss of power

When does Louis become the French ppl's enemy?

When he tries to flee to Austria , but gets caught at the border

Constitution of 1791

National Assembly creates legislative assembly

Main Factions in legislative assembly

Radicals (left side) Moderates (center) Conservatives (right )

National convention

Formed in radical phase | New extremely radical govt

Jacobins

Group of radicals | Call for deaths of anyone that supports the king, and the king himself

Guillotine

Developed as more humane way of public execution | Used to kill king

Reign of Terror

National convention is scared -> makes committee of public safety "to protect rev from its enemies "-> Maximilien Robespierre (jacobin) becomes leader of committee-> rules virtually as a dictator -> innocent people became enemies and were executed

When and how does the reign of terror end

In 1794 when Robespierre is guillotined

Reactionary phase

Reaction to radicals phase | Set up the Directory - executive body of 5 men , v problematic

Napoleon Bonaparte

Born in Corsica quickly rose in army and in political power -> became political leader ->overthrew weak Directory ->set up the Consulate (3-man governing board) ->named himself First Consul ->got enough power to become Emperor ->strongly support by ppl ->reformed and strengthened France and conquered much of Europe

Nations Napoleon couldn't conquer and why

Britain->continental system failed | Russia->soldiers couldn't survive the cold winter

Continental system

When British ships would have to stay out of europe couldn't trade (blockade)

Napoleons invasion of Russia

Invaded because Russia disobeyed continental system by trading with Britain-> Russia's alliance with France is broken Napoleon failed because of scorched earth policy (Burning and destroying any resources the enemy could use)-> Drew the French deeper into Russia, but no resources because everything was burnt and they suffered in the winter

Elba

Where Napoleon was exiled to after stepping down on April 11, 1814

Hundred days

The period from Napoleon's escape from Elba until abdication again (escaped Elba ->supported, defeated, exiled again)

Waterloo

Quadruple Allies teamed up together and finally defeated Napoleon at battle of Waterloo

Congress of Vienna

Heads of state in Europe meet to stabilize Europe and create lasting peace after Napoleon's rule

Quadruple alliance

Britain, Russia -> beat napoleon | Prussia, Austria ->revolted against napoleon

Reaction of other European rulers to FR

Initially liked the idea but Napoleon made them resent him and France

Lasting impact of the French Revolution

The Napoleonic code, the invasion of Spain, the Louisiana purchase