history-French Revolution Flashcards
Two main stages of FR
1789-1799 : Revolutionary Governments
1799-1815: Napoleón
When was the French Revolution
1789-1815
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
Old regime
France prior to FR- when it was an absolute monarchy
What were the three estates under the old regime
First estate
Second estate
Third estate
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)
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)
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
Bourgeoisie
V small group
Middle class (our lower rich/upper middle class)
Hosted and attend salons
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
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)
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
Louis XVI
Weak monarch of France
Preferred personal interests over court interests
Heavily influenced by wife Marie Antoinette
Incapable of strong decisive action
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
Revolutionary Governments: 3 phases
Moderate phase (1789-1792) Radical phase (1792-1794) Reactionary phase (1795-1799)
Govts in the moderate phase
National Assembly Legislative assembly (created by National Assembly)
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
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
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
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
