impact of the revolution Flashcards
intro
context- most people associate french revolution with guillotine and reign of terror. despite this, the revolution brought around great changes to the people of France
-the ideas of the French rev spread to other countries in Europe and beyond, British MP Charles James fox states, “the greatest event in human history”
factors- bourgeoisie, peasants, urban workers, nobility and the church
loa- clear that the bourgeoisie were most positively affected by the french revolution
bourgeoisie
1
k- bourgeoisie gained political power, new voting system favoured them s most owned the property/ wealth required to vote
k- bourgeoisie had normally filled lower and middle ranked posts of the judiciary and admin but after rev, took out higher posts normally held by nobles
a- shows that it benefited bourgeoisie as the revolution instigated a fundamental shift in political and social power from the first estate to bourgeoisie
a+ however merchants of Atlantic ports, manufacturers of luxury goods did not benefit from the revolution as there was no longer a huge market for that since the absence of the monarchy
bourgeoisie ev
(single factor) gained the most
criteria - biggest burden pre-revolution was that they were paying most of France’s taxation with no political representation.
after the revolution, the bourgeoisie gained political power and the new voting system favoured them to vote. By 1791, all the political leaders in France were members of the bourgeoisie.
peasants
2
k- abolition of seigneurial justice system (where lord would be judge) replaced by a fairer legal system
k- after estates general managed a decreased tex burden, abolition of tithe to the church, abolition of feudal dues to the lord
a- shows benefitted as those who survived the famine and terror were mostly released from burdening such great taxes and gained much purchasing power and had the opportunity to be elected to local councils
a+ - however as their rents rose as much as 25% and nearly 60% of victims of terror were peasants shows the revolution also had lots of negatives for the poorest in France
urban workers (3)
k- gained new job opportunities, Chapelier law of 1791 opened up many trades previously restricted by guilds
a+ - however, because of this law they lost many of their workers’ rights like the right to form trade unions and to strike.
k- like most members of the third estate, before the revolution they faced the burden of taxation but with no political representation.
a- furthermore, the San Culottes were heavily involved in the revolution and political movements.
urban workers ev
did not gain the most
criteria- prices rose dramatically and wages rising more slowly
nobility
4
k- before the revolution, the second estate or enjoyed special tax status, exemptions as close to the monarchy
a- pre revolution, the nobility paid 5% of their income as tax, but after they paid around 16%. This was a grievance for them.
k- before, the nobles as a class owned most of the land in France, despite making up 1% of the population
a- as a result of rev, 16,500 nobles fleed France (emigres) and had their land and property confiscated
a+ - furthermore, the nobility that remained in France, around 1,200 were executed during the Terror and many more were imprisoned as a symbol for removing symptoms of the ancien regime
the church
5
k- members of the clergy were exempt from taxes and enjoyed vast legal privileges
k- it used to pay ‘Don Gratuit’ to the Treasury rather than direct taxes, so effectively it set is own (low) form of tax
a- ‘Don Gratuit’, was now eradicated which benefitted it as an institution
a+ - however, the act that was passed to let this happen spilt the church, which was a downfall
k- before the revolution the church was closely linked to the monarchy as the first estate it enjoyed status
a- the church was now reduced in importance and influence
a+ - furthermore, it also lost the rights to control education, poor relief and hospitals, making its influence even smaller
