Test 3 Review Flashcards
What are some common conditions or patterns in a revolution
- A crisis of state authority – often rooted in fiscal problems, military pressures, a succession crisis, or severe corruption.
2.Poor economic conditions - perceived as unjustly imposing hardship on workers or peasants.
- Societal Divided - major division among official, military, economic and/or religious elites of the state.
- Capable Resistance - broad culture of opposition that unifies diverse groups against the state and encourages opposition.
What happened in France to cause the revolution (ex: crisis of authority, etc)
- A Crisis of Authority - Government is incompetent, usually in the economy = high spending
- Poor economic conditions: High taxation and the growth of the middle class = desperate for change
- Societal Division - The Estates General and Church had lost respect and control of the people
- Capable Resistance: The Enlightened Philosophes have a vision for change
Explain the Crisis of authority with ‘High Spending”
Annual Budget in 1788:
50% on interest payments for increasing national debt.
25% spent on paying for military expenditures.
6% paid for the extravagant lifestyle of the King & Queen
with no other options a sharp rise in taxes became inevitable. This rise fell on the peasants, who at the same time were dealing with poor harvests and soaring bread prices.
Explain the poor economic conditions
Economic Crisis of 1780s:
Manufacturing depression combined with bad weather led to serious problems.
Workers in the city had to spend between 70-90% of their wages on food.
Poor Harvests – 1789 was a terrible year for crops, resulting in skyrocketing food prices for a heavily taxed 3rd Estate. Bread price in Paris was 70-90% of a worker’s daily wage.
France fell into more national debt when supporting the American War of Independence.
What is L’ancien regime
Socio-economic system in place throughout the 18th century
Who is the first estate
First Estate – Clergy
Owned approximately 10% of all land & collected tithes (religious taxes) from the 3rd estate.
Exempt from taxes
Controlled education
Who is the the second estate
Second Estate – Nobility
Collected feudal dues from peasants who worked their land.
Monopolized military and state appointments
Who is the third estate
Third Estate – Commoners
Made up approximately 98% of population
Only estate to pay taxes
Included, bourgeoisie, city workers, farmers, tradesmen, merchants etc.
Within the 3rd estate is a rising middle class.
What is the estates general?
The Estates General was a big meeting in France before the French Revolution. It was a gathering of representatives from three groups, called estates:
First Estate: The clergy (church officials).
Second Estate: The nobility (rich and powerful families).
Third Estate: Everyone else (common people, including peasants, city workers, and the middle class).
What was the french government like before the revolution
Its an Absolute Monarchy, Louis XVI is King and the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette is his wife - he bought everything for her
Competing ministerial factions flit in and out of favor with King – many policy reversals and general ineffectiveness as a result.
No real parliament means opposition remains unfocused. The Estates-General was technically an elected representative body, but had not been called into session since 1614
What was wrong with the voting with the estate general body
May 1789 - Louis XVI called the Estates-General for the first time since 1614. This body was supposed to be representative of the people, but voting was done by ORDER, not by head. Frustrated with corruption and their disempowered position, the Third Estate stormed out and declared itself a National Assembly.
The Estates General was called by King Louis XVI in 1789 because France was having serious financial problems and he needed to raise taxes. However, it hadn’t been called for 175 years, and the way it was set up gave the clergy and nobility much more power than the common people, even though the Third Estate made up most of the population.
This imbalance led to frustration and anger among the common people, contributing to the start of the French Revolution. Eventually, the representatives of the Third Estate broke away and formed their own group, called the National Assembly, which played a key role in the Revolution.
What is the cahiers de doleances
A great PRIMARY source of information on France at the time of the revolution, essentially a notebook of complaints.
The Crown, was seeking to consult the French people directly - they asked for statements of grievances to be drawn up.
They reflected the concerns and frustrations of different segments of society.
What is the “Tennis court Oath”
June 20th, 1789 – The “Tennis Court Oath”, marks the true beginning of the Revolution.
After Louis XVI literally locks the newly formed National Assembly out of the meeting hall of the previous 3rd Estate, the group convenes in an indoor Tennis Court.
Members pledge to remain intact until a new national constitution can be drafted and implemented - they were the National Assembly of France.
Louis XVI, unable to convince the 3rd Estate to return to the Estates-General in the following days, forms a National Guard - in case force is needed.
Explain the storming of the bastille
- 900 Parisians gathered outside of the Bastille, a prison that symbolized government oppression (held prisoners who went their without trial)
- It was attacked by a crowd that consisted of shopkeepers, craftsmen and educated leaders = the middle class, their initial goal was to storm the gates and take possession of the gunpowder.
- Crowd got impatient while waiting for negotiations and climbed the wall and cut the drawbridge chains = chaos and violence ensued
Who is Emmanuel Sieyes
Emmanuel Sieyès was an important figure during the French Revolution. Here’s a simple explanation of who he was:
Background: Emmanuel Sieyès was a French clergyman and political writer.
Famous Pamphlet: In 1789, he wrote a famous pamphlet called “What is the Third Estate?” In it, he argued that the Third Estate (common people) was the true strength of the nation and deserved more political power.
Role in the Revolution: Sieyès’ ideas influenced many people and helped inspire the demand for greater equality and the restructuring of French society. He played a key role in the early stages of the Revolution, including the formation of the National Assembly.
Later Career: Sieyès continued to be an influential political figure throughout the Revolution and even during the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. He helped to draft the new constitutions and was part of the government that eventually led to Napoleon’s rule.
What is the Declaration of the rights of man
When: Adopted on August 26th, 1789
Where: Paris
Who: Drafted by Emmanuel Sieyes
What: A clear statement of the aims of the French Revolution and a precursor to the French Constitution. H.S. = It asserted principles such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, and emphasized the sovereignty of the people, the rule of law, and the protection of individual rights.
What was the great fear
The Great Fear - nobility’s fear of being sacked or killed by angry peasants which farmed the land they owned. This leads to the nobility and clergy losing their special privileges.
During the summer of 1789, all across France peasants began to rise up against their lords.
They ransacked manor houses and burnt feudal documents that recorded the peasants obligations.
Fear of vagabonds, outlaws and a peasant uprising - the so called GREAT FEAR - seized the countryside and fanned the flames of rebellion.
The long suffering peasants were doing their best to free themselves from aristocratic privilege and exploitation.
H.S. Eventually this revolt led the National Assembly to abolish feudal obligations
During the moderate phase what type of government is still in power
During this time period the system of government in place is a Constitutional Monarchy, NOT a republic. Louis XVI still has limited powers.
Who is Mirabeau
Mirabeau was an important leader during the early part of the French Revolution. Here’s a simple explanation of who he was:
Full Name: His full name was Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Count of Mirabeau.
Background: Mirabeau was a nobleman with a rebellious spirit. Despite being from the aristocracy, he supported the ideas of the Revolution and became a voice for the people.
Role in the Revolution: He was elected as a representative of the Third Estate and became a key figure in the National Assembly. Mirabeau was known for his powerful speeches and persuasive arguments, advocating for constitutional monarchy and reforms that would balance the power between the king and the people.
Significance: Mirabeau’s influence helped shape the early course of the Revolution. He worked to bridge the gap between the king and the revolutionaries, though his sudden death in 1791 cut short his efforts.
In summary, Mirabeau was a nobleman who played a crucial role in the early French Revolution, known for his oratory skills and efforts to achieve political reform.
Who is Robespierre
Background: Robespierre was a lawyer and politician, known for his intense dedication to revolutionary ideals.
Role in the Revolution: He became a leading member of the Jacobin Club, a powerful political group during the Revolution. Robespierre was a strong advocate for democracy and equality.
Reign of Terror: Robespierre is most famous for his role in the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), a period when he and his allies used harsh measures, including executions by guillotine, to eliminate perceived enemies of the Revolution. Thousands were executed, including former allies and critics.
Downfall: His extreme measures eventually led to his downfall. In July 1794, Robespierre was arrested and executed by guillotine, marking the end of the Reign of Terror.
In summary, Robespierre was a key revolutionary leader known for his radical policies and his role in the Reign of Terror, which aimed to protect the Revolution but resulted in widespread fear and many deaths.
What were the two groups during the revolution
- Girondins
- Jacobins
Explain Girondins
Who They Were: The Girondins were a faction of revolutionaries named after the Gironde region in southwestern France, where many of their leaders came from.
Beliefs: They supported the revolution but favored a more moderate approach. They wanted a constitutional government and were less extreme than the rival Jacobins.
Role in the Revolution: The Girondins initially held significant power in the National Assembly and pushed for war against Austria in 1792, believing it would unite the country and spread revolutionary ideas.
Conflict and Downfall: They clashed with the more radical Jacobins, who accused them of being too lenient and not committed enough to the revolution. This conflict led to their downfall. In 1793, many Girondin leaders were arrested and executed during the Reign of Terror.
In summary, the Girondins were a moderate revolutionary group that played a key role early in the French Revolution but were eventually overpowered by the more radical Jacobins. Most were killed in the Reign of Terror
