The French Revolution Flashcards
Historical Factors of The French Revolution
The storming of the Bastille (a French prison that held prisoners who spoke out against the king)
- Symbolized the idea that people have both, the ability to rule themselves, and the power to remove their rulers from power.
The Enlightenment
The “Enlightenment” was a period in France’s history when people began to question traditional knowledge, and the use of logic, reasoning, and scientific inquiry increasingly became the basis of knowledge.
Social Factors of the French Revolution
-The Estate System
-French society was extremely stratified, with 4% of people being awarded privileged positions by birthright, and the remaining relegated to impoverished lifestyles.
Political Factors of the French Revolution
The self-appointed “National Assembly,” comprised mostly of members of the Third Estate, issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.”
-De Gouges published a pamphlet, the “Declaration of the Rights of Women.” she was publicly executed by guillotine.
Economic Factors of the French Revolution
France in debt
American Revolutionary War
Seven Years War (Battle of the Plains of Abraham)
Enlightenment philosophers criticize the government for wasting money on these wars, and not spending on the people
The Reign of Terror
-Robespierre proclaimed the “Reign of Terror, urging citizens to report political enemies of the revolution.
-Anyone accused of treason, including innovative thinkers like Olympe de Gouges, are tried by the Committee’s Revolutionary Tribunal.
Geographic Factors of the French Revolution
-piles of snow that blocked roads and made trade and travel impossible.
-When the snow melted, it caused floods in some areas.
-parts of the country were hit by drought, leading to grain shortages and the price of bread, rose to inaccessible prices.
The First Estate
The First Estate contained all political power and was made up of the king and Clergy.
The Second Estate
-The nobility/aristocracy of France, including members of the royal family, except for the King.
-They did not have to pay any taxes and were awarded special privileges
The Third Estate
the “Commoners,” which included everybody else (bourgeoise lawyers, poor, etc.). They paid all the country’s taxes and were awarded very few special privileges. The Third Estate could vote, but they were always outvoted by the First and Second Estates by a margin of 2-1.
Napoleon Bonaparte
-A French military General whose heroic reputation for success had won him wide support as the country’s next leader agreed to lead the next uprising
-declared himself the Emperor of France: the Reign of Terror is over.
Ancient Regime
the political and social system of France before the Revolution of 1789.
- The Estate System
