The French Revolution Flashcards
history ch1
What is French revolution
It was the mass uprising of the French people against the dictatorial and anti-people policies of the monarch
When did the french revolution start?
It started on 14 July 1789 with the storming of Bastille
In _______ Louis XVI of the Bourbon family of kings ascended the the throne of France.
Monarchy is a system of government in which one person reigns usually King or Queen
1774
Louis XVI belonged to which dynasty
Bourbon
French society during the late eighteenth century
Estate 1 : clergy
Estate 2 : Nobility
Estate 3 : Big businessmen, merchants
peasants,artisans
servants, landless laborers
What were the reasons for empty treasury in France?
Long years of war
to maintain an extravagant court
France helped 13 American colonies to gain their independence from their common enemy Britain
high interest on loans
To meet regular expenses like the cost of maintaining an army,court running offices or universities
Define Livre
A unit of currency in France discontinued in 1794
Define the following
i) Clergy
ii) Tithe
iii) Taille
Clergy : A group of people invested with special functions in church
Tithe : A tax levied by church comprising one tenth of the agricultural produce
Taille : tax to be paid directly to the state
The reasons for subsistence crisis in France in 1789
Population increased rapidly
The demand for food grains also rose
The price of food grains increased
wages didn’t keep pace with rising price
natural calamities reduced harvest
define subsistence crisis
An extreme situation in where the basic means of livelihood are endangered
Who were termed as middle class
Those who became prosperous, had access to education and new ideas from third estate
Role of philosophers in French revolution
Philosophers played an important role in the revolution
They inspired the common mass of France with their revolutionary ideas and prepared them to fight against injustices
Name the philosophers and their ideologies
John Locke - The two treaties of government
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Locke sought to refute the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch
Jean Jacques Rousseau - The social contract
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Proposed a from of government based on a social contract between the people and representatives
He proposed the idea of one person, one vote and one value
Montesquieu - Spirit of laws
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He proposed a division of powers within the government between the legislature, executive and judiciary
Voltaire
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Ridiculed the exploitation of clergy
Promoted rational thinking, and ideals of equality and Humanism
Define estate general
The estate general was a political body of France to which the three estates sent their representatives
Who formed the national assembly?
The members of the 3rd estate saw themselves as the spokesperson for the whole French nation
On June 20 they assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the ground of versailles
They declared themselves as the national assembly
They were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes
What were the demands of National Assembly?
Draft a constitution for France
Limit the powers of monarch
Name the influential pamphlet written by Abbe Sieyes
What is the third estate?
What were the privileges enjoyed by the first two estates?
Exemption from paying taxes
Nobles has feudal dues which they extracted from peasants
Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord
When did France became a constitutional monarchy?
The National assembly completed drafting a constitution for France on 3rd September 1791
It limited the power of monarch
There was a separation of powers between legislature,executive and judiciary
Who were active and passive citizens?
Men above 25 years of age and who paid taxes worth 3 days of wage were considered as active citizens
They had the right to vote
Others who hadn’t had the right to vote were termed as passive citizens
Who was the leader of Jacobin group
Maximilian Robespirre
