The French Revolution Flashcards
1
Q
What were the four causes of the French Revolution? and the enlightenment influences
A
(EEEW)
- Enlightenment Ideas
- Estate System
- Economic Problems
- Weak Leader
Enlightenment Influences:
- The ideas of the Philosophes stirred a number of men to desire greater freedom
Spread by the Bourgeoisie of the 3rd estate - Ideas of the American Revolution spread to France
- Equality and liberty (Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu)
- Natural Rights (Locke)
- Democratic gov and democratic elections
2
Q
What were the Economic causes of the French Revolution?
A
- The national treasury of France was facing bankruptcy and both the collection and distribution of national finances needed reorganization
- Efforts to change the way money was spent was blocked by the King
Wanted to continue living the “High Life” - King’s help in funding the American Revolution didn’t help the anger of the Third Estate
- Major economic depression (1787-1789)
Crops were damaged by frost, drought, and rain - City workers faced unemployment because peasants could not afford to buy the manufactured goods they were selling
- Peasants wanted to be free of all feudal restrictions which added to hardship
- Spain’s tariffs and England’s competition interfered with the sale of French goods abroad and contributed further to the depression
3
Q
What were the Social causes of the French Revolution?
A
- Feudal society was full of inequality through the feudal class system of the Old Regime
- The monarch had absolute power
Louis XVI was focused more on the life of the French court rather than the financial troubles of the Estates - The Bourgeoisie (middle class) wanted further rights and social equality with the upper classes
- The Bourgeoisie and the peasants were angry
The nobles and high clergy enjoyed special privileges such as being exempt from high taxes
4
Q
What were the Political causes of the French Revolution?
A
- The Estates General:
Made up of reps. From the 3 estates
Monarchy allowed it because they thought it would satisfy the people if they thought they had a say in the gov
Each estate had one vote
The 3rd estate (97% of the population) was doomed to lose the votes by a vote of 2:1
The 1st and 2nd estates would typically vote against laws that would help the people of the 3rd estate
5
Q
Why was King Louis XVI seen as a weak leader? and what was the end of absolutism?
A
Louis XVI – A Weak Leader:
- Louis XVI paid little attention to his advisors
- Instead of fixing crises, he let it happen
- His only way to raise funds to finance his dept was to raise taxes (also on the wealthy)
The End of Absolutism:
- Louis XVI was desperate for money and called a meeting of the Esates-General
- An increasingly high number of people demanded a greater voice in gov
- The 3rd estate demanded the cahiers de doleances (list of grievances)
6
Q
What were the Cahiers de Doleances?
A
- Special privileges for the nobles were to be abolished
- Equalized taxation
- A parliament and a constitution
- “Vote by head” system (each person = one votes → balance the way the Estates-general voted)
These were a “list of grievences” the demands of the third estate to the upper classes presented by the estates-generals of the third estate (Robespierre being one of them)
7
Q
What was the formation of the National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath?
A
Formation of the National Assembly:
- When the Estates-General met, the 3rd estate was not allowed to enter the meeting hall
Made it clear that their aims of reforms (cahiers) would not be met - 3rd estate felt they had enough support and declared themselves “The National Assembly”
The Tennis Court Oath (1789):
- The National Assembly (3rd estate) invited the members of the other estates to join them on an indoor tennis court
Some of the clergy did join - National Assembly promised each other that they would not disband until they had gained a constitution and Louis XVI had addressed the debt issue
- This is known as the Tennis Court Oath
8
Q
What was the Storming of the Bastille?
A
- Louis was not listening to the peoples demands
Told them they were wasting their time and threatened to send them home - The National Assembly’s demand for a constitution was being supported by the people of Paris
- Louis saw the Tennis Court Oath as an act of Revolution and sent troops (Swiss mercenaries) to guard Paris
- Rumors spread that foreign troops would kill French Citizens
- Angry mobs attacked the Bastille, which had been used as a prison and was a symbol of the Old Regime
Goal was to raid for gunpowder to overthrow the kings troops (after stealing a bunch of guns from the troops)
Only had 7 prisoners: they were freed
9
Q
What was the significance of the French Tricolor Flag?
A
- Became a symbol of the Revolution
- White: reps the Bourbon King (the last Bourbon king was Louis XVI)
- Blue and Red: reps the city of Paris (the Revolutionaries used these colors)
- How do flags represent nationalism?
Motto of the Revolution: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity/Liberté, Éqalité, Fraternité
10
Q
What was the Abolition of the Feudal System and the Change in Power?
A
Abolition of the Feudal System:
- Abolished serfdom
- The Church and the State were separated
The Church lost its political influence
This angered conservative peasants - Louis was stripped of his power
Original intent was to keep him as a “figurehead” much like England’s monarch
Change in Power:
- The Great Fear:
The Noblility renounced their feudal privileges in fear of the violence/riots occurring among the peasants
Duc de Noailles proposed a more equitable tax system based on income
The Church gave up their power to collect tithes - Order was restored and the peasants would no longer play a significant role in the Revolution
11
Q
What was The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?
A
- Similar to America’s Declaration of Independence
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” - It reached the ideals of the Enlightenment
- Historically, its considered to be the first attempt at a constitution that promoted social equality
- The State would now be supreme with individual liberty, equality, and brotherhood guaranteed by the gov
This was a broad change from the idea of the “Divine Right of Kings” that said the monarch was next to God - Women were not included
- In general, it states:
No special privileges
No right to offices
Laws apply equally to everyone
Equal taxation according to your ability to pay
Obedience required to the law
12
Q
What were the Changes to the Church?
A
- Church property (⅕ of land in France) was nationalized and sold to pay off the national debt
The new middle class purchased a lot of the land - National Assembly issued Assignats (paper money) based on the wealth seized from the Church
This was overprinted and led to further inflation in France - Civil Constitiution of the Clergy (July 12, 1790): Made the Catholic Church lower than the National Assembly (Clergy used to be 1st) in terms of political power
- Upper Clergy and Pope Pius VI objected to this
Who would run their social institutions? (Education, hospitals, etc)
Bishops had to swear an oath of allegiance to the State rather than the Church
Bishops were elected by the people rather than appointed by the Pope
13
Q
What were the Failures of the National Assembly?
A
- Printing more money just increased inflation and the money was worthless (the assembly tried printing more money to help with the debt)
- The changed to the Church seperated the people
- Social programs deteriorated (bc they are the first to be cut in order to pay off debts, the money would then be relocated elsewhere)
- Only tax payers could vote which directly went against the Rights of Man (the rights of man say that everyone can contribute bc everyone is equal)
- Little support was given to the limited monarchy
