The French Revolution Flashcards
What were some political abuses in France?
King was an absolute ruler who ruled by divine right
Chose administrators by birth and friendship
Royal government was corrupt and inefficient
Civil liberties abused
Letters de cachet
What was the Old Regime?
The political, social, and economic system of the 18th century
What was the Lettre de Cachet?
The king could imprison his enemies without charge, bail or trial.
What were some social abuses in France?
People divided into three estates
1st estate: clergy
2nd estate: nobility
3rd estate: bourgeoise, merchants etc
Economic problems in France?
Third estate had most of the taxes therefore only has 1/2 of their income to live on.
What were some taxes peasants had to pay?
To the government:
the taille (land tax)
the corvée (labor on roads and bridges)
the gabelle (salt tax)
To the church: The tithe (10% of income)
To the feudal lords:
Feudal taxes
Who did France give a lot of money to?
The American Revolution
Why did discontent began to grow in the mid 1700s?
Bourgeoise unrest and financial difficulties.
What book did Rousseau write and what did he believe in?
The Social Contract; believed you could overthrow the government and believe in democracy
What book did Voltaire write as what did he believe in?
He wrote 70 books like Candide and Ziddig; believed in freedom of speech
What did Montesquieu believe in and what book did he write?
The Spirit of the Laws; believed in tree branches of government and the system of checks and balances
Who did Louis XVI call since he needed money?
The Estates-General (not a democracy)
What was the civil constitution of the clergy?
It placed the church under government control
Who were the non-juring clergy?
Those that were against the civil constitution of the clergy
What was the Tennis Court oath?
Pledged to write a new constitution for France
What was an immediate cause of the French Revolution?
Sudden worsening of living conditions due to the bad harvest of 1789
What was a fundamental cause of the French Revolution?
Channing attitudes of the people toward government
Who were some powerful Jacobins?
Georges Jacque Danton, Maximilian Robespierre, Paul Morat
Who did the Jacobins wage war with?
Austria and Prussia
What countries bounded together to stop France?
England, Spain, Netherlands, Austria-Prussia
Why did Napoleon invade Egypt?
France needed a base to attack Britain in India
Because of the French Revolution, what happened to the Catholic Church in France?
It had its power limited
What were Plebiscile?
Yes or no votes
The Committee of Public Safety (Reign of Terror) ruled with what kind of power?
Unlimited power
Why was France the first country to have a revolution
The middle class was more advanced than in other countries
What happened on July 14, 1789 (Bastille Day)?
A mob stormed a prison looking for gunpowder
What document stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.”?
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Waterloo, St. Helena, and Elba are all places associate with what?
Napoleons downfall
Napoleons downfall was a result of what?
His disastrous invasion of Russia
What were the correct titles in which Napoleon rose to power?
General, First Consul, Emperor
How did Napoleon get his power?
Through a coup d’état
When did the French reform the government?
After the French started to kill radicals.
What were three major principles?
Principle of legitimacy,
Principle of compensation
Contempt for democracy and nationalism
Five major nations in the congress of Vienna?
England, Russia, Prussia, France and Austria
What was the Russian campaign of 1812?
Russian invasion by Napoleon, defeated by general winter
What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
Church lands given to peasants
Priests who did not agree were non-juring clergy and were killed
How did the National Convention reform the government?
After killing the jacobins, they made: A single code of laws Abolished imprisonment for debt Abolished slavery Established the metric system Set up the national system of education
What was the Peninsular War?
Portugal and Spain defeated France
What were some things in Napoleons code?
Equal treatment before law
Abolished serfdom and feudalism
Trial by jury
Who started the Reign of Terror?
The Committee of Public Safety
