The French Revolution Flashcards
The main events of the French Revolution
Estates general Committee of the public safety Tennis court oath Storming of Bastille Liberté, egalités, fraternité Flight to Varennes Republic
The causes of the French Revolution
Unfair society -3estates
Bad harvests
Individual rights and freedom ideas from Voltaire meant equality
Stories from the returning french soldiers in the American revolution
France was bankrupt because of the war so he raised taxes
Estates general
Meeting called estates general in May 1789
Wanted to fix bankruptcy
Voting by order and voting by heads
Tennis court oath
3rd estate did not agree with voting by order and refused to attend estate general (called themselves the National Assembly),They met somewhere else but there meeting place was locked but the vowed to continue meetingat the tennis court(20 june),They considered themselves the National Assembly,Wanted to draw up constitution for France,The king gave in and France had a parliament the monarchy did not have full control over the country
Storming of Bastille
National guard defended the coty because tensions were high
(14 July) a crowd marched at Bastille the prison to steal gunpowder and their weapons for the revolution and attacked the prison
The prison repsresented the Kings power for aome so to see destroyed showed his power was destroyed
Liberté, egalités, fraternité
In 1789 some of the nobles had fled France, organised an army and hoped to restore King Louis XVI as an absolute ruler, This was the slogan for the revolution it reflected their aims
Most of the french supported the new ideas and changes of the country
Flight to Varennes
National Assembly passed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790 causing the church to be under the governments control
King Louis disagreed with the changes and tensions were caused between him and his people
He decided to leave france with his family (20 June 1791)their aim was to go to Belgium and see Marie-Antoinette’s brother
They were captured near the border at Varennes
Republic
They declared war on Austria 1792 April. At war woth most european countries, lookin’ pretty bad for France, Revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries the king and his family took refuge in the Assembly building across the palace, In the 21st of September 1792 the monarchy was abolished
Committee of Public safety
Made up of 12 members by head Maximillian Robespierre the to protect the revolution, They thought the problem was the king because he might’ve spyed for Austria or overthrow govt, they decided to arrest the king for treason,
Reign of Terror
Many supported the monarchy wanted king louis XVII rule, religious changes caused the Vendée to revolt, France against many european countries who were invading the country
Head =nRobespierre, Arrested anyone suspected of treason (September 17th 1793 Law of Suspects), Suspects had to prove their innocence, the first 6 week 1,400 executed, 40,000 people killed during the Terror, Robespierre accused of going against the revolution was arrested failed to commit suicide was guillotined
Napoleon Bonaparte
With France at war a great General rose to power. Returned at 1804 as the most powerful and popular man in France. Made himself Emperor. Eventually 1812 tried to invade Russia but failed, three years later defeated at waterloo in Belgium by 1821 had made too many mistakes and was exiled
Consequences of the French Revolution
Liberty, equality and brotherhood spread across Europe
They wrote the French Constitution down
Influenced a lot of revolutionaries especially Wolfetone
