The Origins of The French Revolution Flashcards by Nyimas Kayla Nadja Eisha Johansyah

What was the First Estate

The clergy

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What was the First Estate split into?

-Upper (of noble blood)
-Lower(not of noble blood)

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What was the second estate?

-The nobility

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What percentage of the population did the nobility make?

-1.5%

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What percentage of the population did the first estate make?

-O.5%

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What was the Third Estate?

-everyone else not in the 1st or 2nd estates

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What percentage of the population did the Third Estate make?

-98%

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Give examples of groups who made up the Third Estate

-bourgeoisie
-wage labourers
-peasants
-etc.

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What percentage of French society was part of the peasantry?

-85%

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Which percentage of peasants were share-croppers?

-50%

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What percentage of their crops did sharecroppers have to give?

-50%

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What problems did the peasantry face?

-Tax burden(e.g: tithe, taille,gabelle)
–>5-10% of income
-Rises in rent
–>1705-1790: rose by 5.5 mil.
–>landlord continue to rise rent

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What problems did the Urban workers face?

-poor living conditions
-Rise in prices> rise in wages
-Price: 65%
-Wages:22%
-Payed 45% of income in tax and tithe

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What problems did the Bourgeoisie face?

-incr. need to be represented politically
-39% of French wealth
-but zero say in how the country was run

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What privileges did the first estate have?

-Did not have to pay tax
-large income in taxes:100 million
-Could determine amount of m. payed to gov(don gratuit)
-under 5% of income

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Why was the first Estate becoming less popular?

-Plurality + absenteeism
-Tax exemption
-Power over The People

Explain why plurality and absenteeism was making the FE unpopular

-bishops more interested in money than spirituality–> took up more than one diocese(plurality)
-thus, spent little time with ppl (absenteeism)

Explain how the tax system caused the FR

-Highlighted fundamental inequalities- exacerbated contemporary problems
-Increased resentment towards the first and second estates + encouraged the diminishing of their power

Explain how living conditions caused the French Revolution

-Impetus for change
-Highlighted tax burden
-Bread and butter issues

Explain how The Enlightenment caused the French Revolution

-Spread of questioning the right to authority/divine right of kings→ allowed upheaval of the system
-Gave the people the revolutionary ideas to combat their struggles

Explain how The Enlightenment caused the French Revolution

-Spread of questioning the right to authority/divine right of kings→ allowed upheaval of the system
-Gave the people the revolutionary ideas to combat their struggles

Explain how The Feudal System caused the French Revolution

-Indicated no scope for progress-need for upheaval of the system
-Growing middle class resentment over aristocratic dominance

Explain how the System of Government caused the French Revolution

-Absolute monarchy required a strong leader
-Therefore, highlighted its ineffectiveness with a weak and indecisive leader such as Louis the Sixteenth

When did the 7 years war occur?

1756-1763

When did France join the AWoI?

-1778

Describe the Economic Crisis of 1781-7

-August 1786- Gov. on verge of bankruptcy -Deficit= 112 mil. livres -caused by war + tax (poor tax collection) -Bad harvests(e.g: 1787-1788) - rise in prices= less demand -rising unemployment -Food shortage -1789: grain prices at their peak -UWs spent more than 80% of wages on bread alone -tithe owners and land owners accused of hoarding grain + speculation

What had caused the economic/financial crisis?

-Taxation system (untapped resources from 1st and second estate) -Failure to support Turgot's reforms('74-76): -abolishment of corvee -abolishment of guild system -tax reform

What caused inflation?

-Increase in population (1700-19 million, 1790-22 million) -but no increase in grain production

When was the Assembly of Notables called

-1787

Why was the AoN called?

-avoid bringing about the EG (bringing tghtr his opp.) -pass three point plan from Calonne (1786) 1.Create new land tax which would include church 2.Free movement of grain 3.Increase national confidence through a display of unity

Why did AoN fail

-most privilleged class -had to most to lose -believed EG needed to pass reform

When was the Estate General called?

-1789

Why was the Estate General called?

-failure of the Paris P to pass Brienne's plan: -no venality -new treasury -etc. -they said EG was needed to pass -August 1788- Declaration of Bankruptcy -needed advice on economic/ agricultural crisis

What were the demands of the Estate General?

-new constitution (all cahiers wanted this) -Radical cahiers: meeting more frequently (e.g: Paris--> 3 times a year) -divided on tax reform (p + uw= concerned abt. unfaired taxes + GABELLE) -peasantry: abolish/reform seig. system -Bourgeois: more political reforms (e.g: no ldc, equal tax on all classes, accuses to justices in the parlements). -Third estate: voting by head -1st and 2nd Estate: voting by order

How did Louis respond to the demands of the EG?

-no new constitution mention -no mention of new reform programme -voting by order instead of head

What was the National Assembly?

-Third Estate called it on the -17th of June -when eg reached impasse on voting -own governing body -work, with or without the other estates

Why was the Tennis Court Oath taken?

-Louis XVI tried to halt the actions of the Third Estate -ended EG and forced each estate 2 separate -TE moved discussions to tennis court -swear they will secure a constitution for France