U6 L6 French Revolution: Old Regime Flashcards
When did the French Revolution begin?
Louis XVI calling Estates-General for money
When did the French Revolution end?
Napoleon Bonaparte becoming first consul of France
Between which years did the French Revolution last? How long was it?
1789 and 1799, 10 years
Which revolutions was France inspired by?
England and America
Did the Revolution make France a democracy?
no, made it limited monarchy
What is absolutism?
govt were ruler has unrestricted power
What is aristocracy?
upper/privileged class
During the reigns of who did the people of France become more dissatisfied?
Louis XV and XVI
What was Louis XV’s attitude towards the French people?
lazy and indifferent
What were the 3 classes/estates the French were divided into?
- clergy
- nobles
- everyone else (middle class and peasants)
What is an estate?
social class of France
Which estate did most of the work and paid most of the taxes?
middle class and peasants (3rd/last estate)
What is lettres de cachet?
sealed letters with French royal orders for imprisoning a person
What was the difference between France and how America and England gave rights?
- Am constitution defended rights, Fr not exist
- no free speech and preference of worship in Fr
- Eng King George III appointed judges
- lettres de cachet without trial
Out of the English and American Revolution, which one was France most influenced by?
American Revolution
Who were famous French writers who attacked traditions and beliefs of France’s Old Regime?
- Voltaire
- Rousseau
- Montesquieu
What did Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu specifically target in their works against the Old Regime?
- French monarch’s absolute rule
- unfair taxes
- nobility having special privileges
- Roman Catholic Church bc of land, wealth, education
What were the main reasons that led to the French Revolution?
- debt
- influenced by Am and Eng revolution
Which estate did French laws mostly/only tax?
middle and lower class, peasants
What Louis XV would not do, his grandson and successor ()
Louis XVI could not do
At what age did Louis XVI become king?
19
Who was Louis XVI’s wife?
Marie Antoinette
How many siblings did Marie Antoinette have?
16
What family was Marie Antoinette a member of?
Habsburg family of Austria
What is the famous quote of Antoinette after receiving word about the poor’s starvation?
Let them eat cake!
What were the 3 recommendations the financial experts of Louis XVI to help the economy?
- give freedom and encouragement to French Industry
- cut down spending by king’s court
- require nobles and clergy to pay taxes
Were the recommendations from the financial experts accepted by the king’s court?
Do you really think they would? do you really think-
What was the Estates-General?
French legislative body
In the meeting called by Louis XVI, what did the Estates General discuss?
- financial problems
- business depression
- growing unemployment
How many votes was the third estate given?
one
What did the third estate declare itself?
National Assembly
When the king barred the third estate from meeting, where did they move to?
tennis court
What was the Oath of the Tennis Court?
third estate vowed to write constitution that would be accepted by France
Which day is celebrated in France as their Independence day?
Bastille day
What led to the Storming of Bastille?
Louis XVI bringing soldiers into Paris and Versailles where the representatives were meeting
What is Bastille?
hated royal political prison
What was the National Guard? Who commanded them?
- people’s army (revolutionists)
- Marquis de Lafayette, successful in Am Rev
In an attempt to restore order, the National Assembly abolished what?
- feudal system
- peasant services
- Declaration of the Rights of Man
What did the Declaration of the Rights of Man state?
- free speech, press, religion
- men not only born equal and are before law
- entitled to self-govt, personal liberty and fair trials
Was the Declaration of the Rights of Man pushed aside?
no
On October 5, 1789, the march on Versailles from Paris caused the king, royal family and National Assembly to move to where?
Paris
When was the National Assembly ready to fulfill the Oath of the Tennis Court?
1791
What was did the National Assembly’s Constitution of 1791 contain?
- provision for limited monarchy with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches
- king power limited, no power to make laws
- legislature had one house, elected by taxpaying voters
- MOST POWER HELD BY MIDDLE CLASS
Who are emigres?
(noble) person who fled to escape French Revolution
Who had supported Louis XVI and supported him to flee the country?
emigres
Did the 1791 Constitution last long?
no
Were Louis XVI, his wife, and children, caught while escaping France?
yes
What did Louis XVI sign a declaration of against ?
Austria and Prussia
When the constitutional monarchy declined, where were Louis XVI put?
prison
When the constitutional monarchy declined, what happened to the National assembly?
disbanded
When the constitutional monarchy declined, what was newly elected?
National Convention
What was the National Convention elected to do?
lead France and write another constitution
When the constitutional monarchy declined, who led a group to control the Paris city govt and France govt?
- Georges Jacques Danton
- Maximilien Robespierre
- Jean Paul Marat
