The French Revolution

estate

-a social class in France

bourgeoisie

-middle class, including merchants, industrialists, and professional people and part of the 3rd Estate

Louis XVI

the king of France whose inexperience caused the spark that ignited the revolution. He ruled with an absolute monarchy.

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789, in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution

1st Estate

"The Clergy"--Make up 1% of the population. Religious leaders who own 10% of the land. Did not pay taxes.

2nd Estate

"The Nobles"---Make up 2% of population, but owns 25% of land. Paid no taxes, held highest offices in government. Controlled the most wealth.

3rd Estate

"The 97% of population, 65 % of land, 3 levels of the Estate. Paid the most taxes and had little political power.

Sans Culottes

In the French Revolution, a radical group made up of Parisian wage-earners, and small shopkeepers who wanted a greater voice in government, lower prices, and an end of food shortages. Paris Commune.

Olympe de Gouges

A butchers daughter from Montauban. Was a major revolutionary radical in Paris. Composed the Declaration of Rights of Women

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Slogan for members of the French Revolution

Legislative Assembly

New law-making body created by the constitution adopted in 1791 by the National Assembly

radicals

Members of this law-making body who opposed the idea of monarchy and wanted sweeping governmental change

emigres

Term used to describe nobles who had fled France and who hoped to restore the Old Regime

guillotine

Device used as a means of execution during the French Revolution

Jacobins

Radical political organization that in September 1792 abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic

Reign of Terror

Period of time during which Maximilian Robespierre governed France

In what way is the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen "Enlightened"?

It doesn't have a separation of social classes (all are equal) and state and church are completely separate.

Marie Antoinette was from which country?

Austria

Why was France in so much debt? (The French Revolution)

7 years war cost put them in debt and helping with America Revolutionary war

Why was poverty and malnourished increasing?

Wildly growing population and bad harvest (lack of bread)

Which groups in France made up each one of the three estates?

a. First: Clergy

b. Second: Nobles

c. Third: Bourgeoisie and the Poor

What are some of the reasons for the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate?

-Taxation only on them

-The kind and queen use up all money

-Bread prices shooting up

Why do you think King Louis XVI gave in at first to some of the demands of the Third Estate?

In hopes to take care of their ideas of revolution (to calm them down)

What role did the "Enlightenment" play in driving the French people to participate in the Revolution?

The ideas of Rousseau, Locke, and other philosophes

Why the guillotine was considered a more humane form of punishment?

Everyone was killed in an equal way no matter what estate you belong to.

What do you think the majority of French people wanted to see changed as a result of the Revolution?

All people sharing the same set of laws not matter what your social class.

Why were the majority of the French so upset before the Revolution?

The outrageous prices of bread and other staple products.

Why do you think the executions by guillotine in France were public events?

It was actually a form of entertainment as well as proof to the public how everyone is being treated equal, and making an example of all these people.

What was the phase called in which large numbers (17,000) of French people were executed?

Reign of Terror

What was the greatest legacy of the French Revolution?

The new Republic

French Revolution

A major change in government that began in 1789; it brought an end to the absolute monarchy and a start to a representative government

Old Regime

A combination of the absolute monarchy and feudalism in France; it included the three estates

Estates

The social classes in the France

First Estate

They consisted of the Roman Catholic Clergy; they received special privileges and paid no direct taxes

Second Estate

They consisted of the Nobles; they received special privileges and paid no direct taxes to the king

Third Estate

They consisted of the bourgeoisie, the san-culottes and the peasants; they paid high taxes and had no special privileges

Bourgeoisie

They were the urban middle-class; they were the merchants/artisans and were well-educated and often wealthy

Peasants

They were the rural poor; they were the farmers who paid about half of their income in taxes to the nobles, the church and other agents of the king

Estates-General

The legislative branch of the French government prior to the French Revolution; it could meet only with permission from the king (May 5th, 1789)

Vote by Order

When each estate received one vote; this was favored by the First and Second Estates

Vote by Head

When each representative received one vote; this was favored by the Third Estate

June 17th, 1789

This is the date that the Third Estate voted to leave the Estates-General and form a new body of government for the people of France

National Assembly

This was legislative branch of the government; it proclaimed an end to the absolute monarchy and the start of a representative government

Tennis Court Oath

A promise made by the members of the National Assembly to stay together until they had written a constitution for France; this was the first deliberate act of the revolution (treason)

Louis XVI

He was the king of France at the start of the revolution; he was weak and indecisive

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France at the start of the Revolution, and wife of King Louis XVI. From Austria and was disliked by many French citizens because she spent so much money on herself. She was found guilty of treason and guillotined. Famous saying: "Let them eat cake."

Versailles

A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

July 14th, 1789

This is the date that represents the symbolic start of the French Revolution; Parisians stormed the Bastille. AKA: France's Independence Day.

Bastille

A medieval fort and prison in Paris used to store gun powder

Fall of the Bastille

Hundreds of hungry people stormed the prison in search of gunpowder to save Paris and the National Assembly; this was the symbolic start of the revolution

Liberty, Fraternity, Equality

This was the slogan (battlecry) of the French Revolution

Legislative Assembly

This was the legislative branch of government that was elected in to power and voted to start a war with Austria; it was forced to step down from power

Austria

Hoping to spread their revolutionary ideas, France voted to declare war on this country

National Convention

This was the legislative branch of government that deposed the king of his title, declared France a republic and publically executed the king and queen

Robespierre

The radical leader during the French Revolution responsible for the Reign of Terror; he wanted to create a Republic of Virtue

Reign of Terror

The excessively violent period of time during the French Revolution under the rule of Robespierre

Republic of Virtue

Robespierre's attempt to erase all traces of the monarchy, nobility and the Catholic Church

Guillotine

A machine used to behead people; it was suppose to make death quick and painless

Directory

A group of 5 men who were given control of France following the Reign of Terror; Napoleon was one of the 5 men

National Assembly

This was the legislative branch of the government; it ended feudalism, serfdom, taxes to the church and the special privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

This was the document written by the National Assembly that identified the natural rights of the French citizens as well as their other liberties

Radicals

This group hated the king, wanted drastic and sweeping changes and advocated the use of violence in the name of the revolution

Conservatives

This group liked the king, wanted no more changes and was opposed to violence

Moderates

This group could live with or without the king, wanted some additional changes and supported violence only if it was justified

Suffrage

The right to vote