French Rev (AP EURO)

Ancien Régime

The political and social system in France before the French Revolution, characterized by monarchy, feudal privileges, and rigid social hierarchy.

Estates System

The division of French society into three legal classes or 'estates'.

1st Estate

The clergy; owned land, exempt from most taxes, had privileges.

2nd Estate

The nobility; wealthy landowners, also largely exempt from taxes, held political influence.

3rd Estate

Commoners; included peasants, urban workers, and bourgeoisie (middle class); bore most of the tax burden.

Taxation

Under the Ancien Régime, heavy taxes were levied mainly on the 3rd Estate, while clergy and nobles paid little to nothing.

Louis XVI

King of France (1774-1793); indecisive, inherited debt, unpopular due to fiscal mismanagement.

Legacy of Rule

Louis XVI left France with immense debt and a divided, unstable society.

Debt

France was nearly bankrupt due to costly wars (including the American Revolution) and extravagant spending.

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France; unpopular for her lavish lifestyle, perceived as out of touch, nicknamed 'Madame Deficit.'

Estates General, 1789

An assembly of representatives from all three estates, called to address France's financial crisis.

Parliaments of Paris

Judicial bodies that could delay or block royal decrees; often resisted reforms.

Why call EG?

Louis XVI called the Estates General to raise taxes and address the financial crisis.

3rd Estate Refuses

The Third Estate broke away, demanding political reform and more representation.

National Assembly

Formed by the 3rd Estate; claimed to represent the people of France.

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge by the National Assembly not to disband until a new constitution was written.

Storming of the Bastille

July 14, 1789; revolutionaries attacked the prison in Paris, a symbol of royal tyranny.

Bread Riots

Widespread protests over high bread prices and food shortages.

The Attack

Often refers to violence against symbols of royal power, including the Bastille.

Great Fear

Panic in the countryside where peasants attacked nobles' estates, fearing retaliation.

Countryside

Rural areas experienced uprisings, burning of feudal records, and attacks on nobles' homes.

Birth Records

Many feudal obligations were recorded in parish birth/marriage/death registers; destroyed by peasants.

Declaration of Rights of Man & Citizen

1789 document proclaiming equality before the law, freedom of speech, religion, and protection of property.

Equality

Key revolutionary principle; all men should have equal legal rights.

Freedoms

Liberty of speech, press, religion, and assembly guaranteed under revolutionary law.

March on Versailles

October 1789; women protested bread shortages and marched to Versailles.

Women = Flour

Women demanded bread and forced the king to acknowledge their needs.

Capture Queen, Nope

Demonstrators wanted Marie Antoinette imprisoned but not immediately executed.

Killed Guards

Violence during uprisings, including killing of royal guards.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system where the king shares power with an elected assembly and must follow a constitution.

Louis XVI, forced back to Paris

King was compelled to move from Versailles to Paris under revolutionary pressure.

Agreed to Const. Monarchy, Didn't plan to Keep

Louis XVI agreed reluctantly; secretly plotted to restore absolute power.

83 Departments

France was reorganized into 83 administrative regions to improve governance.

Religious Freedom

The Revolution granted freedom of religion, limiting Catholic Church dominance.

Flight to Varennes

June 1791; Louis XVI attempted to flee France but was captured.

Captured & Taken to Paris

King and family were brought back, weakening royal credibility.

Radical Revolution

Phase of the Revolution (1792-1794) marked by extreme measures, including execution of the king.

Jacobins

Radical political club supporting the end of monarchy and establishment of a republic.

Mountain

Radical Jacobins led by Robespierre, sat high in the assembly, favored execution of the king.

Girondin

Moderate revolutionary faction, initially supported war, opposed radical centralization.

Sans-Culottes

Working-class militants in Paris, pushed for direct action and social equality.

Austria & Prussia Invade

Foreign monarchies tried to restore Louis XVI, heightening revolutionary fear.

September Massacres

1792 killings of prisoners in Paris amid fear of royalist conspiracies.

Louis Imprisoned & Executed

January 1793, King executed by guillotine.

Marie too

Queen executed October 1793.

Marat

Radical journalist and Jacobin; advocated violence against counter-revolutionaries.

Danton

Revolutionary leader; initially radical, later executed during the Reign of Terror.

Robespierre

Leader of the Jacobins, architect of the Reign of Terror, promoted virtue and terror.

Committee of Public Safety

Revolutionary government body controlling the army, overseeing trials, and executing perceived enemies of the Revolution.