Absolutism, Political Liberty, and The French Revolution

What is an Absolute Monarch?

A monarch that is **unchecked** and gets to do as they please. There is **no** power limits. Example: Louis XIV

Why is Louis XIV of France considered to be an excellent example of an Absolute Ruler?

He thought he had the **divine right to rule** → sun king

“I am the state” → **unchecked power**

No regard for his people

How did Louis XIV use Versailles as a tool to control the nobles?

He moved the nobles and their families to Versailles to isolate them from the outside world so they didn’t know what was going on. There was a 24/7 watch on them and they wanted to climb the social hierarchy there.

According to John Locke, what were the natural rights that all men were entitled to?

Liberty, property, and life (as long as they didn’t harm others)

According to John Locke, where should political power lie?

The people (consent of the governed)

According to John Locke, what is the essential goal of government?

To be good for **all** of mankind and to protect the natural rights of the people

According to John Locke, what can people do if the government is not fulfilling its role?

Abolish it

In the Declaration of Independence, what rights did Thomas Jefferson state that all men possess?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

What rights did The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen, claim that all men possess?

Freedom, security, resistance of oppression, equality, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right of a fair trial, and the right to participate in the government

In the The Declaration of the Rights of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen what rights did Olympe de Gouges argue that all women do and should possess?

Freedom, security, resistance of oppression, equality, education, marriage, divorce, legal protection, children being acknowledged even if they are not married, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right of a fair trial, and the right to participate in the government

Provide 3 examples of ideas that come from John Locke that are represented in The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson?

Equality, freedom, natural rights, power of the people, the right to rebel against an unjust government

Provide 3 examples of ideas that come from John Locke that are represented in The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen?

Equality, freedom, opportunities, natural rights, citizens are equal in the right of the law

What are the Estates General? Who composed the First Estate, The Second Estate, and the Third Estate?

Clergy (Roman Catholic Church)

Nobility

Everyone else (common people)

What conditions led to Louis XVI calling the Estates General to meet for the first time in 175 years?

The money in France was running low

* Peasants had no more money to give
* War of Louis XIV
* American Revolution
* Debt
* Cost of living went up
* People were pushing for political reform

What were some of Arthur Young’s observations regarding the plight of the French Peasants?

Land- hunting rights

Taxes- were not fair

Starvation

Explosion by the feudal system

Lack of education

What are the Cahiers de Doleances (or Grievances)? What injustices did the Third Estate list?

Voting

Equality

Land

Property

Taxes were not fair

What privileges did the nobility/aristocracy have that the members of the Third Estate not have?

Legal privileges, feudal privileges, education, culture, inheritance