Test Prep French Revolution

this covers the old Regime to all the notes

Old Regime

Socio-political system which existed in most of Europe during the 18th century.

Absolutism

Countries were ruled by Absolutism - the monarch had absolute control over the government.

Divine Right

Monarch ruled by divine right - God put the world in motion, God put some people in positions of power, power is given by God.

No one can question God or someone put in power by God.

Questioning the monarchy was blasphemy because it meant questioning God.

Deficit Spending

A government spending more money than it takes in tax revenues.

France under Louis XVI experienced deficit spending due to lavish spending, costly wars like the American Revolution, and the privileged classes not being taxed.

Philosophes

Philosophers during the Enlightenment who began to ask if natural laws might also apply to human beings, particularly to human institutions such as governments.

They were secular in thinking and used reason and logic to determine how governments are formed.

They also questioned the divine right of kings.

Emigres

Nobles who fled France during the upheaval of the French Revolution.

They lived abroad and hoped that, with foreign help, the Old Regime could be restored in France.

Many nobles left France and became known as émigrés under the National Assembly as well.

Limited Monarchy

A form of government in which the monarch's power is limited by a constitution or a legislative body.

France became a limited monarchy with the Constitution of 1791, where the king became merely the head of state and all laws were created by the Legislative Assembly.

Republic

A government in which the people elect representatives who will create laws and rule on their behalf.

The First French Republic was established by the Convention on September 22, 1792.

Girondists

Moderates who represented the rich middle class of the provinces during the Convention.

Jacobins

Represented workers and were led by Marat, Danton, and Robespierre during the Convention.

Danton and his Jacobin political party came to dominate French politics during the Reign of Terror.

Committee of Public Safety

Headed by Danton (and later Robespierre) during the Reign of Terror.

Those accused of treason were tried by the Committee’s Revolutionary Tribunal.

What were the 3 Estates, and which were considered privileged?

In France, people were divided into three estates:

First Estate (high-ranking members of the Church)

Second Estate (Nobility)

Third Estate (everyone else from peasants to wealthy bourgeoisie).

The First and Second Estates were considered privileged.

Legislative Assembly

The new government in France established by the Constitution of 1791.

It created all the laws, but voting was limited to taxpayers and offices were reserved for property owners.

Who bore the Tax burden in France during this time period?

Unprivileged people paid taxes and were treated badly.

Peasant farmers of France bore the burden of taxation.

The bourgeoisie also paid taxes but were upset that nobles did not.

Bourgeoisie

Middle Class

Why was France Bankrupt?

The king (Louis XVI) lavished money on himself and residences like Versailles.

Queen Marie Antoinette was seen as a wasteful spender.

The government found its funds depleted as a result of wars, including the funding of the American Revolution.

There was deficit spending.

Privileged classes would not submit to being taxed.

How did the enlightenment influence the French Revolution?

Philosophes questioned the divine right of kings.

They began to ask if natural laws might also apply to human institutions such as governments.

The influence of Enlightenment philosophes was a long-term cause of the French Revolution.

What were the long-term causes of the French Revolution?

• Absolutism

• unjust socio-political system (Old Regime)

• poor harvests

• influence of Enlightenment philosophes

• system of mercantilism

and the influence of other successful revolutions like the American Revolution.

Mercantilism

A system of mercantilism which restricted trade was one of the long-term causes of the French Revolution.

Commune

The Parisian city government that the people of Paris organized after seizing weapons from the Bastille.

In the uproar against the new government, the Commune took control of Paris.

Explain the problem during the Estate-General resulting in the Tennis court oath.

Voting in the Estates-General was conducted by estate, with each estate having one vote.

The First and Second Estates could operate as a bloc to stop the Third Estate from having its way.

Representatives from the Third Estate demanded that voting be by population.

When they were locked out of the meeting, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly and took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to create a written constitution.

What was the Storming of the Bastille and why did it happen?

On July 14, 1789, people of Paris seized weapons from the Bastille. This was an uprising in Paris.

Key features of the Declaration of the Rights of Man

• Freedom of religion

• freedom of speech

• freedom of the press

• guaranteed property rights

• "Liberty, equality, fraternity!"

• right of the people to create laws

• right to a fair trial.

How would the French Revolution have affected the Clergy?

Abolition of special privileges. Church lands were seized, divided, and sold to peasants.

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy required that Church officials be elected by the people, with salaries paid by the government. Many fled the country rather than swear allegiance to this.

How would the French Revolution have affected the Nobles?

Abolition of special privileges.

Nobles were attacked, and records of feudal dues were destroyed. Many fled the country as émigrés.

How would the French Revolution have affected the Peasant Farmers?

Feudal dues and tithes were eradicated. Church lands were seized and sold, potentially benefiting some peasants.

They were part of the Third Estate which saw significant changes in rights and privileges.

Taxes were to be levied based on the ability to pay.

How would the French Revolution have affected the Royal Family?

The royal family's power was significantly reduced under the Limited Monarchy.

They were eventually arrested while trying to flee.

The monarchy was abolished, and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined.

What did the rest of Europe think of the French Revolution?

European monarchs feared that the revolution would spread.

Austria and Prussia invaded France.

A Coalition of European powers, including Austria, England, Holland, Prussia, Sardinia, and Spain, formed to oppose France.

What was the Reign of Terror?

A period from September 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794, when the Jacobin political party, particularly through the Committee of Public Safety, dominated French politics. Approximately 15,000 people died on the guillotine.

Factions

Small groups that competed to control the city of Paris during the uprising.