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Describe the roles and traits of the social classes in France
The 3 classes ("estates") under the old order or "ancien regime" were 1) The Clergy of the Church; 2) the Nobility; 3) Everone else
Describe the 3 social classes of France: the 1st estate, 2nd estate, and 3rd estate.
Clergy - these priensts and other church leaders lived very well, owned land, collected money from the people who attended church and paid no taxes; 2) Noblemen/Lords/landowners - held top jobs in the governmenr, army, courts, and the Church; 3) everyone else - diverse social class that included the bourgeoisie (middle class), rural peasants, and urban workers (poorest who were often unemployed). The 3rd class paid all the taxes and the 1st and 2nd did not have to.
Who was the Bourgeoisie?
The middle class which included bankers, merchants and manufacturers, lawyers, doctors, journalists, and professors.
What is deficit spending?
When the government spends more money that it takes in. Louis XIV left France with a lot of debt so the government had to borrow money.
To the people what was Versailles (what did it represent)?
The unfair absolute monarchy/establishment, wasted money, careless rule
What did Louis XVI do to try to solve the financial problems in France? Was he successful? Why or why not?
He chose a financial expert named Jacques Necker to advise him. Necker told Louis XVI to reduce extravagent spending in Versailles on parties and such and to get rid of taxes on internal trade. He also told him to tax the 1st and 2nd estates in addition to the 3rd so the Nobles and Clergy forced Louis the XVI to dismiss Necker. He then called the Estates-General (with leaders of each estate to represent) to resolve the financial crisis, which led to the creation of the National Assembly (leaders of the 3rd estate and some Clergy and Nobles) which Louis XVI had to accept reluctantly, but this led to changes and the revolution.
What were the causes of the revolution? What led to the revolution?
Massive debt of the French Government; 2) social inequality - the poor suffered the most, paid all of the taxes, while the Clergy and nobility lived comfortably; 3) Famine by bad harvests led to increases in food prices that made the poor even more unhappy/starving. 4) THey were inspired by the American Revolution.
What was the French Revolution?
The lower classes (3rd estate) overthrew the old class order and abolished the monarchy in France and set up a constitution where all people were equal.
In what ways was the French Revolution a financial revolution?
It was triggered by the massive debt that France had accumulated under Louis XIV's spending.
Who was Robespierre?
A shrewd lawyer and politician who rose to the leadershiup of the Committee of Public Safety. He was a member of the Jacobins (revolutionary political club) and he got the nickname as "the incorruptible" because he was so dedicated to the cause of revolution. He said "Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads." He led the executions by guillotine - reign of terror
Who were the Estates General and why did the Estates General meet?
The old order legislative body that was made up of representatives from all 3 estates. The 1st and 2nd estate demanded that the king call the assembly because of the financial pressures.
What was the Tennis Court Oath? Significance?
The members of the 3rd estate at the Estates General called themselves the National Assembly, met in an indoor tennis court and they swore "never to separate and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution"
Describe the Storming of the Bastille and be able to answer why it was significant in the history of the French Revolution
800 people thought that gunpowder and weapons were stored in the Bastille and they wanted these to fight against the kings troops. They demanded these weapons from the guards who opended fire on the people. The mob killed the commander and five guards, released the prisoners, but there were no weapons. The Bastille prison represented everything they hated in the monarchy and this challenged the existence of the monarchy. Every year, France still celebrates "Bastilled Day" like the 4th of July here.
Understand the March on Versailles and its significance (capture of the king)
6000 women marched 13 miles in the rain from Paris to Versailles and demanded bread and to see the king. They made the king and his family return to Paris from Versailles so they could be closer to the people.
Who were the Girondists and the Jacobins?
Rival political groups in the National Convention.
What role did the San-Culottes play in the Revolution?
They were a group of the poor people who demanded relief from food shortages and high prices.
How did Marat spread revolutionary fanaticism?
He was a journalist who published L'Ami du Peuple, the radical newspaper in the revolution
What was the Declaration of Rights of Man?
Like the American Declaration of Independence or the English Bill or Rights. Freedom and equality of all male citizens before the law.
What was the L'Ami du Peuple?
"The Friend of the People" was a newspaper written by Jean-Paul Marat during the French Revolution
Understand the three political options or factions during the revolution. (Conserve the monarchy, constitutional monarchy, liberate France) know the basic arguments.
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What was the Constitution of 1791?
The interim constitution that was developed in 1791 by the National Assembly that replaced the abslolute monarchy with a limited monarchy. It established the National Convention. All male citizens got the right to vote, not just those who owned property.
How had Louis XVI lost his power?
As the financial situation worsened and the middle and lower classes were increasingly more powerful and had a say in the government (National Assembly), he increasingly lost power and became hated. Then he tried to leave the country, but was caught which made him even less popular.
After Marat's death, what did he become as a symbol to the revolution?
He became a saint and a symbol of martyrdom - dying for the cause.
What were the arguments as to why Louis XVI and his wife were executed?
They committed crimes against the people - oppressed instead of protected them, crushed supporters of the revolution, stole from and starved the french people.
How did the approaching foreign armies affect the course of the revolution?
They caused the Republic to attack foreign countries to protect the new republic. These battles then paved the way for Napoleon to make an empire later on.
Why did foreign powers (Austria, Prussia, Britain, Spain) attack France?
They were afraid of the afraid that the people in their own countries would start revolutions against the monarchies there. The revolutionary fever was called the "french plague"
Who were the new groups or reformers during the radical revolution?
Girondes and the Jacobins parties (middle class people) in the Assemblies and the sans-culottes working class men and women.
What problems did France have from foreign counties?
They declared war on the other European countries that had monarchies (Prussia, Britain, Austria), who were afraid the revolution would spread to their countries
What was the purpose of the Committee of Public Safety?
To protect the new French republic from foreigh attacks and internal threats. They were also in charge of executions.
What were the terror and the great terror?
The period of time in the revolution when all who were not loyal to the revolution were executed was the Reign of Terror. The Great Terror was when Robespierre wanted to completely destroy the Church and stop Christianity alltogether and anyone who did not want to convert was executed.
How did Robespierre justify the Terror?
"Lead the people by means of reason and virtue, and enemies of the people by terror"
How did the Revolution try to change France? (Calendar, dress, church etc....)
It took away the power of the Church and made all Churches state run. People wore red "liberty caps". Titles were eliminated. People stopped wearing fancy clothes and powdered wigs and wors practical clothes and simple haircuts like the sans culottes.
What were the long term and immediate causes of the Revolution?
Debt; social inequality among different classes; suffering/starvation of the poor
What were some of its effects?
Triggerred revolutions in other countries in Europe. It established a republic where citiizens were equal in terms of the government and taxes. It brought the Church under control of the government.
What actions could Louis XVI have avoided that may have shaped the outcome of the revolution differently? The Revolutionary?
If he had listened to the demands of the General Assembly and given them support early on and not tried to run away, he might have hung on to some power (limited monarchy) and might not have been executed.
Did the Terror develop as a result of ideology (ideas) or circumstances?
Both ideologies and circumstances. The revolution was in process, the guillotine was invented, and a grasp for power was in progress, but the ideologies that criminals and traitors must die was an ideology that was believed by Robespierre and the Jacobans.
Why did the American Revolution turn out so differently than the French Revolution?
Because the British could retreat to their own land. They were fighting over a colony not Britain. In France, they were fighting over control of the motherland.
Ancien regime
"The old order" where there were 3 estates - 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Estate
Social Class
Bourgeoisie
Middle Class - professionals, businessmen, and teachers
Deficit spending
Spending more than you take in as a country
Louis XVI
King of France at the time of the Revolution
Jacques Necker
Swiss banker that Louis XVI hired to help him figure out the financial problems of France. He wanted to tax the 1st and 2nd estates to brind in more money, so the 1st and 2nd estate leaders made the King get rid of him.
Estates General
Legislative body that was rarely assembled in the old order that was made up of representatives from all 3 estates
George Danton
A leader in the early part of the French Revolution and the first leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He was executed because he was too moderate and was thought to be sympathetic to the enemies (Monarchy)
Jean Paul Marat
A radical journalist and pro-revolutionary Jacoban who wrote L'Ami du Peuple - a pro-revolutionary newspaper
Cahier
means Notebook in French and was used to record complaints of the people for the Estates General meeting
Factions
A group of people who dissent (disagree) with the current politics
Émigrés
People who flee their country for political reasons
San-Culottes
Working class men and women who made the French Revolution more radical - they wore long trousers instead of the knee lenth ones that nobles wore
Republic
System of government in which officials are chosen by the people/citizens
Jacobins
Radical political party during the French Revolution led by Robespierre
Girondists
Moderate Political party during the Revolution who were less radical and against the Jacobins
Suffrage
right to vote
Robespierre
Leader in the French Revolution who was responsible for the Reign of Terror and also led the Committee for Public Safety.
The Terror
The Reign of Terror after the French revolution where people who disagreed or complained about the revolution were rounded up and executed - 17,000 people
Guillotine
The head-chopping machine invented around the time of the French Revolution
Napoleon
A French military leader who rose to power and became dictator/emperor of France in the aftermath of the French Revolution when France was in chaos. He took advantage of the Nationalism that developed from the revolution.
Nationalism
A feeling of pride and devotion to one's own country
Marseilles
French port city
Committee public safety
12 person committee nominated by the General Assembly in the Revolutionary times to protect the French Republic from foreign invasion and internal threats. They were responsible for the executions.
The Directory
The Government of France between 1795-1799
March to Versailles
6000 women marched 13 miles in the rain from Paris to Versailles and demanded bread and to see the king. They made the king and his family return to Paris from Versailles so they could be closer to the people.
September Massacre
A period where half the prisoners in France were killed by mobs because the leaders of the revolution were afraid that foreign countries would attack France and release the prisoners who would then go against the revolution.
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror after the French revolution where people who disagreed or complained about the revolution were rounded up and executed - 17,000 people
Declaration of Rights of Man
The preamble to the French constitution of 1791
Olympe de Gouges
French woman who wanted women to have the same rights as men in the new government
The De-christianization of the Church
Great Terror - effort led by Robespierre to get rid of the power of the Church and wipe out Christianity all together
Tennis Court Oath
The members of the 3rd estate at the Estates General called themselves the National Assembly, met in an indoor tennis court and they swore "never to separate and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution"
What is the Third Estate Speech?
By Sieyes - "What is the Third Estate? Everything! What has it been until now in the political order? Nothing! What does it want to be? Something." Distributed in pamphlets to the 3rd estate
Festival of the Supreme Being
Religious cult that was anti-Christian led by Robespierre that he wanted to be the new religion of France
The uprisings in the Vendee Region and countryside of France
Peasants set fire to financial records and stole grain from storehouses when they were starving and the nobles were trying to get more money from them.See Map of Austrian/Prussian/British siege on the French significance
Descarte
"I think therefore I am" People should think for themselves and introduced skepticism. You need evidence to believe something you're told
Voltaire
Critic of the church and made satire about it. Advocate of freedom of speech and religion
Montesquieu
Believed the government should be separate from the church. Government should have three equal branches (legislative, executive, and judicial)
Diderot
Made the encyclopedia which is the first attempt to bring modern knowledge together.This challenged the bible
Kant
Categorical imperative → Your moralities should be curated from reason. Moral obligation separate from the church
Wollstonecraft
Feminist gender equality. Wrote the vindication of rights of women and another book for men
Thomas Hobbs
(authoritarian) Believed human nature was selfish and authoritarian governments strike enough fear to suppress the selfish human nature
John Locke
(democracy) People are creators and should be represented in government to thrive in their creations
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(nationalism)There isn't one single human nature, people have different values and beliefs.Believed similar people should govern themselves (creating nations)
Note 
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