French Revolution

First Estate

This estate was composed of the Roman Catholic Clergy, this group had the smallest population, but still owned a good amount of land if you look at the ratios

Second Estate

Consisted of the nobles, and 2% of the population owned 20% of the land

Third Estate

Was made up of three groups, the first group being the Bourgeoisie (middle class), workers (tradespeople and poorest group), and the peasants which were 80% of the population

Causes of the French Revolution

Resentment in the lower classes, new ideas, economic issues and weak/indecisive leadership.

Tennis Court Oath

The Third estate delegates got locked out of the meeting room, and so they broke into an indoor tennis court, vowing not to leave unless a new constitution was created.

The Great Fear

Rumors were circulating about how nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize peasants, and so the peasants committed crimes such as breaking into their houses, and destroying the documents binding them to feudal dues.

Women’s march on Versailles

Parsian women marched to the Palace of Versailles in response to raising bread prices, demanding Louis to leave, signaling the change of power/radical reforms.

Storming of the Bastille

Bastille is the prison in which commoners were taken and tortures, but they stormed the prison to gain gunpowder and arms, seizing control of the building(symbolic bc of the repression used against the people)

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Influenced by the Declaration of Independence, this document focused on free and equal rights, "Liberty", "Equality", "Fraternity". This guaranteed men equal justice, and freedom of speech/religion. -Natural rights, fair taxation, but women were denied from this.

Declaration of Pilnitz

Austria and Prussia urge the French to restore Louis XVI as an absolute monarch, and Purssia threatens to destroy paris of France is harmed.

-King of Prussia and Emperor of Austria threaten to protect the French monarchy.

Reign of Terror

Maximilien Robespierre rises to lead the CPS, these trials were quick/death sentences. No one was safe.

Louis XVI

Weak and indecisive, doubled France's debt by providing aid to the Americas against Great Britain, and France's chief rival.

bourgeoisie

In the third estate, this group was well educated, and some were rich. (middle class)

Sans culottes

Working-class men and women who pushed for the revolution. Knee breeches were worn by men of the upper class, which caused chaos and disorder in an effort to push for the republic.

Jacobins

Revolutionary political club made up of middle-class lawyers and intellectuals, they used propaganda (pamphlets and newspapers) to further their democratic cause

Girondists

Wanted to spread the revolution internationally, and thought the Jacobins were out of control.

Robespierre

Maximilien, leader of the CPS

\-reformer (supported terror to maintain order)

\-promoted religious tolerance and to abolish slavery

\-Arrested those who threatened the revolution

Committee of Public Safety

Used terror as a means of retaining order, and sentenced people to quick, death sentences. This name is ironic because it did more harm than good.

Emigres

Wanted to see things return to the Old Regime ways, and. sought to re-establish the role of the Church. (Some devout catholics supported them, and they pushed for a constitutional monarchy.)

Thermidorian Reaction and Directory

After Robespierre's death, moderates set down to create a new constituion, desiring a conservative republic. This is what caused the Directory to be created, consisting of five men and a two-house legislature. Despite this, it was corrupt and didn't solve France's debts. (relied on the support of military for order)

Continental System

Aimed to cut off all trade from Great Britain to weaken them, but failed due to Britain's Navy. Most nations resented this because Napoleon wanted to impose French culture on them.

Napoleonic Code

Equality of all male citizens before the law, religious toleration, abolition of feudalism. (But women lose most of their rights)

plebescite

A vote by the citizens. Napoleon Bonaparte used this to make himself the emperor of France by rigging it.

Napoleon’s invasion of Russia

Napoleon learned that invading this country during winter was a bad idea