french revolution

What marked the beginning of the French Revolution?

The revolution began on 14 July 1789 with the storming of the Bastille, a fortress-prison that symbolized the despotic power of the French king.

How was French society structured during the Old Regime?

It was divided into three estates:\n1. First Estate\n - The Clergy (Church officials)\n2. Second Estate\n - The Nobility\n3. Third Estate\n - Big businessmen, merchants, peasants, and artisans (90\% of the population who paid all taxes)

What were 'Tithes' and 'Taille'?

1. Tithes\n - A tax levied by the Church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.\n2. Taille\n - A direct tax paid by members of the Third Estate to the state.

What were the main causes of the subsistence crisis in France?

1. Population Growth\n - The population rose from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.\n2. Food Shortages\n - Food production could not keep pace with demand, causing bread prices to rise and endangering the livelihood of the poor.

Name the key philosophers of the revolution and their major works.

1. John Locke\n - Two Treatises of Government: Refuted the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch.\n2. Jean-Jacques Rousseau\n - The Social Contract: Proposed a government based on a social contract between people and their representatives.\n3. Montesquieu\n - The Spirit of the Laws: Proposed a division of power between the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

On 20 June 1789, representatives of the Third Estate declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse until they had drafted a constitution that limited the powers of the monarch.

What did the National Assembly complete in 1791?

It completed the draft of the Constitution which established France as a Constitutional Monarchy, shifting power from the monarch to institutions like the legislature.

Who were the Jacobins, and what was their role?

The Jacobins were a radical political club led by Maximilien Robespierre. They represented the less prosperous sections of society and were instrumental in declaring France a Republic in 1792.

Describe the 'Reign of Terror'.

The period from 1793 to 1794 under Robespierre's rule, where a policy of severe control and punishment resulted in the execution of 'enemies of the revolution' by the guillotine.

When was slavery finally abolished in French colonies?

While it was briefly abolished in 1794, it was reintroduced by Napoleon. It was finally abolished in all French colonies in 1848.

What was the significance of Napoleon Bonaparte?

A military leader who crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804. He introduced modernization laws like the protection of private property and was eventually defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.