French rev 2

First Estate

The clergy, comprised of 130,000 people, who paid no taxes and owned 10% of the land in France.

Tides

A mandatory tax of 1/10th of salary paid by all French citizens, contributing to the revenue of the First Estate.

Second Estate

The nobility, comprising 350,000 people, who owned 25-30% of land and enjoyed special privileges, including tax exemption.

Nobility of the Sword

Nobles with old lineage traced back to the early Middle Ages.

Nobility of the Robe

Nobles who obtained titles from the king, often through purchase.

Third Estate

The commoners, which included peasants, skilled workers, and the bourgeoisie.

Flight to Varennes

The failed attempt of Louis XVI and his family to flee Paris in 1791, damaging his reputation.

Estates General

An assembly representing the three estates of France, convened on May 5, 1789.

Voting by Estate

A voting system where each estate had one vote, allowing the First and Second Estates to outvote the Third Estate.

Tennis Court Oath

The pledge made by members of the Third Estate on June 17, 1789, to not disband until a new constitution was written.

Storming of the Bastille

The July 14, 1789, attack on the Bastille prison, marking a key moment in the French Revolution.

The Great Fear

A wave of panic in the French countryside in 1789, where peasants feared noble reprisals against the Revolution.

Abolition of Feudalism

The August 4, 1789, decision by the National Assembly to end nobles' privileges and traditional dues owed by peasants.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

A foundational document adopted in 1789 outlining fundamental rights and freedoms for all citizens.

Active Citizens

Men over 25 who paid a specified amount of taxes, granting them voting rights.

Passive Citizens

Citizens considered too poor or women, denied voting rights despite being acknowledged as citizens.

Olympe de Gouges

A French playwright advocating for women's rights, author of the 'Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen'.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

A law in 1790 placing the Catholic Church under state control, requiring clergy to swear loyalty to the government.

The National Assembly

The body formed by the Third Estate declaring itself on June 17, 1789, to make laws for France.

Legislative Assembly

The governing body that replaced the National Assembly in 1791.

Girondists

A moderate revolutionary group within the Legislative Assembly that supported war against Austria and Prussia.

Jacobin Club

A powerful radical political group that influenced the revolution significantly.

Brunswick Manifesto

An ultimatum issued by Prussia and Austria threatening severe punishment against Paris if the royal family were harmed.

September Massacres

Mass killings of prisoners during September 1792 due to fears of counter-revolutionary forces.

Committee of Public Safety

Established in 1793 to protect the Revolution and manage government during crises.

Reign of Terror

The period from 1793 to 1794 characterized by mass executions to protect the Revolution from enemies.

Law of Suspects

Legislation allowing the arrest of anyone suspected of opposing the Revolution, enabling widespread arrests during the Terror.

Constitution of Year III

The 1795 document establishing a more conservative government after the radical phase of the Revolution.

Directory

The five-man executive body created by the Constitution of Year III, marked by instability and corruption.

François Noël Babeuf

A radical revolutionary advocating for absolute equality and abolition of private property.

The Great Terror

The most extreme phase of the Reign of Terror, known for intensified executions.

Role of Parlements

Noble courts that had the power to review and refuse royal laws, influencing politics in France.

Economic Issues in France

The financial crisis in the 1780s worsened by prolonged wars and supporting the American colonies.

Charles Alexandre Calonne

France's finance minister who proposed a fairer tax system in the 1780s, rejected by the nobles.

Louis XVI

The king of France during the Revolution, perceived as weak and indecisive, ultimately executed.

Active vs. Passive Citizens

Distinction made during the Revolution between men who could vote and those who couldn't.

The Jacobins

Radical faction led by figures like Robespierre during the Revolution.

Jean-Paul Marat

A radical journalist who advocated for harsh measures against enemies of the Revolution.

Cult of Reason

A revolutionary secular belief replacing the traditional Christian worship during the de-Christianization movement.

Jacobins' Influence

The radical group's role in the politics of the Revolution, especially during the Reign of Terror.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Military leader who played a significant role in ending monarchists' demonstrations during the Directory.

Great Fear's Impact

A rural uprising where peasants attacked manor houses, fueled by fears of noble repression.

Terror's Justification

The rationale to execute enemies of the Revolution in an effort to protect and maintain radical policies.

National Convention

Replaced the Legislative Assembly in September 1792 and broadened voting rights.

Radicalism in Paris

The heightened push for extensive changes in governance and social structure during the Revolution.

Assassination of Marat

The killing of the radical leader by Charlotte Corday in July 1793, which intensified the Revolution.

Revolutionary Armies

The citizen-soldiers of France who fought in the Revolutionary Wars, embodying the revolutionary spirit.

De-Christianization Campaign

The movement to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church during the Revolution.

Louis XVI's Execution

The king was found guilty of treason and executed in January 1793, sparking outrage across Europe.

Resistance to Draft

Violent opposition to the revolutionary government's conscription, particularly in rural areas.

Civil Constitution Impact

The moment it alienated devout Catholics and led to divisions within the clergy.

Land Confiscation

The resolution by the Assembly to seize Church property as national assets.

Clerical Oath

Mandated clergy to swear loyalty to the state under the Civil Constitution, causing contention.

Political Factions

Emergence of distinct groups such as radicals, moderates, and conservatives within revolutionary politics.

Crisis of 1793

A series of challenges facing the Revolution, including internal strife, external threats, and economic troubles.

Sylvain Maréchal

An individual associated with radical movements during the Revolution, often advocating for egalitarianism and reform.