Social french revolution

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Tennis court oath

(June 20, 1789) An event leading up to the french revolution, where a newly formed delegate (“National Assembly”) of the third estate was locked out of the meeting hall. In response, they pledged not to disband until a new constitution was established for France.

Ancien Regime

The political and social system in France from the middle ages to the French Revolution, characterized by absolute monarchy and feudal privileges.

Marie Antoinette

The last queen of France before the French Revolution, she was known for her extravagant lifestyle and unpopularity, ultimately leading to her execution by guillotine in 1793.

Marquis de Launay

The governor of Bastille, who was killed and decapitated with his head paraded amongst the crowd on a pike

Taxes in France

Taxes were mainly levied on the third estate, including:

Taille - land tax

Vingtieme - Five percent tax on income

Capitation - Head tax

Gabelle - Salt tax

Aidas - Food/Drink tax

Octrois - import tax

Meeting of the Estates-General (1789)

First meeting of the Estate-General since 1614, nothing was settled and things remained unstable

Short term causes of the French Revolution

American War of Independance - France supported the American side, using a lot of money on military support

Financial crisis - Government had gone into debt, and raised taxes

Reform failure - Assembly of Notables had refused to reform, Calonne and other generals who proposed reform were all refused and dismissed.

Economic crisis - Bad harvests throughout the 1780’s, leading ot rising bread prices and riots

Long term causes of the French Revolution

Impacts of enlightenment - people in the third estate were enlightened and started to question the social structure.

Societal tensions - the first and second estate got much more gains than the third, leading to hatred towards the two.

Problems with the government and finance - the government was going bankrupt from wars.

Storming of the bastille

(July 14, 1789) Parisians seized 28000 muskets and 20 cannons from Les Invalides (a hotel), and marched to the Bastille. They were joined by some of king Louis XVI’s once loyal troops. Prisoners were freed, and this was seen as the start of the French Revolution.

Two weeks later, the National Assembly would abolish the Estates-General and end Feudalism.

The Great Fear

(July 20 - August 6, 1789) A period after the storming of the Bastille, where revolutions and demonstrations against taxes, feudal dues, and the tithe took place in towns and rural areas.

August Decrees

(August 5-11, 1789) To reduce violence, nobility made major changes to their political and economic policies, including:

• Removal of tithes

• Everyone was taxed equally

• Special privileges for provinces, principailities and towns were abolished

• All citizens were eligible for office

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

(Passed in August 1789) The National Assembly created a document outlining what they saw as the future of a democratic French society. They believed that all men should be treated equal. This was a revolutionary idea at the time.

Assignat

Bonds backed by the sale of church land, when Church land was nationalized (November 2, 1789)

October Days

(October 5-6, 1789) A time period including the Woman’s March on Versailles,

Creation of France’s First Constitution

(1790) First constitution was passed in 1790, and declared France to be a constitutional monarchy. It includes:

• dissolving the royal administration

• shifting power from Paris to 83 individual districts

• limited the power of the king and established an elected legislative assembly (citizens got right to vote)

• eliminated nobility as a class

• granted same civil rights to all citizens

Passive Citizens

A term for citizens after the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, who didn’t pay sufficient taxes to vote (about 2.7 million of them)

Taxation after the Constitution

The National Assembly decided that the existing taxation system would continue until 1791, as they were low on money. This decision was very unpopular. Within a year, all unpopular taxes were abolished.

A new taxation system, in effect January 1791, included three new taxes:

• contribution fonciere, direct land tax

• contribution mobiliere, tax on movable goods

• patente, tax on profits

Laissez-faire

The French economic ideology after the Constitution, believing that there should be no interference in economic matters.

Reformed Church

Jacobins

A political group led by Maximillian Robespierre, believed that a centralized government was key to maintaining the new republic. Known for being more radical and violent to achieve goals. After the Flight to Varennes, part of the club left and set up the Feuillants.

Girodins

A political group that was more moderate and wanted to maintain the monarchy

Self-Denying Ordinance

(Passed May 16, 1791) A law passed by Maximillian Robespierre, stating that current members of the Parliament could not run for seats in the new legislature. This reduced the attendance in the October 1st meeting to 1/4th of the seats.

Flight to Varennes

(June 20-21, 1791) King Louis XVI tried to flee France with his family. This led to the call for a republic becoming louder.

Declaration of Pillnitz

(August 27, 1791) A declaration by the Austrian and Prussian government, stating that they would support King Louis XVI

Brunswick Manifesto

(August 1, 1792) Austria and Prussia promised not to loot and attack Paris if they didn’t harm the French King and Queen. It did not have the intended impact. Many people previously in support of the king

The attack on the Tuileries

(August 9-10, 1792) Thousands of men from the National Guard and 2000 federes marched on the Tuileries (the French Monarchy’s new residence). National Guards defending the palace joined the crowd. The Swiss guards also defending the palace opened fire, which was returned by the mob. After the Swiss guards were defeated, the King was handed over to the Commune, and imprisoned in the Temple.

Federes

National guardsmen from the provinces who arrived in Paris to protect the city from invasion or the government from a coup.

The September Massacres

(September 2-7, 1792) When rumors of a prisoner plot to escape, capture, and hand Paris over to the Prussians appeared, 1100-1400 Parisian prisoners were murdered.