Untitled Flashcard Set

France Pre-Revolution

still under the feudal system

absolute monarch - divine right of kings

Social Structure

Clergy of the Catholic Church

religious authority

owned lands, very wealthy

political influence

privileges, such as no taxes

Nobility/Aristocrats

dukes, counts, barons (mostly hereditary)

land and wealth

political and military influence

privileges, such as no taxes

Everyone else

bourgeoisie - middle class, wealthier

commoners - poor

urban workers - poor

little to no representation

taxed heavily

King Louis XIV(14) - The Sun King

ruled France for 72 years(1643 - 1715)

“L’état c’est moi” - I am the Nation

built a vast palace at Versailles; moved royal court there in 1682

participated in many wars - largely unsuccessful

persecuted Protestants; many left France

actions depleted France’s finances; the deficit doubled

died in 1715

King Louis XV(15) - Louis the Well-Beloved

reigned 1715 - 1774

many costly wars - huge debt

continued lavish spending

reputation declined:

• parlement blocked economic reform and tax changes

• enlightenment thinkers’ influence grew while monarchy’s fell

• his mistresses caused scandals and political interference

• he was seen as lazy corrupt, incompetent

famous quote: “Après nous, le déluge” - After us, the flood

The Enlightenment

period of intellectual and cultural movement

focused on human rights, society and government

philosophes - educated people with theories on society and government

philosophes met often to discuss ideas

Salons

meeting of intellectuals to discuss new ideas

salonnières - women who often hosted these gatherings in private homes

Key Ideas

The Enlightenment:

• emphasis on science, reason and logic

• challenged the ancien régime(old rule) and the French way of life

The Enlightenment Thinkers

John Locke - beliefs(human nature, religion and government)

1. Religious Toleration: Locke advocated for freedom of belief, arguing that earthly judges cannot determine religious truth, force cannot compel belief, and coercing religious uniformity leads to social disorder. He believed religion is a personal choice and the state's role is not to govern souls.

2. Government: In "Two Treatises of Government", Locke challenged the idea of divine right and Thomas Hobbes's view of a chaotic "state of nature." Locke argued that people have natural, inalienable rights and voluntarily consent to government only to preserve these rights. If a ruler becomes tyrannical, subjects have the right to overthrow them.

3. Education: In "Some Thoughts Concerning Education", Locke proposed the concept of tabula rasa (blank slate), meaning minds are shaped by experience. He emphasized that early childhood impressions have lasting consequences and believed education was crucial for development. He also suggested focusing on practical subjects like science, ethics, and psychology rather than "useless" ones.

Voltaire

• Religion: He was a deist, believing in a God who created the universe and instilled a sense of good and evil, but then largely withdrew. He strongly disliked religious fanaticism, idolatry, superstition, and the exploitation of believers by the clergy. He wanted religion but not the dominant power of the church.

• Government: While not explicitly stated as a belief in a specific government type, his admiration for English culture in "Letters Concerning the English Nation" implicitly criticized the arbitrary nature of French government and its lack of religious freedom. He observed that England's multitude of religions led to peace, suggesting that religious plurality prevents governmental tyranny. He also believed public opinion, shaped by philosophers, could bring about change.

• Human Nature: The video doesn't directly state his beliefs on human nature. However, his work "Candide", a satire of "optimism" and a critique of the problem of evil, suggests a realistic, perhaps even cynical, view of human suffering and the presence of both moral and human evil. His campaigns against injustice also imply a belief in humanity's capacity for both cruelty and reason.

Montesquieu

• Human Nature: He believed that natural law should govern human thought, and the dignity of individuals, regardless of gender, should be a top priority for rulers. He also noted that humanity is shaped by a multitude of factors, including climate, religion, laws, historical examples, habits, and manners.

• Religion: He criticized religions for claiming absolute truth, highlighting their inherent conflict. He advocated for reason over blind faith as a moral guide and emphasized the importance of tolerance for diverse religious perspectives. He asserted that adhering to societal rules and human duties is the most certain path for a religious person to please their Divinity.

• Government: His core idea was the separation of powers—dividing authority among the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches to prevent the abuse of individual rights and safeguard liberty. He saw England's system as an imperfect but the best example of this separation. Montesquieu aimed for governments to foster better citizenship by guaranteeing liberty and justice. He also emphasized that legislators should handle established laws with caution.

Rousseau

Rousseau argued that civilization and advancements in arts and sciences actually corrupted people. He believed that individuals were originally good and happy in a "state of nature," living simply and guided by empathy. However, as people moved into cities and began comparing themselves to others, they developed an "unhealthy form of self-love" called amour-propre, leading to pride, jealousy, and vanity.

The video also highlights Rousseau's influence on child-centered education, as he believed children were born good and should be protected from societal corruption. He championed breastfeeding and emphasized intense feelings in his novels and autobiography, helping to lay the groundwork for the Romantic Movement.

Thomas Hobbes

• Human Nature: Hobbes believed that in a "state of nature," without central authority, humans would quickly descend into "squabbling, infighting, and intolerable bickering". He famously stated that life in this state would be "nasty, brutish, and short". He also believed that if "men could rule themselves, there would be no need at all of a common coercive power".

• Religion: The video mentions that Hobbes himself was "privately an atheist". He saw the "divine right of kings" theory as "nonsense" and increasingly unpersuasive as religious observance declined.

• Government: Hobbes argued for total obedience and submission to traditional authority. He believed that governments arose out of people's "fear and dread of chaos", leading them to willingly form governments and subsequently have a duty to "keep obeying" them. Even if a ruler stifled opposition or imposed taxes, this was "absolutely no reason to take to the streets". He argued that the "consequences of the want of it [unlimited power] which is perpetual war of every man against his neighbor are much worse". The only right to protest was if a ruler "directly threatened to kill them".

The five core beliefs

1. Reason: They believed that truth would be found through reason/logic

2. Nature: The philosophes believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable

3. Happiness: They urged people to seek happiness on Earth, not just after life

4. Progress: Humankind can make progress and improve

5. Liberty: They wanted the freedom that the English people had won

Voltaire

Montesquieu

Rousseau

Beccaria

Wollstonecraft

King Louis XVI(16) and Queen Marie Antoinette

Louis XVI(Louis Auguste)

Born August 1754 as Louis-Auguste, duc de Berry

Never meant to be king:

• third in line to King Louis XV

• Father died in 1765

• older brother died in 1761

because of this, Louis was often ignored as a child;

• he was shy and intelligent

upon his father’s death, he became the Dauphin(next in line for king) of France at 11 years of age

Mother died in 1767 and Louis was cared for by members of the royal court

Marie Antoinette(Marie Antonia)

born November 1755 in Vienna, Austria

15th of 16 children:

• father: Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

• mother: Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress, Archduchess of Austria, and many other titles!

not particularly close with her mother

father died in 1765

loved the arts - musician, singer, dancer

Franco-Austrian Alliance

France and Austria had been historic enemies and needed to make an alliance

Empress Marie Theresa betrothed Marie Antonia to King Louis XV’s grandson, Louis Auguste in 1756:

• Louis Auguste was 2

• Maria Antonia was 1

Marriage of Dauphin Louis and Marie Antoinette

married May 16, 1770

• Marie Antoinette was 14 years old

• Louis was 15 years old

Marie Antoinette was unfamiliar with many of the rituals of French royalty

French people:

• accepted and celebrated her

• did not forget she was from Austria

• expected an heir to the throne

Death of King Louis XV

died of smallpox May 10, 1774

died an unpopular king

France at this time:

• weak perception of monarchy

• parlements challenging royal authority

• growing debt

• societal inequality

• influence of Enlightenment thinkers increasing

Famous quote: “Après nous, le déluge.”(“After us, the flood.”)

Accession of King Louis XVI

Dauphin Louis-Auguste became King Louis XVI at age 19

Marie Antoinette became queen at age 18

Louis XVI’s reaction: “My God, guide us and protect us; we are too young to ascend to the throne.”

Marie Antoinette

When bread became a luxury: the harsh reality of France in 1775

France experienced several years of bad weather leading up to 1775

September 1774, France decided to lift price controls on grain

Unfortunately, this happened at the same time of a very poor harvest

Resulted in low grain reserves and by the spring of 1775, very high grain prices, making bread very expensive

Rioting began in the Spring of 1775, which was called the “Flour Wars”

Fashion

her wigs were getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger…

• They were often powdered with flour, despite the French commoners starving and a bread-shortage in France

Dresses were elaborate

• rumoured to have 200-300 dresses per year

because she was a trendsetter, the noblewomen followed her fashion

The Petit Trianon(A “Small Elegant Villa”)

originally built by Louis XV for his mistress, Madame de Pompadour but she died before it was completed; he then completed it for another mistress, Madame du Barry

When King Louis XVI took the throne, he gifted the Petit Trianon to Marie Antoinette as her escape from the ceremony of Versailles

She hosted many lavish parties there

• gambling

• loud music

• parties

She added the Hameau de la Rein, or the “Queen’s Hamlet”

• small working farm with animals, dairy, gardens and housing

• used to host small, informal gatherings

• relax and go for walks

• educate the royal children of rural life

• some felt she was mocking the working farmer

The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

a diamond necklace worth 2,000,000 livres(CAD $24,000,000)

originally made by Louis XV, again for Madame de Pompadour, but like Petit Trianon, she died before it was complete; Louis XV then decided it would be made for Madame du Barry, but he died before it was finished

The jeweler asked Louis XVI to purchase it for Marie Antoinette but she said no

Cardinal de Rohan, who had a mistress Jeanne la Valouis Saint-Remy, fell out of the Queen’s graces. He desperately wanted to get back into her good books

• Marie Antoinette was accused of sending letters to the Cardinal and and asking him to purchase the necklace in secret due to her public image of spending

• Letters were actually written by the Cardinal’s mistress, who was then sentenced to life in prison, the Cardinal branded a fool, and Marie Antoinette was cleared of any wrong-doing, but her public image was damaged

An heir for France? The pressure of the royal couple

seven years after their wedding, King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette finally ended the wait

• Children of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette:

  • Marie Thérèse Charlotte (1778–1851): known as "Madame Royale," she was the only one of their children to survive the French Revolution.

  • Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France (1781–1789): the heir apparent, but died before the Revolution.

  • Louis XVII (1785–1795): titular King of France after his father's execution, died in captivity during the Revolution.

  • Sophie Hélène Béatrix (1786–1787): died in infancy.

Rumours, scandals and a Queen in the spotlight

Marie Antoinette’s reputation withing France was badly damaged by non-stop gossip

pamphlets circulated throughout France with lies and gossip, targeting Marie Antoinette, but also extended to the royal family

• These pamphlets had illustrations unbecoming to the Queen, full of lies about her intimate relationships beyond marriage and the children were not Louis XVI’s - no evidence supports this(although there was a chance she had an affair)

• “Let them eat cake” - she was quoted saying this in response to the French people not having enough bread to eat; it was a cold and callous response; except she never said it

• She was an “Austrian spy” giving away away French secrets to the Austrian government

Marie Antoinette quotes

Based on the quotes, Marie Antoinette was the type of person who was thoughtful, considerate and observative. She noticed the people’s suffering and cared for them deeply. She stated that they should work hard for the people, as they work hard for them, the upper class.

She also seemed to be extravagant, ignorant and insensitive. She dressed extravagantly and often made ignorant remarks, like the one about a lady’s dead child and how she would rather have a dead child than not have the possibility to have one at all.

Other traits of her personality included: obedient, respectful and grateful. She was an obedient daughter to her mom and respected her greatly. She was also grateful to the people, who work hard despite paying heavy taxes.

Her words showed that she experienced sorrows and unfortunate events. She believed that no one actually understood and cared for her.

The Moderate Phase

Economic Crisis

Inherited debt from King Louis XIV and King Louis XV

Parlement blocked economic reform(including taxes) that did not benefit the wealthy - referred to as the Aristocratic Revolt

Unemployment was high

The Industrial Revolution in England - mass production replaced French workers and their products

Food shortage

• famine

• bad weather

cost of war

• Seven Years War(Louis XV) financial and territorial losses

American Revolution

• King Louis XVI supported financially

• Americans defeated England, but no gain for France

Class Conflict

The Three Estates - benefits the 1st and 2nd Estates

Social and tax inequality

3rd Estate represents 98% of the population

Very little ability to move upwards

Economics (food shortage, unemployment) causes civil unrest and resentment for the upper estates

Enlightenment

growing influence questioning France’s society - estates, government, religion

England - has had a Constitutional Monarchy(a system where the monarchy is the head-of-state but its powers are limited by its constitution and laws of the country) since 1688

American Revolution - now independent of England and has a Republican government(a government in which all power rests with the citizens who vote to elect their leaders)

Weakness of King Louis XVI

known for his inability to make decisions

• relied on advisors, but dismissed them regularly

poor decision to help in the American Revolution

became a symbol of the ancien régime

• spent lavishly

• detached from the people(by living in Versailles)

Louis XVI quotes

Reading through the quotes above, people thought that King Louis was a good and intelligent person that cared for the people. However, he was not a good leader; he was too weak and had a timid constitution.

Each author could have had a bias due to their position in society. They all have different exposures to the king. Madame Roland was surrounded by Enlightenment thinkers, therefore her opinions would be influenced by their thoughts and beliefs. Antoine Barnave, as Deputy of the French National Assembly, his opinions could have been heavily influenced since he was part of an assembly that takes power from the king. Therefore, he views the king harshly. Thomas Jefferson was the U.S. Foreign Minister to France. He came from the United States, which had a republican government. He would have an opinion that favours a republican government.

The Moderate Phase(phase 1)

May 5, 1789 - Estates General called

• last called in 1614

• who attends: representatives of all three estates

• goal: collective reform of the financial crisis

• sticking point:

  • voting by Order(each estate gets 1 vote)

  • voting by Head(each representative gets 1 vote)

• significant: seen as the start of the Revolution

June 17, 1789 - National Assembly formed

• revolutionary assembly formed by re

• presentatives of the Third Estate(and some clergy and nobles)

June 20, 1789 - Tennis Court Oath

• members of the 3rd Estate were locked out of the Estates General

• swore an oath to remain united until a constitution was created

• wanted political power to come from the people and limit the monarchy’s power

June 27, 1789 - 1st and 2nd Estates join

• King Louis XVI had the rest of the Estates join the National Assembly

  • King forced to recognize the Assembly

• King Louis XVI sent troops to gather around Paris after the National Assembly was established

July 11, 1789 - Necker dismissed

• Jacques Necker, the Finance Minister, was dismissed

  • previously published a report on France’s finance

  • very popular - nicknamed as the “People’s Minister”

  • not well received by the 1st and 2nd Estates

July 14, 1789 - Storming of the Bastille

• The Bastille was an old, medieval fortress that protected Paris

  • state prison

  • held 7 prisoners and barrels of gunpowder

  • symbol of Royal tyranny

• large mob of Parisians stormed the Bastille and took the gunpowder

• Triggered by:

  • troops around Paris

    • Many of these troops were mercenaries, paid soldiers from a foreign country

    • Parisians saw this as counter-revolutionary

  • dismissal of Necker

  • Existing civil unrest

July 15, 1789 - Responses to Bastille Storming

• King Louis XVI withdrew soldiers from Paris

• reappointed Necker

• Late July - August: “The Great Fear”

  • wave of panic in the countryside - fear of an “Aristocratic famine”

  • peasants revolted

    • burned down châteaux

    • destroyed offices, feudal certificates

August 4, 1789 - National Assembly reforms

• In response, the National Assembly abolished feudal rights and privileges

August 1789 - Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

National Assembly creates the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

• Natural rights - liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression

• free speech

• all citizens(back then citizens only included men and men who owned property) equal before the law

• due process

• freedom of religion

• laws should reflect the common good

• taxation proportional to wealth

King Louis XVI had not signed the Declaration yet… on October 1st, he hosts a party for the newly arrived regiment of the Royal Army… meanwhile, the French people are not happy…

October 5 - 6, 1789 - Women’s March on Versailles

• The women were protesting a shortage of bread

• the poissard were the ladies of the fish market - strong and tough

• Marie Antoinette never said “Let them eat cake”

• King Louis XVI agreed to sign the Declaration of the Rights of Man and that the Royal family moves to Paris

Constitution of 1791

• many nobles became émigrés(people who move from one country to another)

• June 1791

  • Royal family tried to escape France

  • strategize ways to restore the French monarchy

  • caught and imprisoned

• September 1791

  • King Louis XVI forced to sign the Constitution

  • Absolute Monarchy → Constitutional Monarchy with limited powers

• Created the Legislative Assembly

  • power given to the Assembly

  • voted on by the people(males who paid a minimum amt of taxes - about 2/3 of the men in france)

ideals of the French people: Liberty(everyone is free), Equality(every man is equal), Fraternity(kinship)

Reign of Terror(video)

The video explains the Reign of Terror, a period of extreme violence and paranoia during the French Revolution from September 1793 to July 1794. It began after King Louis XVI's execution, with the Jacobins (a radical faction) fearing threats to the revolution.

The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, was formed to protect the revolution, implementing severe measures, including widespread use of the guillotine. Thousands, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, were executed. The political atmosphere was marked by accusations of treason and mass arrests.

Robespierre's power grew, but his extreme actions led to many enemies. He was eventually arrested and executed by guillotine in July 1794, marking the end of the Reign of Terror. The video states that over 40,000 citizens were executed during this time .

Decree Against Profiteers

Why did the Committee of Public Safety pass the Decree Against Profiteers?

To prevent people from hoarding or monopolizing grain for money.

Why did the Committee of Public Safety consider monopoly to be such a serious crime?

Many people were starving, especially due to the bad harvest. One of the ideals of the French people was equality → there is no equality if not everyone gets to eat.

What was the punishment for those who did not comply with the law?

They would be punished with death and their property would be confiscated.

Law of Suspects

What was the goal of the Law of Suspects?

The goal was to be able to try anyone suspected of treason against the revolution.

Examples of people that would have been considered suspects:

• those who have shown that they are enemies by their conduct, associations, talk, or writings

• those who are unable to justify their means of existence and performance of their civic duties

• those who have refused to serve in the military

• public officials that were suspended or dismissed from their positions by the National Convention or by its commissioners and have not been reinstated

• former nobles, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons or daughters, brothers or sisters of people who have left France

• those who have not shown their devotion to the Revolution

What might the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety have said to justify this law?

• Anyone that has shown signs of treason are against the revolution

• this is for the overall unity and safety of the country

The Radical Phase

Reaction in France

• counter-revolutionary movement in some areas of France

• loyal to the monarchy and Catholic Church

Reaction in Europe

• European monarchies feared the Revolution spreading

• France declared war on Austria(April 1792); Prussia joined

• Brunswick Manifesto(July 1792) threatened to destroy Paris if Royals were harmed

• This angered many French, fueling resistance and suspicion of the royal family

• Eventually, France would be fighting Austria, Prussia, Britain, Spain, Holland(Netherlands), and Sardinia

Political Clubs in France

• many political clubs in France - similar to our political parties today

absolute monarchy constitutional monarchy republic

right wing ←——————————————————————————————→ left wing

reactionary conservative moderate liberal radical

• left wing political clubs:

  • Jacobins

    • Montagnards:

      • Maximilien Robespierre

      • Georges Danton

      • supported by the Sans-Culottes

      • radicals

      • violent

    • Girondins:

      • Madame Roland

      • middle class

      • moderate revolutionaries

Jacobins take control

• initially, Girondins were a larger, more powerful group

• Jacobins took power

• September 1792 they established the National Convention, replacing the Legislative Assembly

• Constitutional monarchy abolished

• France becomes a republic with all men permitted to vote

January 1793

• King Louis XVI now “Citizen Louis Capet”

• tried for treason and executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793

Influential leaders of the Jacobins(Montagnards)

• Maximilien Robespierre

  • active leader in Jacobins

  • becoming more and more radical

• Georges Danton

  • active leader in Jacobins

• Jean-Paul Marat

  • distributing pamphlets - accusatory and often false

Committee of Public Safety - April 6, 1793

• created by the National Convention to protect the Republic of France from foreign and domestic enemies

  • protect the Revolution

• war time provisional government(little approval needed)

• by July 1793, Robespierre was the leader

• also in 1973

  • Danton lost his seat in the Committee of Public Safety

  • Marat is stabbed by Corday(Girondin)

  • Decree Against Profiteers(July 1793)

  • Law of Suspects(September 1793)

The Reign of Terror

• “Terror is the order of the day”

• Started in September 1793 and ended in July 1794

• Marie Antoinette guilty of treason

• executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793

• The Reign of Terror brought:

  • economic change - price control

  • de-Christianization

    • calendar - 12 months of 30 days; 10 days per week - no Sundays

    • church and cathedrals were looted

  • executions of the “enemies of the Revolution”

    • no right to trial

• Political atmosphere became more paranoid and violent

• People turned against their neighbours

• Robespierre questioning loyalties within the Revolutionaries

• Danton had called for the end of the Terror

  • was arrested and found guilty of corruption and conspiracy

  • executed on April 5, 1794 by the guillotine

• Robespierre becoming more extreme

  • Cult of Supreme Being

  • at government session, had a list of enemies to be executed

• On July, 1794, Robespierre was arrested, and on July 28th, he was executed by guillotine

• Reign of Terror had ended with Robespierre

• By the end of the Reign of Terror

  • 40,000 died

  • 17,000 were executed by the guillotine, over 80% peasants, urban workers and middle class

Thermidorian Reaction, the Directory and Napolean

After Robespierre is executed, France looks to moderation, opening Churches, closing the Jacobin Clubs and signing a new constitution

The Directory is formed in 1795 to govern France

• weak

Napoleon Bonaparte

low level military leader who moved up the ranks after he won important victories

1799 he overthrew the Directory in a coup d’état

1804 he crowned himself the Emperor of France

• unlimited power

• censored newspapers

• imprisoned political rivals

• slavery was reintroduced

important reforms:

• Napoleonic Code - civil laws that are the basis of France and many countries today

• education - opened public schools

• bank of France - centralized, metric system

• Judicial System - trials, right to an attorney

Napoleonic Wars

• continuation of the wars of the French Revolution

• French domination of Europe

Downfall of Napoleon

• 1812 invasion of Russia

  • “Scorch and Burn” by Russians

  • harsh winter

• 1815 lost the Battle of Waterloo

  • lost to allied forces of Britain and Prussia

• Eventually, Napoleon is exiled to Saint Helena where he died