Time Period 2-5: The French Revolution
Key Results of the French Revolution
"Equality Before the Law" remains Wealth over birth which mostly benefits the bourgeoisie Centralization of government to Paris and growth in state power A militarized France that is more powerful than it had ever been
Revolutionary Tribunals - c. October 1793
A court instituted in Paris by the National Convention. The Tribunal, although originally quite fair, was one of the main instruments of the Reign of Terror and had many people guillotined when more and more pressure was felt on the Tribunals.
The Cult of Reason
A cult to supplant Christianity, a goddess of Liberty was included, part of de-Christianization. The Cult of Reason was the official religion at the height of radical Jacobinism in France from 1793-1794. The Cult was very unpopular and thought as stupid by most Frenchmen.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy - July 1790
A document, issued by the National Assembly, that broke ties with the Catholic Church and established a national church system in France with a process for the election of regional bishops, essentially putting the Catholic Church under France. The document angered the pope and church officials and turned many French Catholics against the revolutionaries.
The Directory
A five man group as the executive branch of the country; incompetent, corrupt, and unpopular. It was established after the Reign of Terror / National Convention and lasted for only 4 years. They effectively went back to the Constitution of 1791, and they stayed in power through the support of the military.
The Tennis Court Oath - June 20th, 1789
A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly after being locked out of their normal meeting place, in which they pledged not to disband until they had drawn up a new constitution. This was the first revolutionary event because it was done without the backing of the law. Louis XIV tried to disperse the assembly, then recognized the assembly, all while bringing troops to surround Paris.
De-Christianization
A policy, adopted in the radical phase of the French Revolution, aimed at creating a secular society by eliminating Christian forms and institutions from French society.
The Thermidorian Reaction - July 1794
A reaction to the violence of the Reign of Terror and Robespierre's plan to execute members of the National Convention. It resulted in the execution of Robespierre and the loosening of economic controls, as well as the execution of the most radical groups in France.
The Cult of Supreme Being
A religion based on deism devised by Maximilien Robespierre that was intended to become the state religion after the French Revolution
The Declaration of Pillnitz - August 1791
An empty threat agreed upon by Austria and Prussia to intervene if Louis XVI was threatened by revolution. Caused the paranoid France to declare war in April 1792, against most of Europe.
"What is the Third Estate?" - January 1789
An essay by Sieyès that showed his support for the 3rd Estate. He believes that all the good comes from the commoners and clergymen and nobility simply leech off of the commoners. He believes that "[The 3rd Estate] is Everything." He wanted a meritocracy where there was no class privileges, and a nation where power is based off of the people and the control of land.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen - September 1789
Based on Enlightenment ideas and authors, a document created by the National Assembly to give rights to all (except women).
The Abolition of Feudalism - August 4th, 1789
Caused by fear of a peasants' revolt, The National Assembly abolished (some) taxes on peasants and the Feudal System. They also instated "Equality Before the Law" where there would no more special privileges by birth.
The Metric System
Considered universal and rational, the Metric System is a decimal measuring system based on the meter, liter, and gram as units of length, capacity, and weight or mass.
Constitution of 1791
Constitution created by the French Revolution that made a constitutional monarchy. It enforced Equality Before the Law. It introduced passive and active citizenship for men. The distinction between these two levels is one's wealth. Experienced politicians of the National Assembly agreed to not serve in the new Legislative Assembly, leaving only unexperienced revolutionaries.
The Reign of Terror - 1793-1794
During the French Revolution when 15,000-25,000+ were executed via guillotine for their "disloyalty." This included nobles, clergymen, losing political factions, neighbors, and more. About 70% of all executions were of peasants and workers.
The Abbé Sieyès
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, a French writer and non-religious clergyman who took the job because he thought it would be easy. He came from a middle-class home. These factors led him to sympathize with the 3rd Estate and write "What is the Third Estate?"
Before the French Revolution
Enlightenment Authors were mainly French France had the largest population and the most power at the time
The Committee of Public Safety - 1793
Established and led by Maximillian Robespierre, fixed bread prices and nationalized some businesses. Hunted down "enemies" within France, built up the French army, and controlled the war effort. Instigated the Reign of Terror.
"The Social Question"
Feudal Class distinctions Taxes tied to social order The Tithe: 10% tax for going to church Corvée: labor tax on peasants The Taille: land tax on commoners Class inequality and tax dodging
Government Diet
France had fought in many wars, i.e. the American Revolution, with little regard to their spending. This caused France to go into a grand amount of debt which lead to an increase in taxation. Jacques Necker was put in charge, and he tried to tax the nobles who were notorious for not paying taxes. This led to the nobles demanding a Parlement to be formed.
The Estates General - 1788
France's Parliament made of 3 Estates: 1st Estate - Clergy (130,000 people) 2nd Estate - Noblity (400,000 people) 3rd Estate - Everyone else (27 million people) (mostly lawyers and bankers) Each Estate receives 1 vote Met in May 1789 with Cahier des doléances requested by Louis XIV
Olympe de Gouges - 1748-1793
French journalist who wrote "The Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen" which demanded equal rights for women.
The Second Revolution - August 10th, 1792
From 1792 to 1795, the second phase of the French Revolution, during which the fall of the French monarchy introduced a rapid radicalization of politics. Revolutionaries invaded the Tuileries Palace, captured the royal family, and threw them into prison
Storming of the Bastille - July 14th, 1789
Hundreds of hungry people stormed the prison in search of gunpowder to save Paris and the National Assembly. Although unfruitful, the fall of Bastille was the symbolic start of the French Revolution. The National Guard, a citizen army, was formed after this event.
Sans-culottes - "Without breeches"
In the French Revolution, the radical mobs made up of working class revolutionaries who wanted a greater voice in government, lower prices, and an end to food shortages.
The American Revolution - 1775-1783
It inspired the French to revolt against King Louis XV. The Netherlands, Belgium, & Poland also had revolutions at this time which inspired the French.
Cahier des doléances
Lists of grievances submitted by delegations to the Estates General
The Trial of Louis XIV
Louis tried as "Citizen Louis Capet" and found guilty. Louis became one of many to be executed via guillotine.
Edmund Burke - 1729-1797
Member of British Parliament and author of "Reflections on the Revolution in France" (1790), which criticized the underlying principles of the French Revolution and argued conservative thought.
The French Republic - September 21st, 1792
Now under the National Convention, the government of the radical period. They were very violent, yet very effective as a government.
The Jacobin Club
One of many political clubs in revolutionary France whose members were well-educated radical republicans and led the radical period.
Maximillian Robespierre "The Incorruptible" - 1758-1794
One of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He largely dominated the Committee of Public Safety and was instrumental in the Reign of Terror, which ended with his arrest and execution.
The Third Partition of Poland - 1795
Poland is completely lost to Austria, Prussia, and Russia; Poland would not become an independent state until the aftermath of WWI.
Economic Issues
Poor harvests in 1787 and 1788 led to inflation, especially in food prices. Rumors spread that the nobles and the monarchy were hoarding food and selling it at high prices. Hatred brewed for the rich from the majority poor. "Let them eat cake." - Marie Antoinette (unlikely)
Marie Antoinette "Madame Deficit" - 1755-1793
Queen of France who was unpopular her extravagance and opposition to reform contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy; she was guillotined along with her husband Wife of Louis XVI Open to bribery and spent a lot of money Built a fake peasant village for her and her friends to play in Austrian Habsburg, traditional enemy of the French
Purges - 1794
Robespierre purges the apposing political parties of him within France. This event creates fear in the National Convention.
The Republic of Virtue - 1793-1794
Robespierre's attempt to erase all traces of the monarchy, nobility and the Catholic Church. The Republic of Virtue was based off of Sparta, a war-like state with the ideal that everything is for the state. They made a new calendar which was very unpopular.
March on Versailles - October 5th, 1789
The "Bread March of Women" was due to bread shortages and increasingly high prices. In 1789 when rumors spread that nobles were hoarding bread. A mob of women joined together, stormed Versailles, and took the royal family back to Paris. Women became very active and the idea of political equality began forming.
Why did the French Revolution become more radical?
The Constitution of 1791 A weak monarchy Factions and radical groups War
The National Assembly - June 13th, 1789
The Estate System moved into a mixed voting system without separate groups. The dominant forces were lawyers and bankers from the middle-class
Levée en Masse - 1793
The French policy of conscripting all males into the army. This created a new type of military force based upon mass participation and a fully mobilized economy. This leads to the grandeur of both World Wars.
The Catholic Church - November 1789
The National Assembly renounced the Catholic Church gaining lots of new land for funding their new government.
The Abolishment of Slavery - February 4th, 1794
The National Convention outlaws slavery in both France and its colonies. France begins the movement to abolish slavery.
Resistance to the Revolution
The Vendee: a Catholic region of France that hated the revolution. Its revolt led to 150,000-200,000 deaths.
The First Coalition - 1792-1797
The alliances of the many continental wars. Great Britain is always allied against France. A balance of power is wanted.
Marianne
The female symbol of French nationalism and liberty
Assignats
The first paper currency in France backed by newly free land after the Catholic Church was renounced.
Flight to Versailles - June 1791
The royal family fled as one group in a large, heavy, slow carriage. They were easily captured. This led the revolutionaries, full of paranoia, to believe Louis XIV was leaving to raise an army.
The Ancien Regime
The traditional political and social order in Europe before the French Revolution. France under a weak absolutist king, King Louis XIV
"The Great Fear" - July & August 1789
The wave of rumors and senseless panic that overcame France after the Storming of the Bastille, that led to widespread destruction of noble homes and archives containing feudal obligations of peasants.
A Nation in Arms - 1793
Through conscription - every able body forced into the war - created a militarized revolution.
King Louis XIV - r. 1774-1792
Well liked Spent time with/around the people and helped them Married Marie Antoinette, she was disliked
"The Political Question"
What is the best form of government? What should the relationship be between "citizens" and the state? How should taxes affect the people?
