The French Revolution
National Convention
A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.
Emigres
French nobles who fled from France during the peasant uprisings. They were very conservative and hoped to restore the king to power.
Louis XVI
- King of France (1774-1792). In 1789 he summoned the Estates-General, but he did not grant the reforms that were demanded and revolution followed. Louis and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed in 1793., Bourbon ruler of France who was executed during the radical phase of the French Revolution., (1774-1792); massive financial trouble during rule; 2 options- increase taxes on growing middle class/ increase taxes on peasantry or tax the wealthy nobility; increased anger between middle class and aristocracy. well meaning but weak and indecisive king of France who appointed Jacques Necker as his adviser. Louis' allegiance to his nobles led him to ignore many of Necker's proposals, causing upset amongst the Third Estate
Lazare Carnot
A French soldier appointed by the Committee of Public Safety to help reorganize the failing war effort against Austria and Prussia. Carnot did so very effectively and made enough of a name for himself to earn a seat as one of the first members of the Directory. Although he was removed from this position during the overthrow of September 4, 1797, he went on to hold various posts in future governments., was in charge of military of Committee of Public Safety (one of prominent leaders of Committee of Public Safety) reorganized french army., reorganized the French Revolutionary Army during the War of the First Coalition
Vendee
Counter revolution led by conservative forces (nobles, clergy, and the peasantry)., A region of France that rebelled against the revolutionary government after the king was beheaded during the French Revolution. This began a large-scale civil war within France., The counter-revolutionary revolt that began in March in this western region of France. This area's revolt was mainly inspired by anger toward the restrictions placed on the Church.
Refactory Clergy
Created in response to when the Civil Constitution of the Clergy created a national church with 83 bishops and dioceses. They had the support of the King, former aristocrats, peasants, and the urban working class., Term for half of the French priests who refuse to accept the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and swear a loyalty oath to the new government.
Georges-Jacques Danton
French revolutionary leader who stormed the Paris bastille and who supported the execution of Louis XVI but was guillotined by Robespierre for his opposition to the Reign of Terror (1759-1794)., He was a representative of the the poor people of France. He was one of the least educated and was very brutish.
Jacobins
Radical republicans during the French Revolution. They were led by Maximilien Robespierre from 1793 to 1794., -political party that advocated for a centralized republic., Advanced French Political group that strongly advocated enlightenment thought and believed in their hearts that France should be a republic., A political club comprised mostly of middle class lawyers or intellectuals, leader was Robespierre, started out not so radical but under Robespierre they became radical., A radical political organization who called for a new form of government. Their goal was death of all supporters of the King. The King went from a monarch to a common citizen to a prisoner. He was tried for treason and sentenced to death by guillotine.
Madame de Stael
Ran a salon. Deplored subordination of women to men. Lack of attention by revolution. Father was Necker. Wrote widely read books., Introduced German Romanticism to France and Britain, was very critical of Napoleon. Jacque Necker's daughter, lived 1766-1817 (Romantic)., French romantic writer, also daughter of Jacques Necker, Louis XVI's finance minister. Helped bring the Romantic Movement to France.
Mountain
The Mountain was a political group whose members called Montagards sat on the highest benches at the Assembly. They were successively with a group of men called Marat, Daton, and Robespierre. The term was used for the Legislative Assembly until 1793., - Radical faction of the Jacobin
Law of Maximum
The fixing of prices on bread and other essentials under Robespierre's rule., a planned economy to respond to food shortages and related economic problems., A planned economy to respond to economic problems like food shortages, maximum allowed prices fixed prices which poor can afford, rationing, nationalized workshops, qualizing of grain and bread, arms and munitions now produced., a seal on the price of staple foods. Was meant to stop the famine, but it increased it because the farmers horded their goods because they weren't getting any money for it, so no one could buy the food now.
Paris Commune
The small government in Paris who wanted to resist the conservative leaders of France and tried to form their own government., After France's defeat in the Franco-Prusian War, the liberal National Guard rebuffed the Third Republic's effort to disarm them and formed an independent Paris, with it's own government. The conservative president of France, Adolph Thiers, sent more troops to capture Paris and a bloodbath ensued. Independent Paris was defeated., After France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the liberal National Guard rebuffed the Third Republic's effort to disarm them and formed an independent Paris, a government called the _________. The conservative president of France, Adolphe Thiers, sent more troops to capture Paris and a bloodbath ensued. The Communards were defeated.
Age of Montesquieu
first phase of the french revolution-tennis court oath, national assembly, etc., the first phase of the French revolution who constitution provided for a constitutional monarchy., The first, moderate, phase of the French Revolution. In it, the Church and State both existed, but a separation of powers arose between the governing classes.
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France
"A band of cruel ruffians and assassins, reeking with his blood, rushed into the chamber of the queen, and pierced with an hundred strokes of bayonets and poniards the bed, from whence this persecuted woman had but just time to fly almost naked, and through ways unknown to the murderers had escaped to seek refuge at the feet of a king and husband, not secure of his own life for a moment.", wanted reform but opposed the Revolution and predicted the Revolution would take a violent turn., condemned the French revolution a liberalism, becoming the basis of conservative philosophy., Was deeply troubled by the Revolution. His book defended inherited privileges and those of english monarchy and aristocracy. He thought reform would lead to chaos and tyranny.
Reign of Terror
(1793-94) during the French Revolution when thousands were executed for "disloyalty"., 1793-1794, Robespierre started it. Over 10,000 people executed and if you were against the French, you died., 1793- 1794; let terror be the order of the day; 2 representative go with the generals to encourage the general; if they lose, the general dies; 40,000 men died., 1793-1794. An awful time when Robespierre took over France and crushed enemies of the Revolution.
Corvee
Forced labor that required peasants to work for a month out of the year on roads and other public projects
Consulate Era
Form of government which followed the directory -established by Napoleon-ended when Napoleon was crowned emperor., era after the directory with napolean acting as head, took public vote of support that reaffirmed napoleans right to lead.
Brunswick Manifesto
Issued by Prussia and Austria on July 25, 1792. Stated that if harm done to the king or queen there would be severe retribution. Mistake - played right into hands of radical revolutionaries in France. They used it to panic France into thinking invasion imminent. Began recruiting defence force., 1792, during the radical stage. Austria and Prussia made this saying that they would destroy Paris if any harm came to the French king(Louis XVI)
Parlement
Law court staffed by nobles that could approve or disapprove a king's decrees.
Conspiracy of Equals
Led by "Gracchus" Babeuf an attempt to renew violent rebellion after the Thermidore reaction,-communistic in nature., 1796 plot led by Gracchus Babeuf which called for a return to many ideals of the Revolution and an overthrow of the Directory., Group of radicals led by Gracchus Babeuf that are considered first communists—wanted complete equality of property and power. These people were eventually arrested and executed (1797)
September Massacres
Louis's imprisonment was followed by the September massacres. Wild stories seized the city that imprisoned counter-revolutionary aristocrats/priests were plotting with the allied invaders. As a results, angry crowds invaded the prisons of Paris and summarily slaughtered half the men and women they found., Consisted of several Attacks on the prisons in Paris. The first attack occurred when twenty-four priests being transported to a prison named L'Abbaye were attacked by a mob of angry citizens of Paris. They quickly and grotesquely killed all of the priests as they were trying to escape into the prison and moved on to kill other prisoners as well. Approximately 1200 prisoners were murdered.
Equality,Liberty, Fraternity
The revolution mantra
Estates General
France's traditional national assembly with representatives of the three estates, or classes, in French society: the clergy, nobility, and commoners. The calling of the Estates General in 1789 led to the French Revolution., 1789: Called by Louis XVI, first meeting in many years. First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), Third Estate (peasants). First and Second Estates locked out Third Estate, so Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly and vowed to make a new Constitution
National Assembly
French Revolutionary assembly (1789-1791). Called first as the Estates General, the three estates came together and demanded radical change. It passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789., A French congress established by representatives of the Third Estate on June 17, 1789, to enact laws and reforms in the name of the French people., The Estates General met in May of 1789. The three estates were made to vote separately and the first and second would obviously outvote the third. However, some priests from the First Estate came and sat with the Third Estate. The Third estate declared itself to be a National Assembly on June 17, 1789 and when Louis had the meeting hall closed to them, they moved to the Tennis Court.
Levee en masse
Law that obligated all French men between certain ages to enlist in the army., A national draft in France in 1794, created under the Jacobins, of a citizen army with support from young and old, heralding the emergence of modern warfare., 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., A draft, so to speak, for all able-bodied men to defend the nation; important because it put the responsibility on all, rather than one social class of people
Storming of the Tuleries
Responding to Brunswick Manifesto, mobs seized power in Paris. The king was taken prisoner. Marks the beginning of the "Second Revolution"., Louis XVI and Queen were forced into jail after the Sanscullottes and the government stromed the Tuleries in August 10, 1792. King taken prisoner and guards slaughtered., The King's palace was stormed and the King was taken prisoner after fleeing to the Legislative Assembly;
Enrages
These were even more extreme than the sans-culottes . They were leftist, extremists in Paris and the provinces who declared that parliamentary methods were useless. Included women. Worked thro-out the whole country. Formed revolutionary armies scouring countryside for food, denouncing suspects and preaching revolution., radical group that opposed the jacobins, fought against by robespierre.
Rene de Maupeou
hired as Louis XV's financial minister. began to tax privileged groups. created new courts. the Parlements rebelled against him., abolished the Parlement of Paris and exiled its members to the provinces; created a new and docile Parlement of royal officials; began to re-tax the privilege groups; the majority of philosophes and public sided with the old Parlement.
Law of Suspects
Allows anyone who is merely suspected of challenging the republic or the revolution can be arrested without trial. If that do go to trial. they can be executed for the most minor of things.
Plebiscite
A direct vote in which a country's people have the opportunity to approve or reject a proposal., A direct vote of all the people of a country or district on an important matter; a referendum
Marie Antoinette
Queen of France (as wife of Louis XVI) who was unpopular her extravagance and opposition to reform contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy; she was guillotined along with her husband (1755-1793)
Third Estate
97% of the population (the rest of France) They consisted of the bourgeoisie, the san-culottes and the peasants; they paid high taxes and had no special privileges
Mary Wollstonecraft Vindication of the rights of woman
1. Rousseau considered the duty of a women to please men, to be useful to them, love them, and make men's lives easier. written by the founder of modern European feminism;pointed out that subjection of women to men was equal to slavery and that if reason was innate in all humans, then women should have the same rights as men., disagreed with Rousseau about the role of women. Government should not have huge monarchial power over their subjects, and same between a man and a woman. Women can reason, so they are entitled to the same rights as men.
The Directory
1785-1799. Five man group. Passed a new constitution in 1795 that was much more conservative. Corrupt and did not help the poor, but remained in power because of military strength. By 1797 it was a dictatorship., 1795-1799-5 members that acted as an executive commitee. elected by council of elders. ruling under this group was corrupted. radicals and royalists plotted against this government. they couldn't fix the economy, (1795-1799) created by the new constitution it was the first bicameral legislature in French history. It consisted of a parliament of 500 representatives, but the majority of French people wanted to be rid of them. They habitually disregarded the terms of the constitution, and, when the elections went against them, appealed to the sword. They resolved to prolong the war because state finances had been so ruined that the government could not meet its expenses without the plunder and the tribute of foreign countries. If peace were made, the armies would return home and the directors would have to face the angry, unemployed soldiers and power hungry generals. The directors was were not supported and their general maladministration heightened their unpopularity.
Legislative Assembly
A French congress with the power to create laws and approve declarations of war, established by the constitution of 1791.Replaced the National Assembly
Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 1790
A body of legislation passed in July 1790 that redefined the relationship between the clergy and the state in France. It allowed for the confiscation of church property formerly used to support the clergy, replacing it with a guarantee of state salaries for clergymen instead. It also stipulated that parish priests and bishops be elected just like public officials. The National Assembly attempted to enforce it by requiring the clergy to take an oath, divided public opinion of the French Revolution (1789-99) and galvanized religious opposition., A document, issued by the National Assembly in July 1790, that broke ties with the Catholic Church and established a national church system in France with a process for the election of regional bishops. The document angered the pope and church officials and turned many French Catholics against the revolutionaries.
Assembly of Notables
A group of nobles and aristocrats invited by the king of France to discuss reform of the government., Louis XVI called these people to ask for money and the wealthy refused. The nobles refused to pay taxes. This group was made up of people selected by the king and was made up primarily of nobles., A consulting body of eminent nobles and clergymen that convened to advise the King of France in 1788 and 1789., In 1797, Louis XVI's minister gave the king documents that called for a Assembly of Notables. The Assembly was needed to gain support from them and their opinion. These notables were mainly important noblemen and high-ranking clergy. They believed that the idea of sweeping taxes called for the approval of the Estates General.
Maximilien Robespiere
A leader of Jacobin at one time, slowly gained power until he ruled France like a dictator. The period of his rule became known as the reign of terror. Executed people for virtually no reason at all., the political speaker during the french revolution... he was a jacobin and started the reign of terror that killed everyone not in favor of the revolution., wanted to build a republic of virtue by wiping out traces of france's past. They changed the calender, no sundays, renaming each month, closed all churches. he was a dictator., He was a lawyer and a member of the National Convention. Led the Mountain side of the National Convention. Had the Mountains join forces with the sans-culottes, as well as joining the Committee of Public Safety. Helped France's financial situation through the concept of planned economy (setting price limits on certain products). Was a very large part of the radicalization of France, but efforts eventually led to the fall of France and take_over by Napoleon Bonaparte. He claimed that the Revolution was over. In a sense he was right; the last reforms were made in 1791. The people strongly disliked him for his views on the disablement of speaking against the republic. He was one of the main contributors to the laws that stated the death penalty for those who went against the revolution.
Tennis Court Oath
A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789, in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution., Declaration mainly by members of the Third Estate not to disband until they had drafted a constitution for France (June 20, 1789)., A promise made by the members of the National Assembly to stay together until they had written a constitution for France; this was the first deliberate act of the revolution (treason)
Girondins
A political party that emerged in revolutionary France after the fall of the monarchy in 1792 when the jacobins split into two factions. Named for the region in southwestern France where many of their leaders were from. They were members of the professional class (lawyers and merchants) who wanted a constitutional governemnt, opposed the growing influence of Parisian miltants, and championed the smaller provinces bewond the city of Paris. They agreed the king was guilty of treason but were reluctant to execute him, arguing for exile or a referendum on his fate. They were first to be targeted as the beginning of the Terror., Delegates in the National Convention who favored a republic but feared domination by Paris., A moderate republican faction active in the French Revolution from 1791 to 1793. The Girondin Party favored a policy of extending the French Revolution beyond France's borders.
Thermidorian Reaction
A reaction to the violence of the Reign of Terror in 1794, resulting in the execution of Robespierre and the loosening of economic controls., Name given to the reaction against the radicalism of the French Revolution. It is associated with the end of the Reign of Terror and reassertion of bourgeoisie power in the Directory., The violent backlash in France against the rule of Robspierre that began with his arrest and execution in July 1794, or 9 Thermidor in the French revolutionary calendar. Most of the instruments of Terror were dismantled, Jacobins were purged from public office, and Jacobin supporters were harassed or even murdered., Event in 1794 that ended the Reign of Terror. Executed Robespierre in 1794, saw a major shift to the conservative right, readmitted the Girondins, lifted economic controls, and ended the control of the sans-culottes. Also created a new Revolutionary Calendar that was non-Christian., extended Political Reign of Terror. Goal was increasingly an ideal democratic republic where justice would reign and there would be neither rich nor poor. their lofty goal was unrestrained despotism and guillotine. In Mar. 1794, to the horror of many sans-culorres, Robespierre's Terror wiped out many angry men who had been criticizing Robespierre for being soft on the wealthy. it recalled the early days of the Revolution
Cult of the Supreme Being
A religion based on deism devised by Maximilian Robespierre, intended to become the state religion after the French Revolution., Deitistic naturalist religion. Created during the French Revolution. Creation caused the Catholic church to be opposed to the revolution. Caused many to decide between religion and revolution., a civic religion (that means it was forced upon the citizens by the government) that was centered on nature (that means they worshiped bugs and rocks) that was instituted during the Reign of Terror., Robespierre's attempt in June of 1794 to an alternative to Christianity with this deistic cult. It proclaimed that the French were to recognize the existence of God and the immorality of the soul, but not a church, especially the Catholic Church, although the Catholics were to tolerated. All of this was done to not alienate the religious, which, while not an enlightened though, encompassed most of the French population at this time
Declaration of Pillnitz
A statement agreed upon by Leopold II and Fredrick William II to intervene if Louis XVI was threatened by revolution., afraid that other countries would follow France's lead and begin revolutions, Emperor Leopold II of Austria and King Frederick William II of Prussia issued this declaration in August 27, 1791, inviting other European monarchs to intervene on behalf of Louis XVI if his monarchy was threatened., (1791) Austria and Prussia agreed to intervene in France to end the revolution with the unanimous agreement of the great powers.
Great Fear
A wave of senseless panic that spread through the French countryside after the storming of the Bastille in 1789., The panic and insecurity that struck French peasants in the summer of 1789 and led to their widespread destruction of manor houses and archives., 1789 - the rumors of noble attacks on towns and the government taking peasant crops; led to peasants burning manor records, staling grain., A period in July and August 1789 during which rural peasants revolted against their feudal landlords and wreaked havoc in the French countryside., 1789, rural panic led to peasant attacks on aristocrats or on seigneur records of peasants dues (so they wouldn't have to pay them)
Coup d'etat Brumaire
Coup necessary to overcome the opposition. Nov 9, 1799 the legislature was driven from its chambers and the Consulate was declared., Event in November 1799 where the war hero Napoleon (Battle of the Pyramids v. Austrians) was invited by Abby Sieyes to lead. He overthrows the directory and Napoleon becomes the First Consul., when Napoleon overthrew the Directory and replaced it with the Consulate.
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man
Defended Enlightenment principles and France's revolution - triumph of liberty over despotism., Responded to Burke's argument by defending the enlightenment principles and France's revolution. Saw triumph of liberty over despotism., He traveled to France during the French Revolution where he wrote this pamphlet in 1791 which supported the Revolution. In it, he suggests that revolution is acceptable if the government is not safeguarding the rights of the people or the people themselves., An author and propagandist. In "Rights of Man", Paine suggests that revolution is acceptable if the government is not safeguarding the rights of the people and even the people themselves. And, he also expresses in the book that he was against the idea of a hereditary monarchy, and the idea that hereditary monarchs are automatically endowed with greater wisdom because of their inherited office. The book itself was meant to defend the Revolution against its opponents, namely Edmund Burke.
Storming of the Bastille
Destruction of the prison seen as the true start of the French Revolution., Paris-July 14, 1789~the medieval fortress and prison known as the Bastille contained only seven prisoners, its fall was the flash point of the French Revolution and it subsequently become an icon of the French Republic., July 14, 1789 when mob and some of the king's soldiers attacked the Bastille which was a jail where the gun powder was kept the effect was the people getting left out, only 7 but the impact was great and all the guards got killed., 1st symbolic act of violence against the monarchy the beginning of the French Revolution., (August 1789) The revolutionary act where the Parisian militia goes to the Bastille to take ammunition. It was not really a storming - they spent the first 5 hours negotiating with the retired veteran leading the place, then somebody shoots and the militia kills off many old pensioners, dragging their heads on pikes through the streets
83 Departments
France became a centralized national gov't based in Paris once the feudal institutions, parlements, estates, provincial law codes, and tariff and tax bodies were replaced by them., Term for the districts created by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, that politically divided the country into districts., France was divided into these, governed by elected officials, replaced old provincial boundary lines.
War of the First Coalition
French revolutionary forces wee soundly defeated by the Austrian military; only the conflict between eastern monarchs over the division of Poland saved France from defeat; intensified existing unrest and dissatisfaction of unpropertied classes., Fr vs Austria and Prussia. Fr defeated by Austria. (Austria and Prussia focus on Partitions) unrest and disatisfaction of lowest classes in Fr. Increased. Blame Emigres and king louis for why they lost -treason, part of a conspiracy., France declares war on Austria 1792. King is stormed at the palace after the Emperor of Austria declares he will restore the King of France.
Jean-Paul Marat
French revolutionary leader (born in Switzerland) who was a leader in overthrowing the Girondists and was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday (1743-1793)., A journalist and scientist, as well as an associate Jacobin; Marat (1743-93) helped launch the Reign of Terror and complied death lists, being an advocate of violent measures. He was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, immortalized in the David painting The Death of Marat., A Jacobin editor of a newspaper. He called for the death of many people because they supported the Old Regime., A man a part of a radical political organization, the Jacobins, was the editor of a french newspaper. His revolutionary writings stirred up violent mood in Paris.
Assignats
In December of 1789 this was a paper currency issued by the Constituent Assembly which had confiscated church property and issued this paper money based on this land. Initially could just by land with it though later it was used as a general currency. Supposed to help ease the difficulties of peasants but all sorts of problems with it - overissued plus easily forged., Paper currency, the French churches were used as collateral -the first French paper currency issued by the General Assembly., Assembly confiscated all church property., In effect these were government bonds backed by the sale of church property. They were so acceptable to the people that they circulated as currency - but the value fell.
Flight to Varennes
In June of 1791 LXVI and his family attempted to escape and join the emigres who were agitating outside France to overthrow the revolution. King left a written message repudiating the revolution. He was spotted and arrested in Varennes in Lorraine in northeastern France. He was returned to a hostile Paris which now distrusted him and he was forced to accept the constitutional monarchy. His actions disoriented the revolution since now a system modelled on the English constitutional monarchy was impossible since he was obviously not a willing participant., King Louis XVI and his family attempt to escape Paris; made it only to Varennes where they were arrested and put on house arrest. End of French Monarchy
Bourgeoisie
In early modern Europe, the class of well-off town dwellers whose wealth came from manufacturing, finance, commerce, and allied professions., French middle class., Comfortable members of the 3rd estate. Basically middle class, wanted the privileges of the nobility and upper clergy.
Sans-Culottes
In the French Revolution, a radical group made up of Parisian wage-earners, and small shopkeepers who wanted a greater voice in government, lower prices, and an end of food shortages., Literal translation - without breeches or wearing long, workman's pants as opposed to the dress culottes. This was name given to Parisian militants to signify that they were manual laborers. Between 1792 and 1794 the name referred to specific group of political activists who were attempting to put pressure on the National Convention through the mobilization of local clubs and assemblies.
Women's march to Versailles
On October 5, 1789, rumors spread in Paris that the royals were hoarding all the grain. A hungry mob of 6,000 largely working-class women decided to march on the Palace of Versailles, taking with them pieces of cannon and other weaponry. They forced the royal family to live in Paris., Parisian women marched to Versailles to talk to King Louis XVI about bread prices on October 5, 1789., Parisian fish wives and others marched to Versailles, killed the king's guards, and demanded that the royal family live at the Tuleries Jean-Paul Marat: incited the Paris mobs with his newspaper editorials and who constantly called for heads to roll., due to bread shortages; iniciated by JEAN MARAT (made antirevolutionary articles); women marched 12 miles from paris to versailles demanding king redress economic problem; unemployment due to reduced demand for women in putting out system; kind & queen forced to move to paris @ tuleries; louis XVI met with group of women in paris and signed decree guaranteeing bread in paris at reasonable prices
Louis Saint-Just
Revolutionary who wanted to execute the King without trial. A proponent of mob rule. Led to committee of public safety. Put 850,00 men under arms. Muzzled the press. At least 20,000 people were killed., a confidant of Robespierre who arranged for the arrests under the Law of Suspects.
Declaration of the rights of man and Citizen
Statement of fundamental political rights adopted by the French National Assembly at the beginning of the French Revolution., French Revolution document that outlined what the National Assembly considered to be the natural rights of all people and the rights that they possessed as citizens., Revolutionary document of the French Revolution. Written in 1789, it spelled out certain rights believed to be universal to all mankind. Patterned on the American Declaration of Independence., Document written by Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. Stated very well that political sovereignty did not rest in the hands of a monarch but rather with the nation at large. All citizens were equal before the law and in enjoyment of rights and responsibilities of society. Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to engage in economic activity of their choice. Property was inviolable and sacred.
Louis XV
The Nobility gained influence during his reign.His ministers and mistresses exercised undue influence on him, controlling affairs of state and undermining the prestige of the monarchy.
First Estate
The first class of French society made up of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Olympe de Gouges, The Rights of Woman
Women did not have equal rights. She demanded equal rights and economic and educational opportunities., following tofficial declaration in each of its 17 articles, she applied them to women explicitly in each case; asserted the right of women to divorce under certain conditions, to control property in marraige, & equal access to higher education & civilian careers & public employment., A proponent of democracy, she demanded the same rights for French women that French men were demanding for themselves. In her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (1791), she challenged the practice of male authority and the notion of male-female inequality. She lost her life to the guillotine due to her revolutionary ideas.
Commitee of Public Safety
a committee established during the French revolution to identify enemies of the republic., a twelve member executive who wanted to crush the forces of counterrevolution and mobilize national support. this group spearheaded the campaign of violence known as the reign of terror.
Lettre de Cachet
a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal., letter bearing a seal ordering the imprisonment without trial of a person the letter names
Abbe Sieyes What is the Third Estate
argued that the third estate was everything., argued that nobility was a tiny overprivileged minorty & that the neglected 3rd estate made up french nation
Jacques Necker
financial expert of Louis XVI, he advised Louis to reduce court spending, reform his government, abolish tariffs on internal trade, but the First and Second Estates got him fired., A Swiss-born banker who served as France's director general of finance in the late 1770s, with high hopes of instituting reform. As it turned out, Necker was able only to propose small efforts at eliminating costly inefficiencies. He did produce a government budget, however, for the first time in French history., Controller-General of Finances during Louis XVI's rule who realized the problem but refused to act of out possible disappointment of the king., Finance minister whose firing had triggered the riots was returned to office two days later. Rioting and violence continued and violence spread throughout the countryside.
Madame de Pomadour
most famous mistress of 18th c, who influenced Louis in making important decisions and guiding advice on appointments and foreign policy., mistress of Louis XV, influence over literature, art, arts (especially rococo style).
Temple of Reason
new name for the Cathedral of Notre Dame during the Radical Phase of the Revolution., converted Notre Dame Cathedral that became the "place of worship" of the Cult of the Supreme Being., The new designation for the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris; universal religion based on deist beliefs intended to replace Christianity
Jacques Hebert, Hebertistes
radical social democrat who led the "angry men"—Hébertistes were his followers., One of the most radically left-leaning of the Jacobins, he proposed the Cult of Reason in opposition to Robespierre's Cult of the Supreme Being, and for his troubles was guillotined during the climax of the Terror. Hébertistes were his followers.
Ancien Regime (Old regime)
refers to France prior to the French Revolution; absolutist monarchies
Gallican Church
roman cahtolic church in france, headed by the monarch, not by the pope
Age of Rousseau
second phase of the French Revolution-Republic, execution of Louis, Committee of Public Safety, Reign of Terror, Termidorian Rebellion, Directory.
Cahiers de Doleances
statements of local grievances that were drafted throughout France during the elections to the Estates-General., statements of local grievances drafted throughout France during the elections to the Estates-General, advocating a regular constitutional government abolishing fiscal privileges of the church and nobility., A list of grievances against the king, most important of which was the need to reform the tax system -- Indicated a strong consensus among all estates favoring an end to careless government spending and abuse of power., Grievances- Criticized the governtment's wastefulness, indirect taxation, church taxes and corruption, and rights given to the aristocracy. Begin to demand more equal rights.
Second Estate
the second estate of the realm: the nobility (especially British nobility) of the rank of duke or marquess or earl or viscount or baron
