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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
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What was the "Ancien Regime" |
The Ancien Regime was a period prior to the French Revolution --> Pre-revolutionary Europe |
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How did the Ancien Regime act politically, socially, and economically? |
Politically– It referred to government by absolute monarchs supported by aristocratically led armies. Socially– It meant a rigid class hierarchy dominated by aristocratic elites with heredity privileges (urban labour force and rural labour force) Economically– It relied on overseas colonies to enrich state treasuries |
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What were the hallmarks of the Ancien Regime? |
- A scarcity of food - A low level of iron production - A system of rudimentary financial institutions - A conservative outlook focused on the past |
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What was the Enlightenment? |
- An age of optimism - Recognition of the sad state of the human condition - Need for reforms in government and society - Through reason humanity beginning to gain mastery over the world - Scientists uncovering laws of nature- Social philosophers changing traditiona lbeliefs, structures, government and economic systems - Authority now secular, aided by absolutism (one person can have complete authority over everyone) - Focus on limits and justification of authority - Contract Theory presupposed a formal and needed relationship between rulers and the ruled |
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What were the three premises of the Enlightenment? |
1. All the universe was fully intelligible and governed by natural, not supernatural forces. 2. The scientific method was promoted to answer all questions 3. The human race could be educated to achieve infinite improvement |
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Who were the philosophes? |
- 18TH CENTURY INTELLECTUALS
- Interest in addressing a broad audience - Committed to reform - Celebrated the scientific revolution- The “Mystique of Newton” - Science applied to society (reason + observation) - Experienced the problem of censorship- The salon played a role in getting the intellectuals together to discuss the issues of their day in secret due to the censorship - They put on plays and performed different events in hope of involving more people |
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Who were the physiocrats? |
- Thinkers that focused on economic reforms
- They looked for natural laws to define a rational economic system - They rejected “mercantilism”, which required government regulation of the economy to achieve a favourable balance of trade. - They were a part of “laissez faire” allowing business to operate with little to no government interference - They saw real wealth came from making the land more productive, farming, mining, land logging which produced new wealth - They supported free trade and opposed tariffs,or taxes on trade |
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What was the “Scientific Method Mania”? |
When people (aristocrats and members of the nobility) hired scientists in the hopes that if they made discoveries, they would be associated with it and would yield financial gain. |
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Views of human nature as presented by Locke |
Locke: We are all born with our minds a blank slate and what we learn is through our lived experiences (egotistic about human behaviour). Believes government is in place to protect individual rights and that all people have rights to begin with. If the government fails to protect the rights of citizens then the people have the right to rebel. |
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Views of human nature as presented by Hobbes |
Hobbes:His view of humans is not very optimistic (miserable). Thinks of them as selfish,brutish, nasty, chaotic, not nice etc. and we can’t look after ourselves which is why we need to be controlled by an absolute monarchy. Says it is in the nature of man to be selfish and to care nothing about others except how they can aid them and men are born with both passions and reason. |
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What were the three premises of Enlightenment? |
1. All the universe was fully intelligible and governed by natural, not supernatural forces. 2. The scientific method was promoted to answer all questions 3. The human race could be educated to achieve infinite improvement |
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What was the“Scientific Method Mania”? |
When people hired scientists in the hopes that if they got discoveries that they would be associated with it and they would profit off of the credentials. Aristocrats and those of wealth began to dabble in science. |
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What is required for all revolutions to be successsful? |
1. The aims of the revolution need to be definedand propagandized (e.g. slogans --> liberty, equality or no taxation without representation) 2. The leaders must have social and educational background that allows them to hold the subsequent government together 3. They must be able to produce a framework and a coalition for a new government 4. The degree of the opposition can’t be too great,or too strong, or the revolution will continue (and too many of the systems will be destroyed beyond repair or replacement) 5. The problems present for the revolution to occur must be resolved |
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What were the 3 estates before the french revolution? |
First Estate: Clergy Second Estate: The Nobility Third Estate: Bourgeoisie and Peasants |
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First Estate: Clergy |
- Very wealthy - Did not pay taxes and had their own law courts - France was legally and socially, a Roman Catholic Country - The upper clergy and Bishops came from noble families - Parish priests were from lower classes and had a great influence over the people of the countryside - The Ancien Regime was supported by the clergy who looked to the King to support the privileged status and authority of the Church - The Church was wealthy and still imposed tithing on the people - All social life revolved around the church - Consisted of about 130,000 people |
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Second Estate: Nobility |
- Paid no taxes - Collected taxes from peasants had the right to carry a sword received special treatment in law courts - Exempt from military service- Consisted of about 120-150,000 people - “Nobles of the Sword” - “Nobles of the Robe” |
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Nobles of the Sword |
longstanding,lineage and family can be traced back for many generations, old aristocrats,don’t want any change in France, don’t do much (live off land and family money– later became broke) |
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“Noblesof the Robe” |
buy into the aristocracy through marriage, allowed the bourgeoisie to become part of the aristocracy in exchange for money, disliked because they were not trueblood |
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Third Estate:(Bourgeoisie and Peasants) |
- Professionals: doctors, lawyers, writers,wealthy merchants etc. - Peasants: working the land and in small shops,9/ 10 people were peasants - Had no privileges - Paid most of the taxes and did most of the work - Deeply resented the privileged classes- Consisted of about 98% of the population |
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What were the three long-term causes of the French Revolution? |
1. King, Queen and French Court 2. Need for Change 3. Philosophers |
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Long Term Causes: King Queen and French Court |
- The country was changing and needed a strong king - Louis XVI was a weak ruler and could not make the required decisions - Married Marie Antoinette, at age 15, and she quickly became very unpopular - She was also young with few responsibilities,spent extravagantly, and earned a bad reputation - She was blamed for adding to the huge debt along with the king and their advisors- Louis surrounded by nobles at Versailles and ignorant to the conditions of the poor - He was unaware of the state of the treasury - Huge debt in part on spending on past wars,aiding U.S. against Britain (1 million livres) - Louis wanted out of this war, but Marie and advisors talked him into staying to get revenge on Britain |
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Long Term Causes: Need for Change |
- France was united and ruled absolutely in theory - In reality, nobles with feudal privileges ran estates like kingdoms - They resented the king’s power and saw him as a threat to their own - Nobles wanted the position they had in the Middle Ages - The middle classes were growing, becoming prosperous and influential - Although some had exemptions, they were jealous of the nobles positions - Merchants and traders wanted to trade freely in France, no dues or tolls nor feudal privileges - The church had feudal privilege and great wealth, and was envied / resented - Had an annual income of 250 million and paid no taxes - Peasants paid the bulk of the taxes- Middle class saw some improvement and peasant life got worse - 1771-1789 workers’ wages grew by 12%, cost of goods grew by 65% - For peasant farmers, Church had feudal privilege - France was heading towards bankruptcy - Reform was needed - Louis advised to tax all land but nobles opposed this - Louis not strong enough to oppose the nobles - 1787 set to take advantage of Louis and France |
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Long Term Causes: Philosophers |
- Inspired by the American Revolution - Criticized the church and nobility for robbing the people - Attacked the monarchy, a constitutional monarchy was wanted - Many in the middle-class and some in the upper class were inspired by them |
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What were the fiveshort-term causes of the French Revolution? |
1. Economic Crisis: 2. Political Crisis 3. Cahiers 4. Further Political Crisis 5. Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens |
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Short Term Causes: Economic Crisis |
- Crop failure, bread shortages - Poor now spent 50-80% of all income on food |
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Short Term Causes: Political Crisis |
- Nobles resist Louis’ attempts to solve problems - Ministerial despots - Louis forced to call the “Estates General”- Disagreement between the Estates over voting and representation - Louis vacillates doubles vote of the Third Estate |
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Short Term Causes: Cahiers |
- High expectations - Abbe Sieyes: “What is the THIRD Estate”- Country in an uproar - Issues: taxes, government, feudalism, laws, letrres de cahet |
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Short Term Causes: Further Political Crisis |
- Escalation - Tennis court oath and the National Assembly (first act of revolution) - Louis Vacillates tries to please everyone- The fall of the Bastille, a symbol of absolutism - The National Assembly is in control - The National Guard (militia) is in control |
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Short Term Causes: Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens |
- Most significant document of the evolution - Reflected political ideals of the enlightenment - New era of law - End of feudalism - “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” - Reaction in the countryside |
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What were the reforms of the National Assembly? |
- Political - Social and Economic - Religious |
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Political Reforms of the National Assembly |
- Proclaimed all male citizens equal before the law - Limited the powers of the monarchy - Established the Legislative Assembly to make laws - Granted all tax paying male citizens the right to elect members of the Legislative Assembly |
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Social and Economic Reforms of the National Assembly |
- Abolished special privileges of the Nobility - Announced an end to feudalism - called for taxes to be levied according to ability to pay - Abolished guilds and forbade labour unions - Compensated nobles for land seized by peasants |
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Religious Reforms of the National Assembly |
- Declared Freedom of Religion - Took over and sold church lands - Placed the French Catholic Church under control of the state - Provided that bishops and priests be elected and receive government salaries |
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What are the 5 things needed for a revolution to begin? |
1. At least 2 opposing sides 2. Access to weapons 3. Aims expressed in a slogan 4. Accomplished leaders 5. Ailments present, socially, economically, and politically |
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Results of the French Revolution |
- The bourgeoisie became the dominant class in France - Liberalism and conservatism in Europe began as political ideologies - Democracy becomes sought after - Wars are fought by people in arms - Greatest change brought to people |
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What are the 5 Stages of the French Revolution: |
Stage 1: The National Assembly - Third Estate declares itselfthe National Assembly, vows to create a new constitution (1789) Stage 2: Limited Monarchy - New Constitution of 1791 limits the monarchy, sets up a New representative assembly Stage 3: Radicals - Radicals take over (1792),Robespierre is in charge “Reign of Terror” Stage 4: Directory - Moderates return to government.In 1795 a five man Directory running the country. Stage 5: Napoleon - Coup d’etat (1799), takes control of France. Napoleon names himself Emperor in 1802. Back to absolute government. |
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Why was Napoleon so popular? |
- He was a common person - Wasn’t a wealthy aristocrat - Worked his way up - Rough around the edges - People could relate |
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Did Napoleon maintain the reasons for the French revolution once in power? |
Napoleon maintained the church, grew the economy, and everything the revolution got rid of he maintained - Centralized the government - Abolished special privileges of the nobility - Established freedom of religion - Developed Napoleonic Code and gave government jobs to those most qualified (based on merit) |
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What are the fourreasons for Napoleon’s downfall? |
- The continental system - Growing Ambition and Sense of Self-Importance - Invasion of Spain - The Russian Debacle |
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Napoleon's Downfall: Continental System |
- Forbade the importation of British goods into the continent - A strategic move in the economic war against Britain - Attempted to destroy Britain’s commerce and credit FAILED: - Britain kept control of the seas, and blockaded the continent - Could not get territories in Europe to join a tariff-free customs union - Europe became divided into economic camps - The continent had more to lose than Britain - Trade stagnated and unemployment roseB |
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Napoleon's Downfall: Growing Ambition and Sense of Self-Importance |
- Wanted a united Europe under his control, likethe Roman Empire - Symbols of his empire were Roman in origin - 1805, he defeated a coalition force of Russia,Prussia, and Austria - He made his brothers and sisters the monarchs ofhis newly created Kingdoms, which he controlled from Paris - He did not see his men, material, and goodfortune was not limitless |
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Napoleon's Downfall: Invasion of Spain |
- 1808, he invaded Spain as a step toward theconquest of Portugal, a British ally - His reforms failed in Spain because BritishForces under Wellesley were present and he underestimated the determination ofthe Spanish to resist him - The Spanish loved their King Charles andNapoleon overthrew him to put his brother Joseph on the throne - With British help, Spanish reverted to guerrillawarfare and drove Napoleon out- It was now seen he could be defeated, leading toan increased anti-Napoleon defiance to develop elsewhere |
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Napoleon's Downfall: Russian Debacle |
- As a result of the continental system, Russiacould not trade grain with Britain and faced an economic crisis - Tsar Alexander sought to ignore Paris and tradewith Britain - 1811, Napoleon invaded Russia - It was a disaster, the Russians retreated inlandand the French were caught in Russian winter - Napoleon lost over 300,000 troops, no longerseen as invincible and renewed hope for anti-Napoleon forces |
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Civil Constitution of the Clergy |
A law passed in July 1790 during the French Revolution, that subordinated the Roman Catholic Church into the French government. - It was an attempt to reorganize the Roman Catholic Church in France on a national basis. - It caused a schism within the French Church and made many devout Catholics turn against the Revolution. |
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Roles and Symbols in the French Revolution |
- the tri-coloured flag - People changed their children's names and named them after revolutionary leaders - bread represented the october days |
