1788-1789 Flashcards
(39 cards)
Proportion of income spent by labourers in Paris on bread in the winter of 1788-89
88%
Paris Basin
Crucial region for grain production; a freak hailstorm destroyed the harvest in 1788.
Eden Treaty
Free trade treaty with Britain signed in 1786 – French economy vulnerable to cheap British imports. This caused an industrial slump in France that contributed to the economic crisis of 1788-89.
Increase in the price of bread between August 1788 and March 1789, causing a fall in demand for manufactured goods and a rise in unemployment.
50%
Decline in employment in the textile industries in 1789. Devastating impact on urban workers.
50%
Réveillon riots
Significant disturbances in Paris, during which a factory was set on fire in response to a rumour that the owner was planning to reduce wages. 50 protestors killed or wounded by government troops.
Hoarding
Workers blamed the bread shortage on unscrupulous speculators, who were accused of withholding grain from the market to raise prices and make greater profits.
Cahiers de Doleances
‘Books of grievances’. Amongst other things, the cahiers called for an end to privilege and arbitrary arrest, and the creation of a constitution.
‘What is the Third Estate?’
An influential pamphlet written by Abbe Sieyes in January 1789.
Comte de Mirabeau
A charismatic noblemen who was elected to sit in the Third Estate.
Voting by order
Traditional voting system in the Estates General, which enabled the ‘privileged estates’ to outvote the Third Estate.
Voting by head
Proposed new voting system in which all deputies votes would be counted to determine the majority.
First meeting of the Estates-General
5 May 1789
First meeting of the Estates-General at the Palace of Versailles – in the absence of a specific agenda from the crown, the Third Estate took the initiative in proposing reforms to the voting system and demanding a new constitution. They refused to conduct any business until the three orders had been unified.
The National Assembly
The new body created by Third Estate deputies on 17 June 1789. It is also known as the Constituent Assembly.
The Tennis Court Oath
Oath sworn by members of the National Assembly on 20 June 1789.
Séance Royale
Held by the king on 23 June 1789 to annul the resolutions of the National Assembly and re-establish voting by order. Did propose some key reforms, but too late to win support from the deputies.
Swiss Guards
Troops called up to surround Paris in July 1789, rumoured to have orders to close down the National Assembly. As many as 25,000 troops had been called up by 11 July 1789.
Palais Royal
Unofficial headquarters of the ‘patriot’ resistance to the crown in July 1789. Thousands of people came each night to listen to popular speakers defending Necker and the National Assembly.
Camille Desmoulins
Speaker in the Cafe du Foy who called for armed resistance following the dismissal of Necker.
Gardes-francaises
Elite regiment of royal infantry. 5 out of 6 battalions deserted to the revolutionaries in July 1789.
Weaponry seized by Parisians from Les Invalides (the royal arsenal) on 13 July.
28,000 muskets and 20 cannon
The fall of the Bastille
14 July 1789
De Launay
The governor of the Bastille - murdered by armed demonstrators.
Paris Commune
New city council run by members of the bourgeoisie.
