French Rev Key Terms Section 2 Flashcards

Question

Significance of New Constitution on who had right to vote

Answer 1

Distinction made between active & passive citizens Active = male. 25+yrs, spoke french; paid direct taxes equal to 3 days work (61% of nation) Passive = had civil rights but NOT rights to vote Robespierre disagreed w/ this system as recognised more influence only gained through more wealth! Believed all deserved to vote!

Answer 2

Make laws, collect taxes, decide issues of war/peace

Answer 3

Old provinces abolished = created 83 departements; divided into districts; then cantons; then communes Each departement to have its own elected council w/ 36 members w/ directorate of 8 responsible for admin in area Responsible for law, order, taxes & reconstruction of roads; not subject to central control

Answer 4

Key revolutionary idea - Enlightenment = in order to prevent possible return of monarchical absolutism Made people feel involved/important @ local level & created jobs But problems in rural communes where there were many illiterate & thus couldn't fill offices

Answer 5

Abolished: parlements, letters de cachet, existing law courts Justices of peace to hear minor civil cases in each canton (group of communes) District courts = to hear more civil cases Departement courts = bigger criminal cases ; jury (dual system w/ 2 groups of 12 citizens; one for investigation & one for judgement) Fixed income to remove venality Tribunal de cassation = single central high court of appeal = SUPREME COURT Accused person to be brought before judge within 24hrs of arrest; proceedings/judgements open to public viewing; accused to be allowed lawyer; torture, branding & hangings abolished (by 1792 only humane punishment was guillotine) Sentences to be fair & proportionate & equal for all despite privilege/status Accused's property could not be seized

Answer 6

Clarified detail of punishment & made less severe = fewer crimes punishable by death Offered cheaper/more accessible justice Fairer judgements incl trial by jury in criminal cases = based on Enlightenment systems in Europe

Answer 7

NCA to tax 1st/2nd Estate = ordered as one off patriotic contribution Assignats = govn bonds (e.g. confiscated church land sold for printed certificate representing value of property) people loaned money to govn which could be exchanged for church lands known as biens nationaux = soon used like paper money for ordinary transactions BUT risky as excessive printing of them caused inflation! New tax system formed based on land value Gabelle (salt tax) abolished Mar 1790 Aides (drink tax) & state monopoly on tobacco maintained until 1791 Economic Restructuring Programme = to replace direct taxes (taille & vingtieme) & would compensate for loss of indirect taxes; 3 key principles = land tax, poll/property tax & limited tax on commercial activity Difficult to assess taxes fairly; tax burden not necessarily lighter, just differently assessed Free trade = trade/industry freed from restrictive control

Answer 8

August Decrees = abolished venality & privilege Titles abolished = everyone became called citizen Protection of individual rights & liberties; state charities provided for poor; public education offered to aid social mobility; reducing influence of church restriction on individuals; new court system offered fairer justice HOWEVER divisions of gender/wealth/office rapidly replaced those based on birth = men had more rights than women, employers more than employees, active citizens more than passive! All workers made to carry a livret (record of employment) :( Le Chapelier Law (June 1791) = workers forbidden from striking & forming trade unions to protect themselves Bourgeoisie became social winners of revolutionary changes = predominated NCA, benefitted most from new opportunities presented to those w/ wealth/education/land/status of official positions/ influence (no coincidence they became 'backbone' of new France

Answer 9

Based on wealth because richer people pay more tax & hold more financial power THEREFORE incentive to take interest in country Universal male suffrage prevented on basis people who didn't contribute to public revenue shouldn't have influence on expenditure Debates on enfranchising women & Jews were brief

Answer 10

NCA made progress; but weaknesses already exposed People have increasingly more control/power/influence Revolution in Paris directed by bourgeoisie Peasants unleashing pent up anger in provincial France = subdued by August Decrees Different social groups had different priorities France had become largely secular; dissolving authority of Church was good for Paris but angered those religious Choice became God Vs Revolution Massive changes but France still in economic crisis Still imbalanced (no trade unions or strikes too ensure stability & success of changes) Focus on benefitting bourgeoisie Constitutional monarchy still chosen outcome

Answer 11

Beginning of 'Second Revolution' = which would create a Republic & proceed into Terror Paris centre of power

Answer 12

Newspaper's encouraged rising of the people (e.g. Marat's L'Ami du Peuple) Royal authority undermined by NCA BUT NCA divided

Answer 13

Right Wing = aristocrats, monarchists & constitutional monarchists (led by Lafayette) Left Wing = more radical & FAR LEFT led by Robespierre

Answer 14

Left Wing - radical Met daily even after NCA dissolved 152 clubs across France (Aug 1790) High membership fees = members predominantly bourgeoisie More radical stance 1791+ = some broke away to create more moderate Feuillant club Originally believed in limited constitutional monarchy BUT rejected this after Flight to Varennes

Answer 15

Left Wing - radical Danton & Desmoulins founded; Marat prominent member Claimed to protect citizens right & watch power of NCA Small entry fee & membership open to all (women & passive citizens!) = representative of the people Home of radical, democratic & republican ideas Most influential in 1792 = e.g. home of ultra-revolutionary (Hebertists) who supported extending the Terror

Answer 16

Night of 20/21st June 1791 = Lous rejected advisor's advice & suggestion that family should travel separately (instead choosing to travel together in large 6 horse carriage Disguised & had fake passports Departure delayed - 1 1/2 hrs to load carriage (coach so heavy it slowed down journey) Lacked protection = troops waiting had left early due to carriage so late Louis recognised by soldier; who rode to next village (Varennes) to stop coach Arrested 21st June 1791! & NCA representatives escorted them back to Paris Citizens turned out on streets to see royal family brought back - keep their hats on in disgrace to show disrespect (changed atmosphere of Paris)

Answer 17

King's authority questioned by NCA; lost support of army; Divine Right challenged; subjects showed lack of respect; was prisoner in Tuileries; CCC contradicted his beliefs in religion; political clubs showed increasing radicalism Royal family denied access to Palace of Saint-Cloud to spend Easter & have Mass w/ refractory priest (18th April 1791); National guard & mob stopped them from leaving Tuileries King & M-A in correspondence w/ growing band of emigre nobles (wanted KL to reassert his authority) & M-A had assurances from younger brother Leopoldo he would help royal family w/ troops along French border in parts of Austrian Netherlands under his control Advised by courtiers to flee Paris & relocate to provincial city to gain support

Answer 18

Doubts on king's sincerity & shattered public affections for monarchy (revolution turned against king personally) Clear KL did not understand popularity of revolution; his behaviour undermined idea of Constitutional Monarchy Deepened political/social divisions Demand for republic! & abdication of monarchy making radicals more extreme in clubs & press Intensified dear/hatred of Austria NCA debated deposing Louis, but dethroning could lead to foreign war; decided on temporary suspension (16th July 1791) until new Constitution was ready & Louis had signed/sworn to uphold it BUT 290 NCA deputies abstained from voting to suspend king's powers as believed measure went too far NCA didn't necessarily want Republic as it might start war w/ Europe

Answer 19

May 1791 = regulation proposed by Robespierre & passed by NCA Forbade all siting members of NCA from sitting as members in Legislative Assembly = to renew govn & stop entrenchment of power in new assembly Small number of deputies opposed it - argued replacing entire legislature would jeopardise stability of govn

Answer 20

Governing body of France (Oct 1791 - Sept 1792) = replaced NCA to replace & uphold laws of new constitution Self-denying ordinance (May 1791) suggested by Robespierre prevented re-election of members from NCA (ensured his opposition were restricted from dominating LA) Louis finally accepted arrangements 14th Sept 1791 Mostly bourgeoisie & more than half less than 30yrs old 745 deputies total, 264 Feuillant, 136 Jacobins, other 345 no political affirmation

Answer 21

30th Sept 1791 as the Constitution of 1791 was now in place

Answer 22

1st Oct 1791 = middle of tensions

Answer 23

30,000 Parisians marched on NCA demanding Republic | Forced away by National Guard

Answer 24

Cordeliers club Club & other more extreme societies organised meeting @ Champ de Mars (people singing petition for establishment of Republic) 6,000 ppl went too meeting NCA & moderate Paris Commune sent Lafayette & NG to ensure order = had REVERSE EFFECT instead causing fear especially when Lafayette tried to disperse mobs (warning shots had no effect so NG fired directly into crowd!) Number killed approx 50 but not known; to radicals this was a betrayal of the 'people' & seen as a massacre Influenced divide of Jacobins to set up more moderate Feuillant Club (convinced they had to prevent revolution from becoming more extreme) ; 70/92 Jacobin clubs became Feuillant ones Some radicalism suppressed w/ clubs/newspapers shut down & extremist leaders discouraged Danton went to England & Desmoulins/Marat hid for a while Increased sense of tension & anxiety - made worse by added fear of Austrian invasion

Answer 25

27th Aug 1791 = Austrian Emperor Leopold II & ally Frederick-William III of Prussia issue declaration; stating that the situation of the French King was 'common interest' to all nations & the powers of the French crown should be restored They were ready to use force to bring about restoration of royal power (worried revolutionary sentiments might spread elsewhere) Added mistrust to the already doubted monarchy; but not taken seriously in France as few papers reported it (knew would not amount to much as the 2 leaders stated they would only intervene if other powers joined them!) BUT noble emigres were building their own foreign armies in neighbouring Austria & German Rhineland & awaiting their chance to return Finally caused panic in France = threat of invasion in order to stop revolution

Answer 26

Left after July days in 1789 as reaction to violence Building their own private foreign armies in neighbouring Austria & German Rhineland to await chance to return 41,000 had left between 1789-92 Deputies concerned Austria & Prussia were supporting emigres & encouraging counter-revolution in France

Answer 27

9 Nov 1791 = against emigres; threatened banishment & seizure of their property unless they returned to France by 01/01/1792 29 Nov 1791 = demanded refractory priests take oath or be treated as enemies of State Louis used suspensory veto on both decrees (increased unpopularity & tensions & gave him nickname 'Monsieur Veto'

Answer 28

Brissot's political group of 'Brissotine' (e.g. Girondists!!!!!) argued strongly in favour of war; claimed would be easily one as oppressed subjects of French enemies would welcome French soldiers as 'men of liberty' Very little opposition to idea of war in LA (since far left had failed to get any seats in election e.g Robespierre in radical Jacobin club opposed war who wanted to establish revolution firmly @ home first & concerned w/ internal threats)

Answer 29

Formed around Brissot's Brissotine group Jean-Marie Roland (businessman) & Madame Roland (saloonierre) Active in LA & National Convention Views often opposed by the more radical Jacobins They saw Constitutional Monarchy as essential!

Answer 30

Louis in secret correspondence w/ his brother & other emigres M-A wrote to brother Leopold II; both seeking army intervention to bring about restoration of Crown powers Hoped war to backfire & foreign powers to reinstate monarchy! BUT Leopold II died (March 1st 1792) & succeeded by Francis II who failed to respond to France

Answer 31

Austria & Prussia make formal alliance Prussia promised 20,000 in support of war against France Attempt to intimidate French as they held strong combined military Resonates Declaration of Pillnitz

Answer 32

Lack of response from Leopold's successor Francis II of demands for help, led to French declaration of war on Austria 20th April 1792 justified by NCA/LA as a 'defence on liberty' French troops had limited training & unprepared; mismatched w/ looted uniforms & had lost many officers as emigres BUT French numerically superior w/ 150,000 to Austrias 35,000 (Prussia unprepared & did not join war untilMay 1792) BUT French troops divided as 'blues' (volunteer battalion of NG & active citizens) didn't trust 'whites' (old royal army) Commanders appointed by KL; made troops suspicious (they're reputations were tarnished by Champ de Mars massacre) Officers lacked experience Lafayette treated w/ suspicion as a royalist French army weakened by loss of emigres & lack of organisation

Answer 33

Counter-revolutionaries became scapegoats & blamed for wrongdoings thus far 27 May 1792 = LA voted for deportation of refractory priests bc they were 'provoking disturbances' 28 May 1792 = LA ordered disbanding of King's guard & head of king's guard put on trial 8 June 1792 = LA we tip a federe camp (20,000 volunteers from around France, as intended to expand force of NG & change character of group; attendees known as federes; military training & supplement regular army); Louis feared it would increase radicalism & endanger royal monarchy Federe 's sang the 'Marseillaise' = NG became more radical, revolutionary force = fought for Sans-Culottes & pressured LA Kl used suspensory veto against all 3 decrees (appeared attempt to undermine revolution); Dumouriez resigned his position as Minster of War & left Paris to go fight Radicals & revolutionary clubs stirred unrest; & deterioration between King & revolutionaries

Answer 34

Working class supporters of political left wing (radicals); idolised heroes Danton & Marat; they met in Cordeliers club & Paris sections in 1792 Hugely radical!! Shared hatred of 'selfish wealth' of bourgeoisie & aristocratic elites Lives depended on price of bread Participated in revolutionary festivals Name came from "without culottes" = dressing down to shun the better dressed bourgeoisie; wore tricolore Based in Paris & wanted centralisation (more aligned w/ Jacobins & feared by Girondins)

Answer 35

Anniversary of Tennis Court Oath; in reaction to Louis' vetos of laws & fear of emigres Mob of 8,000 SC & some NG marched to Tuileries carrying petitions as wanted KL to repeal veto's & reinstate pro-war ministers Demands ignored as KL stands his ground - tries to convince crowd he supports revolution (he wore bonnet rouge & drank in favour of the nation BUT made no promises) LA fearful of mob Petion (Mayor of Paris) persuades mob to withdraw 28 June - Lafayette demands LA for action against protesters BUT LA stating to agree w/ people that Louis had sacrificed his claims to power by behaving irrationally so should therefore abdicate

Answer 36

11th July 1792 = the "Fatherland in danger" In response to French loses in war; called on all men to support war effort in spirit of self-sacrifice Passive citizens invited to join NG = power given to lower classes (argued if they were to fight, they should be given vote too!) Started debate on whether to end active vs passive citizens (LA didn't need king's consent)

Answer 37

14th July 1791 = 20,000 in Paris establishing camps even tho king vetoed it Huge celebration of Storming of Bastillle = national harmony = La Marseillaise war song sang

Answer 38

29th July = speech to LA echoing opinions of left-wing radicals that France should become Republic (had lost complete faith in Constitutional Monarchy) Argued there should be elections to National Convention in which both active & passive citizens be given right to vote Removal of monarchy Wanted to create National Convention because LA's powers had been tied to king Wanted universal male suffrage (right to vote for all men!) Speech just before arrival of Brunswick Manifesto!

Answer 39

Written 25th July 1792 BUT arrived to Paris 1st August! By Duke of Brunswick who led armies; warned that any NG captured by Austrians would be put to death without mercy = 'rebels to their king' not soldiers Said if king was harmed; Paris would suggest vengeance Added more fuel to arguments of those wanting to get rid of monarchy Intended to intimidate NG into disbanding to prevent further bloodshed - BUT backfired & made NG angry & passionate = increasing morale Associated Louis to the Austrians = again turned the revolution against the monarchy Divided Royalists & Republicans!

Answer 40

Set up as illegal municipal council when King was threatening Paris w/ troops (1789) Became elected body 1790 w/ 144 members chosen by active citizens Until Sept 1791 = Mainly Feuillants (bourgeoisie constitutional monarchists) Until Aug 1792 = Mainly Girondins (bourgeoisie republicans) After Journee of 10th August = Group replaced by "insurrectionary commune" w/ Jacobin majority Nov 1792 = led by Chaumette & Hebert - influential body in Terror After Thermidor coup = replaced by 12 independent municipal councils

Answer 41

48 in Paris - divisions of the commune Known for their millitancy (use of confrontation / violent methods in support of political/social causes) Assemblies of the sections were meeting places of Sans-Culottes Most journees organised by sections; meant power of king declining & allowed for power of radicals to increase

Answer 42

9th August 1792 = Sans-Culottes take over Mayor's main space = as Petion mayor encouraged this Develop a 'Revolutionary Commune' Hebert adopted as leader of Sans-Culottes (people were politicised & better organised = more of a threat, greater influence)

Answer 43

Second Sans-Culottes march to Tuileries Palace (encouraged by Jacobins) Mob of 20,000 SC, accompanied by 2,000 federes & National Guard Demonstration carefully planned as both sides well armed At Tuileries King persuaded by advisors to seek sanctuary in LA while 2/3,000 men (700-800 Swiss Guards) took defence positions @ Palace Mob arrived BUT single shot fired sparked 2hr battle! Palace set on fire 1,000 approx Sans-Culottes & federes killed/wounded BUT Swiss Guard & Royal soldiers faired much worse (nearly all massacred) Crowds stormed LA = forcing it to recognise the Revolutionary Commune

Answer 44

Paris Commune removed King & royal family 7 sent them to the Temple prison (monarchy shown no respect) BUT LA carefully avoided any proclamation to depose King or establish Republic = merely declared him as 'temporarily suspended' - as Constitution was worthless without a king Issued decree to end distinction between active & passive citizens (though rejected Robespierre's demand to establish 2-tier voting system) A new Convention, elected by all men over 25yrs (universal male suffrage) was promised Danton = favourite of SC made Minister of Justice Announced all laws vetoed by Louis were to be immediately passed 17 Aug 1792 = special tribunal (court) set up w/ juries & judges to prosecute traitors 26 Aug 1793 = refractory priests given 2 weeks to leave country voluntarily or face deportation to French Guyana Compensation to former seigneurs was cancelled (to reduce agitations of peasantry) LA being pressured by Paris Commune & Sans-Culottes so impossible to resist

Answer 45

All too much = made bid to march on Paris to restore Constiution; failed to attract support & fled country 19th Aug 1792 = he defected to the Austrians Lafayette replaced by Dumouriez & those associated w/ Lafayette were removed

Answer 46

30 Aug 1792 = authorised house-searches for weapons that were hidden by the 'ill-disposed' ; 3,000 consequently taken to prison 2 Sept 1792 = launched a levee enforcing conscription or death; despite being Minister of Justice, he encouraged Violence

Answer 47

2-6 Sept 1792 First attacks led by federes aimed @ refractory priests = they were being taken or held in prisons Massacres spread to political prisoners, ordinary criminals, monks, nuns & priests - attack in from of physical attack or trial & execution Largely carried out by spontaneous Sans-Culottes = encouraged by Paris Commune, National Guard & individuals like Marat LA did nothing to stop them 1,500 Prisoners massacred = confirmed fears of moderates that Sans-Culottes were savage = led to them being called the "drinkers of blood" (not just metaphorical!); emphasised power of the people & extreme chaos they were capable of Now that they were freed from monarchical oppression, they wanted equality Turned Girondins against Jacobins (too violent/extreme/radical)

Answer 48

Fears abroad of danger of popular revolution confirmed Girondins blamed Jacobins for inciting violent behaviour (increasing split already underway) LA appeared weak Radical leaders e.g. Danton & Robespierre gained more influence/popularity

Answer 49

National Convention needed as LA was based around Constitution of 1791 & now outdated Voting = universal male suffrage (all males over 25yrs had right to vote); not many Parisians voted, so widening electorate to all men had little impact -> IRONIC Provincial France elected similar people to those of LA as Girondins exploited need for stability via newspaper propaganda Paris = radical leaders gained influence & support (Robespierre, Danton, Marat, Desmoulins) Structure = 200 Girondins & 100 Jacobins (came to be known as Montagnards!!! Those Jacobin deputies in NC supporting radical policies of Robespierre!); 420 in 'the plain' (not committed to extreme radicalism nor excess moderation Elections became more crucial as factions impacted country - power rested in who could win over 'the Plain' & the Sans-Culottes loyalty

Answer 50

Day new National Convention opened = French army also happened to win victory against combined Austrian/Prussian army in war @ Valmy News reached Paris 21st Sept & gave NC new air of optimism

Answer 51

Moderate Constitutional Monarchy & LA keen to seek compromise France transformed by war = radicalised revolution; opportunity for Sans-Culottes to become influential Parisian mob became active = drove revolution forwards on more extreme path; 2 JOURNEES of 20th June & 10th August intimidated & pressured authorities King discredited, imprisoned & suspended; his actions forced LA to cave to demands of the people; didn't prove himself to be Constitutional Monarch Revolutionaries dividing into political factions = Montagnards/Jacobins & Girondins harnessing power of different groups LA complacency made them appear weak; it accomplished everything originally desired by bourgeoisie, new govn had lawful power BUT hadn't organised army, wasn't entirely united in France; forced to take second place to more radical Paris Commune Insurrectinary Commune set up National Convention set up same day as French won victory against Austrian/Prussia forces @ Valmy

French Rev Key Terms Section 2 Flashcards

(75 cards)