French Revolution 1789-1799 Flashcards
(9 cards)
French Rev 1789-1799 Background:
France governed by a 3 class regime.
Lower peasant regime had to pay taxes to the King and the other estates.
20 milllion peasants.
98% of the population were 3rd Estate.
3rd Estate -n National Assembly created
22 September 1792 Declaration of French Republic after the monarchy was abolished.
Prisoned stormed.
King feared constitutional monarchy, tried to run away - found - arrested and executed.
Amidst Revolution, Napoleon became Emperor and claimed to protect democratic views.
Conservative views of Revolution
Serious alarm from September Massacre in 1792 (where over 1,000 prisoners -many clergy and nobles-were executed by revolutionaries, fearing they would aid foreign invaders. They were worried that the French would Massacre them.
Didn’t want to lose patronage if Monarchy was abolished.
Radical views of revolution
Supported it
Thomas Paine- Influnetial and believed in the Triumph of the ordinary man.
Thomas Hardy - Set Up the corresponding society in London 1792.
What was the London Corresponding Society?
It was set up in 1792 by Thomas Hardy. It was a radical group which promoted democratic reform, universal male suffrage, and greater political participation for the working class in Britain. It was heavily suppressed by the government. By 1794 its total active membership was 3000.
What were the Gordon Riots (1780)
A violent anti-Catholic uprising in London, sparked by opposition to the 1778 Catholic Relief Act.
Estimated 50,000 rioters at peak.
700+ killed or wounded by government troops.
285 arrested, 25 executed for involvement.
Parliament and prisons stormed, Newgate Prison destroyed.
Though before Pitt’s time, they influenced Pitt’s policies on public order and radical suppression in the 1790s.
What were the Halifax Riots 1783?
The Halifax Riots of 1783 were violent protests in Yorkshire, driven by wage cuts in the wool industry. Hundreds of workers attacked mills, causing major damage. The military intervened, leading to arrests, imprisonments, and executions. The riots highlighted wider economic struggles amid industrialisation.
What were the Birmingham Riots of 1781?
The Birmingham Riots of May 1781 were a series of anti-Catholic riots in Birmingham, England, fuelled by Protestant fears of growing Catholic influence. They targeted catholic properties such as Chapels, homes, and Businesses, looting and burning. Over £30,000 in damage. Military were called to resolve cities. Authorities struggled to control the unrest, highlighting weak law enforcement. Preistly fled to America.
What were the Sheffield riots 1792?
violent clashes between loyalists and reformists inspired by the French Revolution. Loyalist mobs attacked radical activists and printing presses, leading to arrests and increased government repression. Loyalist mobs, backed by authorities, attacked reformers, destroying presses and homes. Clashes ensued, leading to arrests and harsher repression, deepening the reformist-conservative divide and foreshadowing future crackdowns.
What were the 1795 Grain Riots?
The 1795 Grain Riots were a series of protests across Britain caused by grain shortages and rising food prices due to poor harvests and war with France. Desperate crowds looted grain stores, attacked merchants, and disrupted food shipments. Authorities responded with military force and harsh crackdowns. The riots highlighted the economic hardship and unrest of the period, increasing fears of revolution among the ruling class.
