French Revolution Flashcards
1789-1799 (13 cards)
Liberalism vs. Conservatism
What did liberals believe about government and society?
- Focused on small government
- Belief of rights and freedoms
- Supported constitution:
- Written or non-written to detail the limitations of the government
Liberalism vs. Conservatism
What did conservatives want to preserve?
- Belief that traditional governments (monarchies)
- Provided stability and order for society
- Belief Rights and freedom exist but cannot destabilize society.
Liberalism vs. Conservatism
How did these ideologies clash during the revolution?
- Fundamentally different views on the nature of society and the role of government.
- Conservatives sought to preserve the existing order
- liberals aimed to transform it
- led to significant political instability and violence
- Resulted in a new political and social order
legacy of ideological conflict continued to shape French politics for decades to come.
Liberalism vs. Conservatism
Example of radicalization of revolutionary ideals?
Reign of Terror
French Revolution
How did Enlightenment thinking influence liberal ideals?
- Voltaire: Specifically criticized the power of the Church using satire
- Montesquieu: Advocated for the division of power
- Rousseau: Rule by “general will” of the people. Developed the slogan “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity (brotherhood).”
Liberalism vs. Conservatism
How did revolutionary liberalism influence future revolutions (e.g., 1848, Latin America)?
- Providing a framework of ideas
- a model for action
- narrative to inspire dissent and demand change.
Three Estates
Who made up each estate?
First Estate = Clergy, Church
Second Estate = Nobles
Third Estate = Everyone else, the average person
98% was third estate
1.5% was 2nd
0.5% as 1st state
Third Estate
What privileges or burdens did each estate have?
- First and second had privileges (land ownership, tax exemption)
- Third bore the tax burden and had little political power
Third Estate
How did the Estates-General and Tennis Court Oath challenge royal authority?
- Third estate broke away, forming the National Assembly
- Tennis Court Oath vowed to write a condition, directly challenging royal authority
- Asserting the sovereignty of the people and demanding a constitution.
Four Stages of the Revolution
Moderate Phase (What changes were made early on?)
the abolition of feudalism, the establishment of the National Constituent Assembly, the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the limitation of the monarchy
- Constitutional monarchy formed
- Declaration of the rights of man
- Abolishment of feudal privileges
Four Stages of the Revolution
Radical Phase: Who led it? What extreme events happened?
- Who: Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobin faction.
- War between France and Austria
- Storming of Tuileries Palace
- The Execution of Louis XVI
- Committee of Public Safety
- Execution of Marie Antoninette
- Law of 22 Prairial
- The fall of Maximilien Robespierre
- After the Terror
Four Stages of the Revolution
Directory Phase (What kind of government was it?)
- A form of government featuring a five-member committee with executive power
- Five-man government; corruption and instability
Four Stages of the Revolution
Napoleonic Phase (How did Napoleon change the revolution?)
- Ending its revolutionary phase and establishing a new political order
- Napoleon seized power (Coup of 18 Brumaire)
- Established reforms but ruled as emperor
