Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Global 10 > French Revolution > Flashcards

French Revolution Flashcards

(77 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

the old regime

A

the feudalistic system remaining from the Middle Ages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

estates

A

large social classes or castes that determined each person’s place and rights/expectations in society

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

the first estate

A

church and upper clergy

exempt from taxes, owned 10% of French land, gave 2% of income to the government, about half of the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

the second estate

A

the nobility

exempt from taxes, owned 20% of french land, 2% of population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

the third estate

A

98% of population, controlled 70% of French land, comprised of a wide variety of occupations and economic status, few privileges, paid the vast majority of the taxes- on everything like water and salt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

the bourgeoisie

A

merchants and artisans, well educated and strong supporters of enlightenment ideals, paid high taxes, had few privileges or access to government positions, wanted greater social status, tax relief and political power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

the workers

A

urban
part of 3rd estate, got poor wages, worked long hours and paid high taxes, poorly educated, lots of unemployment, motivated by food, greatly affected by food shortages and high inflation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

the peasants

A

rural
largest group of 3rd estate, 80% of population, paid half of their annual income to nobles(rent), the church(tithes) and the king/gov’t(taxes, fees, tolls)
resented privileges of 1st and 2nd estates, wanted tax relief, lower prices, higher wages, and equality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what role did the american revolution play in moving France toward revolution

A

successful implementation of enlightenment ideals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

economic problems in france

A

high taxes and feudal fees/tolls, hampered commerce, cost of living rose, inflation was high, food shortages due to bad weather and crop failures, famine and rising prices

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Louis XVI

A

spent money on luxuries, gave money to American Revolution, doubled gov’ts debt, preferred hobbies like hunting and locksmithing to ruling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Marie Antoinette

A

“Madame le Deficit” Austrian daughter of Queen Maria Theresa, married Louis XVI at age 14, very unpopular (seen as a foreigner), spent heavily on clothes, jewels and parties to keep herself entertained

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The estates general

A

French Parliament

called for first time in 175 years in may 1789 where Louis proposed to tax the nobles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

why is the estates general unfair

A

each estate gets 1 vote, clergy and nobles will always outrule the 3rd estate (the bourgeoisie)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The National Assembly

A

June 17, 1789

passed laws and reforms in the name of the French people in opposition to the King and other estates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Abbe Sieyes

A

catholic priest/reformer, sympathetic to the 3rd estate, suggested that the 3rd estate withdraw from the estates general and rename themselves (the national assembly)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

results of the national assembly

A

Ended French monarchy, began representative democracy, 1st direct action of french revolution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

the tennis court oath

A

June 20th, 1789

3rd estate met and vowed not to leave until a new French constitution was written

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Bastille prison bombarding

A

On July 14th, 1789 parisian citizens invade an old prison castle called the Bastille hoping to free prisoners and steal weapons & gunpowder, guards overwhelmed
Became symbol of the beginning of the French Revolution, today this is France’s ‘‘4th of July”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The Great Fear

A

Rumors spread, causes a panic that nobles were attacking the peasants, they began attacking and looting the nobles and their homes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Women’s march to Versailles

A

In October of 1789 Parisian women angered over rising prices on bread marched to Versailles, killed 2 guards, demanded Louis XVI and Marie move to Paris where they could be kept under watch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A

August 27th, 1789
Some nobles and clergy joined with the 3rd estate to remove the privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates
Made all Frenchmen equal
Reflected influence of Enlightenment and the Declaration of Independence
Guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech and freedom of religion
“Liberty, equality, fraternity”
Did not apply to women

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Olympe de Gouges

A

An early french feminist, writer and playwright
Supporter of true democracy, demanded equal rights for women
Wrote the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen”
For this and other writings was beheaded by the Guillotine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

The Revolution and the Church

A

Priests were to be elected by landowners and paid by the government
Church lands were seized and sold to pay off the debts of the government
The church lost its property and power in France

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Louis trying to flee
Louis XVI tried to flee in June 1791 but was stopped at the border and returned to Paris This convinced many that the king was a traitor to the Revolution and must die
26
Emigres
nobles who believed they were in danger and fled France | considered "enemies of the revolution"
27
The Legislative Assembly
1791 new constitution with a limited monarchy king lost much of his power Said the Assembly would make the laws and the King would enforce them
28
The Radicals
AKA "Sansculottes" urban workers who sat on the left side of the hall, were called left-wing, opposed the king and the idea of a monarchy, wanted changes in gov't and proposed that common people have full power in a republic, wanted lower prices, more food and to kill the king and all nobles
29
The Conservatives
AKA reactionaries emigres, nobles outside of France who wanted to invade France, restore the monarchy and Old Regime and crush the revolution, sat on the right side of the hall, were called right-wing, upheld the idea of a limited monarchy
30
The Moderates
sat in the center of the hall and were called centrists, wanted some changes in gov't but not as many as radicals
31
War and Extremeism in France
in 1792, France faced internal reform and chaos as well as an external war, european leaders feared the revolution would happen in their own nations Prussia and Austria demanded that France return Louis XVI to the throne The Legislative Assembly declared war on them in response
32
War between France and Prussia/Austria
Summer of 1792- Austrian and Prussian forces were marching on Paris, crushing the French In july the Prussian commander threatened France to not harm the royal family or Paris would be destroyed 20,000 Parisians invaded the Tuileries Palace and seized the royal family and locked them in a tower
33
Chaos in Paris
In September 1792 angry mobs stormed Parisian prisons murdering clergy and nobles The Legislative Assembly abolished the monarchy and created a new gov't The National Convention dominated by a radical faction known as the Jacobins Louis XVI was executed for treason by the Guillotine
34
The Jacobins Rule
The Jacobins and the National Convention issued a draft of men ages 18-40 into the army adding 300,000 soldiers to the army
35
The First Coalition
Britain, Holland, Spain, Austria and Prussia
36
Maximilien Robespierre
Parisian lawyer and Jacobin leader Supporter of the rights of the poor Led the Commitee of Public Safety
37
The Commitee of Public Safety and The Reign of Terror
made to root out "enemies of the revolution: for execution and remove all traces of monarchy and the Old Regime from France Known as Reign of Terror 40,000 people guillotined
38
End of the Reign of Terror
on July 23, 1794, the Convention arrested Robespierre and killed him the next day The French people were tired of revolution
39
The Directory
a new gov't oligarchy formed in 1795 of 5 "directors" from the upper middle class had a 2-house legislature Brought stability to France Appointed Napoleon Bonaparte as General of French forces
40
Napoleon Bonaparte
born 1769 from ages 9-16 lived in a military school in France Finished school and became an artillery officer Officer in the Army of the Revolution
41
Hero of the Hour
October 1795 A young Napoleon defended the National Convention from a "Royalist" rebellion by firing grapeshot at the crowd- ending the revolt Napoleon gained fame as a hero of the Revolution The Directory appointed Napoleon General of French forces
42
France vs. Austria
Napoleon crossed the Alps, won a series of battles against the Austrian forces in Italy This ended the Austrian threat to France and the Revolution
43
Disaster in Egypt
To protect French trade and disrupt British supply lines from India, Napoleon invaded Egypt and took it, but the navy and support ships were destroyed by Britain at the Battle of the Nile Napoleon left his troops and returned to Paris before the news of his defeat reached France
44
Horatio Nelson
British Admiral who destroyed Napoleon's navy at the Battle of the Nile
45
Overthrow of the Directory
Napoleon and 2 members of the Directory led a coup d'etat, overthrowing the Directory, creating a 3-man Consulship Napolean made a new constitution where he was named First Consul then had himself appointed First Consul for life and assumed dictatorial powers
46
The 2nd Coalition
``` formed by Britain consisted of Britain, Austria & Russia to opposed France and Napoleon Signed a peace treaty w/ France after some defeats Brought peace to France ```
47
Plebiscite
A vote/referendum of the people, in this case to approve the new constitution Gave Napoleon all real power as first consul
48
Napoleon's policies
kept many of the Revolution's changes Efficient and more equitable tax collection system Established national bank- led to economic stability Improved delivery of gov't services created Lycees Promoted officials based on merit not birth passed the concordat
49
Lycees
gov't run public schools
50
the Concordat
said French gov't would appoint bishops and the bishops appointed priests
51
The Napoleonic Code
``` comprehensive law code, uniform, removed some freedoms Said: women could not sell property restricted freedom of speech and press restored slavery in French colonies ```
52
Haitian Slave Rebellion
Napoleon tried to crush the Slave Rebellion in Haiti led by Toussant L'ouverture by sending over 23,000 troops only to be defeated or die of heat or fever
53
The Napoleonic Code Influences
All men equal before the law Guaranteed freedom of religion & one's right to work in any occupation Outlawed labor unions, workers could not testify against their employers in court Set laws on property, contracts, debt payment, joint stock companies Recognized civil marriage and divorce Very male-oriented, women could not own property and men got custody of children
54
Emperor Napoleon
French people approved him crowing himself Emperor through a plebiscite, Napoleon took the crown from the pope and literally placed it on his own head
55
European Territorial Gains
Annexed the Austrian NEtherlands (now Belgium) and parts of Italy Set up a puppet gov't in Switzerland
56
Battle of Austerlitz
Where Napoleon defeated the 3rd Coalition (Britain, Russia, Austria and Sweden)
57
The Battle of Trafalgar and results
Napoleons only major military loss Naval battle off the coast of Spain Horatio Nelson defeated Napoleon Resulted in British naval supremacy for next 100 years and forced Napoleon to abandon his plans to invade Britain
58
Napoleonic Influences
His empire was huge but unstable, only lasted for 5 years, never completely removed external threats from Russia, Austria and Britain, conquered peoples increased their loyalty to their own nations, leading to increased European nationalism Radically altered map of Europe (changed borders)
59
Costly Mistakes of Napoleon (3)
1. The Continental system: trying to blockade France to prevent trade 2. The Peninsular War: sending army through Spain to force Portugal to enforce the continental system, making the Spanish angry and fighting them 3. The Invasion of Russia, invading further and further into Russia, taking Moscow, waiting to long to retreat, losing many many men and were attacked by Prussia and Austria on the way home
60
The 4th Coalition
Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Sweden
61
The End Nears
Armies from Russia, Prussia and Austria marched on Paris until Napoleon gave up his throne and surrendered agreeing to terms drawn up by Czar Alexander I
62
Napoleon Exiled
Napoleon tried to abdicate in favor of his son The Allies demanded unconditional surrender Given a small pension and banished to Elba a tiny island off the coast of Italy
63
Louis XVIII
Brother of Louis XVI took the throne of France, quickly became unpopular
64
Napoleon escapes and returns
Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France in 1815, Louis XVIII fled and Napoleon re-crowned himself emperor
65
The 100 Days
The British & Prussian armies defeated Napoleon for the last time at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815
66
Re-exilation of Napoleon
Exiled to a remote South Atlantic island- st. Helena where he lived for 6 years then died in 1821
67
Napoleon's Legacy
A military genius and great leader | Excellent law code and organization of gov't
68
The Congress of Vienna
``` After the fall of Napoleon, European powers wanted long period of peace Meeting at Vienna, Austria Lasted 8months Signed June 13, 1815 Brought about peace for almost 40 years ```
69
the "Big 5" great powers
King Frederick William III of Prussia Czar Alexander I of Russia Emperor Francis I of Austria Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria
70
Prince Klemens von Metternich
opposed to the dangerous democratic experiments of the French Rev An Austrian noble who wanted a return to the Old Regime of pre-napoleon and pre-revolution Europe
71
Metternich's goals for congress
1. Prevention of future french aggression 2. restore balance of power 3. restoration of Europe's monarchies
72
Changes made by congress
weak areas around France were made stronger Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic combined= Kingdom of Netherlands Created the German Confederation Switzerland became independent Kingdom of Sardinia was given Genoa
73
The German Confederation
made up of 39 former small independent states, controlled by Austria
74
France after all this
Went back to its pre-Napoleonic borders | Kept most of its colonies and its army and its independence
75
Legitimacy
idea that as many of the pre-Napoleonic rulers as possible should be returned to their thrones
76
Concert of Europe
created by Metternich to ease monarch's fears of revolutionary ideas leading to new revolutions, agreement to aid each other if that happened
77
Long Term Significance
``` Size and power of France decreased Power of Britain and Prussia increased Nationalism increased # of revolutions increased Spanish colonies gained independence Model for United Nations ```

Global 10 (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions