French Revolution Part 2 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What was the role of the Estates General in the Old Regime of France?
The Estates General was a political body where the three estates sent their representatives to approve new taxes proposed by the monarch.
When was the last meeting of the Estates General before 1789?
1614
On what date did Louis XVI call the Estates General in 1789?
5 May 1789
How many representatives did the first and second estates send to the Estates General?
300 representatives each
How many representatives did the third estate send to the Estates General?
600 members
What was the seating arrangement for the third estate in the Estates General?
They had to stand at the back.
Who were denied entry to the assembly of the Estates General?
Peasants, artisans, and women
What did the representatives of the third estate bring with them to the Estates General?
About 40,000 letters listing grievances and demands.
What voting principle was traditionally followed in the Estates General?
Each estate had one vote.
What did the members of the third estate demand regarding voting in the Estates General?
Voting by the assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.
What happened when Louis XVI rejected the third estate’s voting proposal?
Members of the third estate walked out of the assembly in protest.
What did the third estate declare themselves on 20 June 1789?
A National Assembly
Where did the third estate assemble to declare themselves a National Assembly?
In the hall of an indoor tennis court in Versailles.
Who led the third estate during the formation of the National Assembly?
Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyes
What was the purpose of the National Assembly’s oath?
To draft a constitution for France that would limit the powers of the monarch.
What significant event occurred on 14 July 1789?
The storming and destruction of the Bastille.
What was the Great Fear?
A period of panic among peasants who feared that lords were hiring brigands to destroy crops.
What decree did the National Assembly pass on the night of 4 August 1789?
A decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes.
What privileges were revoked from the clergy as a result of the Assembly’s actions?
Tithes were abolished and lands owned by the Church were confiscated.
What was the estimated value of assets acquired by the government after confiscating Church lands?
At least 2 billion livres.
Fill in the blank: The influential pamphlet ‘What is the Third Estate?’ was written by _______.
Abbé Sieyès
True or False: The members of the third estate viewed themselves as spokesmen for the whole French nation.
True
