Lecture 03 The French Revolution Flashcards
(114 cards)
1
Q
Why is the French Revolution considered one of the most important revolutions in European history?
A
It transformed an absolute monarchy into a republic and introduced democratic experimentation, creating new political and social challenges.
2
Q
What were some key achievements of the French Revolution?
A
-Equality before the law
-Transformation of government structures
-Maintenance of order despite challenges
3
Q
What challenge did the French Revolution face in creating a historical legacy?
A
It lacked a clear “pantheon of heroes,” reflecting its contested and violent legacy.
4
Q
How does the French Revolution align with Crane Brinton’s “fever chart” of revolutions?
A
The French Revolution closely follows Brinton’s theory, unlike the American Revolution, with significant cycles of radical change and counter-reaction.
5
Q
What major issue accompanied the creation of the French Republic?
A
The process produced violence and a counterrevolution that ultimately led to the protection of revolutionary gains under Napoleon Bonaparte’s dictatorship.
6
Q
What did Marx and Engels argue about the French Revolution in The Communist Manifesto?
A
They saw it as a class-based (bourgeois) revolution that primarily benefited the emerging professional classes, requiring further revolution to extend the benefits of modern industrial technology to everyone.
7
Q
How did Alexis de Tocqueville view the French Revolution in The Old Regime and the Revolution?
A
He argued that by destroying class privileges, the revolution removed barriers to state expansion, resulting in a more powerful central authority rather than a broader benefit for the masses.
8
Q
How do the perspectives of Marx and Engels differ from those of Tocqueville regarding the Revolution?
A
Marx and Engels saw it as a progressive step benefiting “the masses.”
Tocqueville offered a cautious view, suggesting the state ultimately benefited more than the people.
9
Q
What are the two main questions scholars ask about the French Revolution?
A
1.Why did the Revolution become so radical?
2.Why did it occur in a seemingly wealthy and prosperous society?
10
Q
What societal tensions existed in pre-revolutionary France?
A
There was a clash between older customs and traditions and new ideas, technologies, and inventions.
11
Q
How was pre-revolutionary French society structured?
A
It was a rigidly hierarchical feudal society with:
-First Estate: Clergy (~120,000 members)
-Second Estate: Nobility (~350,000 members)
-Third Estate: Everyone else (~27 million people, 98% of the population)
12
Q
On what principles was the Old Regime based?
A
The Old Regime was founded on hierarchy and privilege, supported by the assumption of the Divine Right of Kings.
13
Q
How was King Louis XVI perceived by the people?
A
The people generally liked King Louis XVI, though his wife, Marie Antoinette, was much less popular.
14
Q
What attempts did Louis XVI make to address societal issues?
A
He sought to reform the state using Enlightenment ideals, although the hierarchical Old Regime conditioned France’s society before 1789.
15
Q
What is the order of the hierarchy?
A
Pope/Church –> Monarch –> Nobles –> Knights/Vassals –> Merchants/Farmers/Craftsmen –> Peasants/Serfs
16
Q
Who is credited as the author of Little Red Riding Hood?
A
Charles Perrault, in 1697.
17
Q
What is the origin of the Little Red Riding Hood tale?
A
It is a French folk tale dating back to the 11th century.
18
Q
How did Perrault modify the story?
A
He cleaned up parts of the tale to make it more appropriate for children.
19
Q
Why was the marriage between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette significant?
A
It was designed to cement an alliance between France and Austria after decades of mistrust.
20
Q
Why was Marie Antoinette disliked by the French people?
A
-She was of Austrian origin, which aroused suspicion.
-Louis XVI’s timidity and indifference did not help her reputation.
21
Q
Did Marie Antoinette’s lifestyle significantly contribute to France’s debt?
A
No, her spending played only a minor role in the state’s financial troubles.
21
Q
How did Marie Antoinette contribute to her unpopularity?
A
-She retreated into a close group of friends who were political liabilities.
-She became the subject of rumors about lavish tastes and advancing Austrian interests.
22
Q
How did the inability to produce a male heir affect Marie Antoinette’s reputation?
A
It fueled rumors of infidelity and encouraged rivals for the throne.
23
Q
Did the birth of her second son in 1785 improve her reputation?
A
It did little to quell the rumors and contempt against her.
24
How was the American Revolution (1775–1783) linked to the French Revolution?
-It inspired debate in intellectual circles about republicanism.
-French military and financial support for the American Revolution worsened France's debt and economic downturn.
25
How did France finance its involvement in the American Revolution?
By borrowing money, which compounded the financial crisis.
26
What economic agreement contributed to France’s financial struggles in the 1780s?
The Eden Treaty (1786), a free trade deal with England.
27
What were the terms of the Eden Treaty?
It established Most Favored Nation status, allowing low tariffs and high quotas for goods between the two nations.
28
What was the impact of the Eden Treaty on France?
-British manufactured goods flooded French markets.
-Unemployment increased in France’s pre-industrial economy.
29
What additional crisis worsened the economic situation in France?
A growing agrarian crisis caused by a series of crop failures.
30
How did these financial issues affect Louis XVI’s government?
They seemingly confounded all attempts to solve the financial crisis in the 1780s.
31
Why did Louis XVI summon the Estates General in 1789?
-Financial crisis became critical by 1788.
-Reform was needed, but the Second Estate wouldn’t pass new taxes without it.
32
When was the last time the Estates General met before 1789?
In 1614.
33
What was the purpose of summoning the Estates General?
To address grievances and figure out necessary reforms.
34
What are cahiers de doléances, and how many were drawn up?
They are lists of grievances drawn up by the French people; 60,000 were created.
35
What was the agreement among the Estates?
The days of absolute monarchy were over, but it was unclear what would replace it.
36
What happened to royal censorship in the winter of 1788-89?
It decayed and collapsed.
37
How did the collapse of censorship impact the public?
More pamphlets were produced discussing the role and status of the Third Estate.
38
What was Louis XVI’s attitude toward reform?
He was ambivalent—didn’t want to reform but couldn’t run the state due to the economic crisis.
39
How did the nobles view the crisis?
As an opportunity to regain lost power and influence.
40
What were the main complaints of the Third Estate?
-Financial burdens from the seigniorial system.
-Tithes collected by the church.
-Royal taxes.
-Rising bread prices due to crop failures in 1788-89.
41
What rumor spread among the peasantry?
That there was an “aristocratic conspiracy” to oppress them.
42
When did the Estates General first convene?
May 5, 1789.
43
What caused frustration on the second day of the Estates General?
A procedural deadlock over how France would be represented, which dragged on for weeks.
44
What was the result of the deadlock?
The Estates General devolved into separate sessions for each of the three Estates.
45
What action did the Third Estate take on June 17?
Declared themselves as representatives of the nation and claimed sovereignty over the state.
46
What responsibilities did the Third Estate assume?
-National debt.
-Tax collection.
46
What is the Tennis Court Oath?
On June 20, the Third Estate pledged not to disband until France had a new constitution and created the National Assembly.
47
How did the King respond to the Tennis Court Oath?
On June 27, he told the nobles and clergy to join the National Assembly
48
Why did many nobles initially refuse to join the National Assembly?
They only agreed after the King’s brother warned them that Louis XVI’s life might be in danger.
49
What was the purpose of convening the Estates General in 1789?
The financial crisis forced Louis XVI to summon the Estates General, but the King’s actions emphasized royal authority and existing political distinctions.
50
How were the Estates arranged in the grand hall at Versailles?
-The King sat on a throne at the front under a canopy.
-The First Estate (clergy) was on the King’s right, dressed in elaborate robes.
-The Second Estate (nobility) was also on the King’s right in gold-trimmed cloaks.
-The Third Estate (everyone else) was at the back, wearing somber black cloaks
51
What was the main issue with the Estates General's proceedings?
The King and his ministers had no substantive plan to address the financial crisis, leading to weeks of fruitless debate over procedural matters.
52
What action did the Third Estate take on June 17, 1789?
The Third Estate declared it was responsible for addressing the nation’s finances, effectively stripping power from the monarchy and initiating the Revolution.
53
Despite the radical nature of their actions, what did many hope for the Revolution?
Many hoped the Revolution could be accomplished without violence.
54
What did the members of the Third Estate declare on June 20, 1789?
They declared they would not dissolve until France had a constitution.
55
Why did the National Assembly fear Louis XVI’s actions after the Tennis Court Oath?
The National Assembly feared that the King might use force against them.
56
What economic factor contributed to unrest during the summer of 1789?
The high price of bread, which led to scattered grain riots and one major demonstration in Paris.
57
What rumors spread among the peasantry in 1789?
-An “aristocratic conspiracy” of wealthy landowners hoarding bread.
-That the Queen had responded with “Let them eat cake.”
58
What event occurred on July 11, 1789, and what was its impact?
The King fired his popular finance minister, Jacques Necker, triggering demonstrations in Paris that could not be broken up because officers feared their soldiers would not fire on protestors or might join them.
59
What triggered the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789?
A sharp rise in bread prices, leading to the highest cost of living in decades, prompted the storming of the Bastille.
60
What was the "Great Fear" and when did it occur?
From July 17 to August 3, 1789, rural unrest including strikes, riots, and revolts that led to the abolition of feudalism and the Divine Right of Kings.
61
What was the result of the "Great Fear"?
The August Decrees (August 4-11, 1789) abolished feudalism and the notion of the Divine Right of Kings.
62
What was the response of the nobility and clergy to the changes?
Many nobles and clergy wanted to reform, not revolutionize, France.
63
What did the National Assembly issue before crafting a constitution?
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, asserting individual rights and sovereignty in the people, while attacking the Old Regime’s notions of privilege.
64
What was the Bastille, and why was it significant?
The Bastille was a medieval fortress and prison in Paris, symbolizing royal authority and supporting police efforts to enforce press censorship.
64
What did the Storming of the Bastille represent in the French Revolution?
It marked a transition point in the Revolution, illustrating the growing power of the masses and highlighting the importance of Paris in the Revolution.
65
What was the purpose of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?
To lay out the general principles of the new order, educate citizens about liberty, and assert universal rights and sovereignty in the nation.
66
What were the key principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man?
-Sovereignty rests with the nation, not any individual or group.
-Laws should reflect the will of the people through elected representatives.
-Universal equality, but distinctions based on wealth, education, or talent are legitimate.
-Property rights are preserved, with wealth, rather than birth or privilege, being the foundation of political and social order.
67
What influences shaped the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?
Enlightenment ideas and documents like the American Declaration of Independence.
68
How did Louis XVI approach the Revolution publicly and privately?
-Publicly, he made gestures of supporting the Revolution and future constitution.
-Privately, he plotted to stop or reverse the Revolution.
68
What event marked a turning point in Louis XVI’s fate?
The "Flight to Varennes" on June 20, 1791, when the royal family tried to flee France but was captured.
69
What role did Marie Antoinette play during the Revolution?
She did not pretend to support the Revolution and actively sought intervention from other European courts.
69
How did the National Assembly attempt to spin the "Flight to Varennes" incident?
They claimed the king was kidnapped, but Louis XVI left behind a note criticizing the Revolution, which helped radicalize it.
70
How did the "Flight to Varennes" contribute to the Revolution?
It stoked fear of foreign intervention, especially after Austria and Prussia called for other European monarchs to crush the Revolution.
71
What was the significance of Louis XVI’s Flight to Varennes?
It marked a pivotal moment in the Revolution, revealing that, despite his public support for reforms, Louis XVI opposed the changes in the French state
72
How was Louis XVI’s attempt to flee France a “tragi-comic” event?
The royal family was recognized almost immediately upon departure, and the king made the mistake of speaking with locals during stops, which delayed their escape.
73
Where were the royal family detained after their escape attempt?
They were detained in Varennes and forced to return to Paris.
74
How did moderates in the National Assembly react to the Flight to Varennes?
They attempted to cover up the escape by claiming that the royal family had been kidnapped, despite the King’s letter denouncing the Assembly and the Revolution.
75
What effect did the King’s actions have on his reputation?
The cover-up was not successful, and the King’s actions faced growing scrutiny, further undermining his credibility.
76
Who were the sans-culottes?
They were working-class Parisians depicted in popular images with long hair and common clothes, supporting the revolutionary cause
77
What was the significance of Jacques-René Hébert’s journal Le Père Duchesne?
It was an increasingly radical journal that served as a platform for the Jacobin cause, promoting violence and strongly supporting the Revolution.
78
Who was Maximilian Robespierre, and what was his role in the Revolution?
Robespierre was a Jacobin leader in the Assembly, known for his strong advocacy for centralizing state power to save the Revolution, while also supporting the common man.
78
What was the general sentiment in France regarding war in 1792?
There was growing sentiment for war among various factions:
-The Jacobins saw it as a way to reinvigorate the Revolution.
-The Girondins viewed it as a way to solidify a constitutional monarchy.
-Louis XVI saw it as a way to potentially be rescued by foreign intervention.
79
How did the death of Austrian Emperor Leopold II affect the situation?
The death of Emperor Leopold II (March 1, 1792) led to the more aggressive stance of his successor, Franz II, who was more prone to rash action.
79
What were the events leading up to France declaring war on Austria?
-On April 20, 1792, Louis XVI declared war on Austria.
-Prussia joined Austria in the war on May 21, 1792.
80
What was the significance of the military setbacks in France?
The defeats raised doubts about the necessity of having a king, nobility, and clergy who were perceived as disloyal to the Revolution.
81
What was the Brunswick Manifesto?
The Brunswick Manifesto (July 1792) warned the French government of dire consequences if any harm came to the royal family.
82
How did the French respond to the Brunswick Manifesto?
The Legislative Assembly overthrew Louis XVI as king on August 10, 1792, and called for a new constitution, marking the beginning of a second, more popular phase of the Revolution.
83
What were the September Massacres (September 2-6, 1792)?
The September Massacres were the killings of imprisoned clergy and nobles by enraged mobs, spurred by military setbacks and the fear that Paris would fall to invading armies.
84
What were the September Massacres, and how many were killed?
The September Massacres were violent killings of about 1,000 prisoners, many of whom were clergy and nobility, fueled by fears of counter-revolutionary activity and military setbacks.
84
What happened on August 10, 1792, during the French Revolution?
Approximately 20,000 angry sans-culottes stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, determined to dethrone the King and establish France as a republic.
85
What effect did the storming of the Tuileries Palace have on the Revolution?
It marked a shift towards a more radical phase of the Revolution, with the sans-culottes becoming increasingly radicalized, which later contributed to the September Massacres.
86
How did the Revolution become more radical in the autumn of 1792?
The revolution became more radical due to the influence of figures like Robespierre and publications like Jacques Hébert’s La Père Duchesne, which popularized the sans-culottes, a more radical faction of the common people.
86
What were the Fraternity and Assistance Decrees (November 19, 1792)?
The Fraternity and Assistance Decrees pledged French support to any people seeking to overthrow their monarchs and spread revolution outside France.
87
What was the political significance of the sans-culottes during this period?
The sans-culottes, initially focused on justice and equality, became increasingly radicalized, mobilized by Robespierre to support violence and terror as part of the Revolution.
88
When was Louis XVI put on trial for treason, and what were the results?
Louis XVI was put on trial in November 1792 in the National Convention. He was convicted unanimously, with a vote of 693-0, but the vote for his execution was closer, with 387 in favor and 334 against.
89
What did the radicals argue about executing Louis XVI?
Radicals argued that executing Louis XVI was essential for the survival of the Revolution, as it would unite various factions, push for radical reforms, and show that there was no turning back.
90
When was Louis XVI executed, and how did it affect European sentiments toward the Revolution?
Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793. His execution galvanized European opposition to the Revolution, leading to increased hostility.
90
How did Louis XVI’s execution affect the Revolution and France’s military situation?
Louis XVI’s execution pushed the Revolution further toward radicalism, but it also resulted in France being subject to invasion by European monarchies by the summer of 1793.
91
Why was the question of what to do with the deposed king so significant?
The decision of what to do with the king, whether to exile, incarcerate, or execute him, was crucial because it symbolized the final break with the monarchy and the irreversible nature of the Revolution.
91
What political dispute led to the rise of the Committee of Public Safety?
The political dispute was between the moderate Girondins and the more radical Jacobins, which was settled by the rise of the Committee of Public Safety to address the counter-revolution in the Vendee and the spread of the European War.
92
What was the purpose of the levée en masse (August 23, 1793)?
The levée en masse called for the conscription of all resources, human and material, to support the French war effort during the Revolution.
93
What were the three elements of the Terror?
1.Power was centralized in the Committee of Public Safety, with Robespierre becoming a virtual dictator.
2.Robespierre needed the support of the sans-culottes but didn't fully trust them.
3.Laws were mobilized to punish traitors, deserters, and purge political enemies like the Girondins.
94
How many people were killed during the Terror, and how many were imprisoned?
Between 11,000 and 18,000 people were killed, and around 300,000 royalists, Girondins, and other "enemies of the Revolution" were imprisoned.
95
How did the Terror end?
The Terror ended with the execution of leading Jacobins, including Robespierre, on July 28, 1794. Robespierre was wounded and then executed by guillotine the next day.
96
What did Jacobin leader Louis Antoine Saint-Just say about the purpose of the Terror?
He said the purpose of the Terror was to punish "not merely the traitors, but also the indifferent."
97
What period followed the radical change of the Terror?
The period following the radical change was known as the Thermidorian Reaction, a period of conservative consolidation.
98
What did the Constitution of 1795 establish?
The Constitution of 1795 created a bicameral legislative assembly and a collective executive, made up of five Directors, to avoid power being concentrated in the hands of a single ruler like a king or Robespierre.
99
What did the Directory reject?
The Directory rejected the social and cultural forms of the Jacobin years.
100
Did the Directory bring peace to France?
No, the Directory did not bring peace. Foreign war continued, and domestic unrest persisted.
101
What happened in 1799 to the Directory?
In 1799, a coup plot overthrew the Directory, and General Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power.
102
How did Napoleon consolidate power after the coup of 1799?
Napoleon concentrated power in his hands, overseeing the promulgation of a new Constitution that made him "Consul for life" in 1802.
103
How was Napoleon seen by the French public in 1799?
By 1799, Napoleon was seen as the "man on a white horse" to save the French Revolution from itself by restoring law and order and establishing himself as a virtual dictator.
