The French Revolution Flashcards
Enlightenment, France during 1720, Europe wide
Idea that human beings are the measure of all things
Optimistic view about humanity, betterment of the individual morally and intellectually
Authority of Church put into question, rejected idea of incarnation, miracles
John Hume wrote a book refuting idea of miracles
Voltaire believed that if God did not exist, he needed to be invented, to keep ones wife and servants in order
Ordinary people believed in god, intellectuals were skeptical, but rulers thought it was useful
Religion used to keep society in order, people thought there would be consequences in the next life
If there’s no God, why be moral? Why obey the law?
Freedom of the will, immortality of the soul, existence of God, are the three postulates of pure practical reason
Kant believed that if people bought into these postulates, society would be constructed on the basis of reason and law, people would have moral life
Intellectual struggle between Jansenists and the Jesuits
Former were Catholic Calvinists, believe Christ did not die for salvation for all people, and that some were destined for heaven or hell
French monarchs bought into the Jesuit view, but even the King could not prevent Jesuits from being expelled from France in 1764
France had a regal absolutism, everything revolved around King, but he had fallen to be weak
Many members of the Third Estate already opposed Jesuits and the king
France was on the point of bankruptcy in late 1780s, spent a lot assisting the American Revolution
Involvement in Seven Years War, all of Europe involved, British acquired Canada from France
Government also couldn’t collect taxes efficiently or properly
Most heavily taxed people in France were the peasants, clergy and aristocracy developed ways to evade taxes so the burden fell onto the poor
Large increase in price of bread in 1788 due to bad harvest, poor risked starvation
France was forced to tax the aristocracy and the church
Parliaments blocked the ability to tax the aristocracy
Courts, had the right to revoke or delay royal proclamations, parliaments vetoed the King’s rules
Louis the 15th abolished parliaments due to opposition, but Louis 16th restored them to gain political popularity
Parliaments drew on ideas of enlightenment to supplement their ideas
Louis 16th was considered ineffective, his wife Marie Antoinette was mildly liked
Joseph, emperor of Austria, was deeply affected by Enlightenment, obsessed with religion
Royal family was isolated in society, rarely came into contact with even the aristocracy, they became unpopular
A lot of money was going towards the aristocracy, making the rich richer
Assembly of Nobles, 1787, representative of aristocracy and the Church tried to gain support
Aristocracy of the church demanded that the estates general be summoned
Church wasn’t taxed, but usually made offering to King out of free will
Estates general met, began with a mass, speaker demanded that Enlightenment shouldn’t be basis of intellectual life, Catholicism instead
Three Estates general: clergy (less than 1% of population), nobility (1.5%), rest of France
Representatives were mostly members of middle class, mostly lawyers, third estates decided to be doubled in size
If estates voted by each estate, first and second could overrule, but voting by heads would give third estate advantage
Enlightenment brought on an attack against monks and nuns
Third estate refused to sit as a separate assembly, later invited clergy and aristocracy to join them to create a national assembly
Third estate demonstrated superiority over first and second estate, Louis 16 tried to stop it, but the national assembly moved to a tennis court to create a new constitution
Effectively overthrew the absolute monarchy, King encouraged by his people to resist
Mustered troops, in turn a citizen’s militia formed as well
Bastille day, citizens attempted to gather weapons, 98 died during the encounter
Another objective was to release prisoners, seven of them
Marquis de Lafayette became commander of National Guard, invented the French flag that would become the symbol of revolution
King was forced to make concessions to new government of Paris and National Guard
The Great Fear of the King sending troops to snuff out resistance
Rule shifted from aristocracy to talent, huge shift in government
Declaration of the Rights of Man issued by Assembly in 1789
Church essentially taken over by the state, tithe (tax paid by people to church) abolished
State would instead pay the clergy and the poor, abolished religious orders
Men were more willing to accept the release from religious orders, they had more of a future, as opposed to nuns who had nowhere to go, no shot at husband
Louis 16 feared spontaneous mob violence
Failed to ratify aristocratic renunciation, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man
Many believed he was anti revolutionary, and might use violence to snuff it out
King feared women, when they marched onto the palace, he agreed to both of the above
Long indisposition in history against women taking political power
Believed that women should look after children and household
When the women marched onto the palace and demanded political change, terrified King
Economy improved, bread prices fell, however clergy were split 50 50
Dawn of new political reality in Europe, hope that human life could be different
Constitutional Assembly was moderate, but specifically deeply anti-clerical
King’s absolute veto was abolished
Constitution of 1791 was incredibly conservative, not radical document
Metric system adopted, new currency called the Franc
Many aristocrats fled the country, bishops and clergy went into exile to England
England itself was very anti Catholic, but still gave pension to French clergy who fled
King 16 attempted to flee to exile
Captured, everyone now knew the king was counter revolutionary
Members of third estate organizing into discussion groups, one called Jacobins, which included Robespierre
Another group, Girondins, derived from Jacobins later on, assumed leadership to oppose counter revolutionaries
The Girondins persuaded the Assembly to declare war on Austria and Prussia
King agreed, but secretly hoped that the revolutionaries would be defeated in the war
Crowd invaded palace, forcing King and Queen to take refuge
Provoked by the fact that the King attempted to veto proposals
Also demanded that the clergies return to civil constitution
Austrian and Prussian armies had pushed into France to protect the monarchy
Marks the end of constitutional monarchy
Paris Commune put people to death in city jails, clergy, aristocrats, and common criminals believed to be counterrevolutionaries
SANDCOULART became most radical proponents
Artisans, small shopkeepers, ideas dominated the revolution, concerned with controlling food prices and social equality
King was tried in 1792, majority found him guilty, a small few voted for his death
Executed in 1793 in Place de la Concorde
National Convention after his death became more aggressive, declared war on England and Netherlands
Europe, including Russia, sucked into war against revolutionary France, most of the fighting took place in Poland
Poland was divided among three powers by end of 1794, Russia, Prussia, and Austria
Execution of King represented declaration of war against the vestiges of old regime
Tensions in convention shook France as moderates and radicals fought for control of local governments
National Guard surrounded the convention and forced expulsion of Girondin leaders, Montagnard’s took control to make a radical constitution
Death of Marat used as propaganda to fuel violence
Committee of General Security and of Public Safety established
Another army surrounded convention, purpose of the terror was to eliminate anti revolutionary sentiment
Thousands put to death, many died in jail, no benefit of trial
Robespierre dominated the government, person responsible for carrying on the Reign of Terror
Dechristianization of society occurred, Christianity abolished
Robespierre used terror to kill his enemies, later was executed himself, Terror later dismantled
Violence accompanied much of revolutionary change, thousands perished, France took a militant turn, terror was essential
Some argue terror wasn’t integral to French revolutionary ideology
