The French Revolution: 1715-1799 Flashcards
(33 cards)
At what age did Louis XV come to the throne at?
Came to the throne at the age of 5.
What is wrong with how Louis XV rules?
He is easily influenced and only really cares about the luxuries that come with being king.
Louis XV let his mistresses influence French policy, and didn’t really care.
Why was Louis XV in a tough position?
Hint: Think of the previous king
After Louis XIV, France never really recovered.
Louis XIV had extravagant spending habits and the monarchy needed money desperately.
Who were Louis XV main mistresses?
Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764)
Comtesse du Barry (1743-1793)
How many children did Louis XV have?
10 children - none lived long enough to take over the throne
Why did Louis Xv try to do in regards to domestic policy?
Tried to reform the tax system in France but it was inequitable
Every time he wanted to pass a law, it would go to the Parliament and they would not pass the law
Maupeou is hired to fix the financial tax situation
Why did Louis XV have to take part in The War of Polish Succession?
Because Louis married a minor polish princess (Marie Leszczyńska), which meant that he now had an alliance with Poland due to their marriage.
What happens during The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748)?
→ Prussia takes over part of Austria
→ Austria and Britain are allied
→ France and Prussia are allied
→ France gains victory and take control of Belgium
→ Louis agrees to give back the land he took from Austria (a dumb move)
When Louis XV dies, who becomes king?
His grandson becomes Louis XVI.
Who is Louis XVI married to?
Hint: Has a TV show about her
Marie Antoinette
Why didn’t people/society like Marie Antoinette?
Because they didn’t have a child until 8 years into the marriage and they thought she was a lesbian.
In order to obtain more money for France, what to they determine they have to do?
Hint: Nobles
They need to make the nobility pay taxes.
Why to the nobles resist paying taxes?
The nobility is resistant when paying taxes and refuses to pay, because they weren’t forced to pay in the past.
Why is Parliament hesitant on taxing the nobles?
The Parliament doesn’t want to tax the nobles because most of the Parliament are nobles.
List the 3 estates and who they represent.
1st Estate -Clergy
2nd Estate -Nobles
3rd Estate -Everyone else
What’s the problem with the estate system?
The first and second estate always vote to block the third estate and therefore they never get a say.
What is the Tennis Court Oath?
The oath states that the third estate (commoners) won’t separate until there was a written constitution.
Why is it called the Tennis Court Oath?
Because the third estate takes shelter in a Tennis Court after being locked out of Versailles
Why did the storming of Bastille occur?
Because commoners were being neglected, were not taken care of, were hungry and were forced to pay taxes (when others weren’t).
What happened during the storming of Bastille?
A mob of hungry, angry and annoyed citizens stormed it as a representation of power, but also mainly to obtain the ammunition and weapons that were kept there.
What was the outcome of the storming of Bastille?
Louis is forced to recognize the Third Estate as a national body of people
Orders the other two estates to join and become one body
Clergy and Nobles don’t have the power they used to have
What was the March on Versailles?
A women’s march on Versailles because people are hungry and there was no food
What did Marie Antoinette do when the March on Versaille occured?
Marie Antoinette had to escape her bed chambers through secret tunnels, because the mob got into the castle.
They demand for Marie to appear on the balcony.
Her stoic behaviour calmed the crowd, however, women still demanded bread and food.
What occured to the Royal Family AFTER the March on Versaille?
The royal family returned back to Paris and were placed under house arrest.
Louis XVI and his family never returned to Versailles again.
