French_Revolution_Outline

Matthew Schreiber AP Euro Ms. Lislevatn Period 1 French Revolution Review Parlements- an aristocratic institution in France who opposed many royal ministers who tried to administrate new tax schemes on the wealthy nobility. Assembly of Notables- An old regime advisory body that met twice (February–May 1787 and November–December 1788) for the purpose of approving royal reforms. The King created it to get around the obstreperous parlements. Composed of some of the highest-ranking nobles, clergy, and public officials, the first Assembly refused to endorse many reforms and, with the backing of public opinion, forced the monarchy to call for the Estates-General. This move precipitated the outbreak of the Revolution. Estates General- The French national assembly summoned in 1789 to remedy the financial crisis and correct abuses of the ancien regime. The Estates General met at irregular intervals from the 14th century on; it was of limited effectiveness because the monarchy usually dealt with local Estates instead. The last meeting of the Estates General was at the start of the French Revolution in 1789. Assembly of the Clergy- a representative meeting of the Catholic clergy of France held every five years, for the purpose of apportioning the financial burdens laid upon the clergy of the French Catholic Church by the kings of France. The Assemblies ensured to the clergy an autonomous financial administration, by which they defended themselves against taxation. Bourgeoise- The middle class in France, which consists of bankers, manufacturers and capitalists. First Estate- the first of the three estates of the realm; the clergy in France Second Estate- The second estate of French society was made up of the nobility. These nobles lived on manors, which they had inherited. The second estate consisted of about 2% of the total population, and owned about 25% of the total land in France. 
 Third Estate- The third of the traditional social classes in France; the common people. Cahier de doléances- the lists of grievances drawn up by each of the three Estates in France, between March and April 1789, the year in which the French Revolution began. Their compilation was ordered by King Louis XVI, to give each of the Estates, which consisted of the bourgeoisie, the urban workers, and the peasants – the chance to express their hopes and grievances directly to the King. Tennis Court Oath- An oath taken by deputies of the Third Estate in the French Revolution. Believing that their newly formed National Assembly was to be disbanded, the deputies met at a nearby tennis court when they were locked out of their usual meeting hall at Versailles. They vowed never to separate until a written constitution was established for France. National Assembly- Existing in 1789, a transitional body between the Estates General and the National Constituent Assembly. Storming the Bastille- The Bastille was a medieval fortress in Paris that became a symbol of despotism. In 1789, at the beginning of the French Revolution, an armed mob of Parisians captured the fortress and released its prisoners, a dramatic action that came to symbolize the end of the ancien regime. The Revolutionary government subsequently demolished the Bastille. Cockade- An ornament, such as a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on the hat as a badge. In the French Revolution, it was the red and blue stripes of Paris separated by the white stripe of the King. Journeés- A day in which the populace of Paris redirected the course of the revolution. Great Fear- a movement during the French Revolution that swept across much of the French countryside. Rumors had spread that royal troops were going to come into the rural districts. The peasants responded with the burning of the châteaux, destruction of records and a refusal to pay feudal dues. The peasants were determined to take food supplies, land, rights and property that they had lost to the aristocracy during that past 25 years. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen- issued by the National Constituent Assembly, a declaration that drew ideas from the Enlightenment and America’s Declaration of Independence. This document proclaimed that all mean are “born and remain free an equal in rights” and the natural rights are “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” It stated that the government should protect these rights and that political sovereignty is in the hands of the nation and representatives. All citizens were also to be considered equal before the law, and equally admissible to offices and employments due to their capacity, virtues and talents, and no other distinctions. Women’s March on Versailles- A hungry mob of 7,000 largely working-class women decided to march on the Versailles because they felt there was still a bread shortage and the prices were too high. Legislative Assembly- The legislature of France from October 1, 1791 to September 1792. It provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and the National Convention. Constitution of 1791- French constitution created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution. It retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The franchise was restricted to “active” citizens who paid a minimal sum in taxes; about two-thirds of adult men had the right to vote for electors and to choose certain local officials directly. The constitution lasted less than a year. Active Citizens- One of the two divisions of French citizens, active citizens were men paying annual taxes equal to three days of local labor wages who were allowed to vote. They chose electors who would vote for members of the legislature. Passive Citizens- those who had no property rights or voting rights. They were entitled to protection by law with relation to their belongings and their liberty, but had no say in the making of government bodies. Départmants- A replacement to ancient French provinces, departments were of equal size and named after rivers and mountains. There were 83 departments that were subdivided into districts, cantons and communes. Assignats- paper money issued by the National Assembly in France during the French Revolution. The assignats were issued after the confiscation of church properties in 1790 because the government was bankrupt. The government thought that the financial problems could be solved by printing certificates representing the value of church properties. Chapelier Laws- as a piece of legislation passed by the National Assembly during the first phase of the French Revolution, banning guilds as the early version of trade unions. Civil Constitution of the Clergy- issued by the National Constituent Assembly, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy transformed the Roman Catholic Church in France into a branch of the secular state. It provided for the elections of priests and bishops, who were to become employees of the state. Refactory Clergy- The priests who had not taken the oath to support the Civil Constitution and were therefore removed from there clerical functions. Émigrès- Aristocrats who were against the revolution and left France and settled in countries near the French border. Flight to Varennes- An event in the French Revolution when Louis XVI and his immediate family disguised themselves as servants in an attempt to leave Paris. They reached Varennes, where the king was recognized. Declaration of Pilnitz- A statement issued by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II and Prussian king Frederick William II saying that they would go to war with France if and only if all the other European powers also agreed to go to war with France. Factionalism- the existence of or conflict between groups within a larger group Jacobins- An advanced political group that met in Dominican monastery in Paris and established a network of local clubs throughout the provinces. Girondists- a group of Jacobins who assumed leadership in the Legislative Assembly. They wanted to oppose the counterrevolution and they ordered the émigrés to return or suffer loss of property. The Girondists also issued an additional measure requiring the refractory clergy to support the Civil Constitution or lose their state pensions. Citoyennes- an aristocrat or noble Commune- a committee of representatives from different sections of the city Paris Commune- a government elected through the forty-eight sections of Paris. It emerged as a center of radical thought and action. In command of the National Guard of the city, the Commune came to be dominated by the sans-culottes. The Paris Commune was a major factor in pushing the central government toward a policy of Terror. However, after the Terror, the Paris Commune lost its political role and disappeared completely under Napoleon Bonaparte. September Massacres- The Paris commune executed or murdered about 1,200 people who were in city jails, many were aristocrats or priests. The crowd murdered them because they were assumed counterrevolutionaries. Convention- A governmental body that was called together by the Legislative Assembly to write a democratic constitution. The Convention’s first act was to declare France a republic. Sans-culottes- working people in France such as shoekeepers, artisans and factory workers. Their lives were very hard due to the food shortage and revolutionary inflation. Parisian workers who wore loose-fitting trousers rather than the tight-fitting breeches worn by aristocratic men. Mountain- Jacobins with high seats in the assembly hall Citizen Carpet- The way in which Louis XVI was put on trial. It was the family name of extremely distant forebears of the royal family. First Coalition- the first major concerted effort of multiple European powers to contain Revolutionary France. It took shape after the French Revolutionary Wars had already begun. Committee on Public Safety- The Committee of Public Safety was created by the National Convention 1793. Originally consisting of nine members of the convention, it was formed as an administrative body to supervise and expedite the work of the executive bodies of the convention and of the government ministers appointed by the convention. Levèe en masse- a French term for mass conscription during the French Revolutionary Wars, particularly for the one from August 23 1793. Reign of Terror- Months of judicial executions and murders that are probably the most infamous of the revolution. Republic of Virtue- A term to describe France created by the Committee of Public Safety. In this republic, civic virtue would flourish in place of monarchial corruption. Temple of Reason- A name that was given to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in 1793. aIt was a temple of a new religion created to replace Christianity using some Deist ideas. This religion was supposed to be universal and to spread the ideas of the revolution Enrages- a radical group active during the French Revolution f 1789 opposed to the Jacobins. They believed that liberty for all meant more than mere constitutional rights. Law 22 Prairial- A law that was issued by the Committee of Public Safety and then later repealed by the Convention. Cult of Supreme Being- A form of deism intended to become the state religion after the French Revolution. The cult represents an innovation in the "de-Catholicization" of French society during the Revolution and a move beyond simple deism. Thermidorian Reaction- a revolt in the French Revolution against the excesses of the Reign of Terror. It was triggered by a vote of the Committee of Public Safety to execute Robespierre, Saint-Just and several other leading members of the Terror. This ended the most radical phase of the French Revolution. White Terror- A period in France that started with the executions of former terrorists. People who had been involved in the Reign of Terror were attacked and murdered. Jacobins were executed and this was all approved by the Convention. The Directory- The executive body for the Constitution of the Year III. This body was made up of five people chosen by the Elders from a list submitted by the Council of Five Hundred. Council of Elders- The upper body for the Constitution of the Year III. It was made up of men over forty years of age who were either husbands or widowers. Council of Five Hundred- The lower body for the Constitution of the Year III. It was made up of men of at least thirty years who were either married or single. Louis XV- King of France from 1715 to 1774. He led France into the War of Austrian Succession and Seven Years War. René Maupeou- a French politician and chancellor of France, whose attempts at reform signaled the failure of enlightened despotism in France. Louis XVI- King of France from 1774-1792. In 1789 he summoned the Estates-General, but he did not grant the reforms that were demanded and revolution followed. Louis and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed in 1793. Jacques Necker- French financier and statesman. In 1750 he went to Paris and entered banking. He rose rapidly to importance, established a bank of his own, and became a director of the French East India Company. As a writer, Necker opposed the then fashionable physiocrats and free trader Charles Alexandre de Calonne- A controller general of finances from 1783–87. Faced with a huge public debt and a steadily deteriorating financial situation, Calonne adopted a spending policy to inspire confidence in the nation's financial position. He then proposed a direct land tax and the calling of provincial assemblies to apportion it, a stamp tax, and the reduction of some privileges of the nobles and clergy. Etienne Charles Lomenie de Brienne- was a French churchman and finance minister of Louis XVI. As president of the Assembly of Notables, he succeeded in making the parlement register edicts dealing with internal free trade and the establishment of provincial assemblies and the redemption of the corvee Abbe Sieyes- one of the chief theorists of the French Revolution. His liberal 1789 pamphlet What is the Third Estate' became the manifesto of the Revolution that helped transform the Estates-General into the National Assembly in June of 1789 Marie Antoinette- Wife of King Louis XVI and daughter of Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. Her marriage had been made to strengthen France's alliance with its long-time enemy, Austria. The union was not altogether popular, and Marie Antoinette's actions only increased hostility toward her. She constantly sought the advice of the Austrian ambassador and attempted to influence French foreign policy in favor of Austria. She was seized at Varennes when the royal family attempted to escape (1791). Marquis de Lafayette- a general in the American Revolutionary War and a leader of the Garde Nationale during the French Revolution. Lafayette proposed a meeting of the French Estates-General, where representatives from the three traditional classes of French society met. He served as vice president of the resulting body and presented a draft of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Olympe de Gouges- A French playwright and political activist whose feminist and abolitionist writings reached a large audience. She demanded that French women be given the same rights as French men. In her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (1791), she challenged the practice of male authority and the notion of male-female inequality. Court of Artois- Louis XVI’s younger brother who was an émigré who fled because of the changes in the old social and political order. Leopold II of Austria- Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia and Hungary. Leopold reorganized the government, abolished torture and the death penalty, equalized taxation, and sought to gain control over the church. When Leopold succeeded his brother Joseph II as emperor and ruler of the Hapsburg lands, he took over a nearly disrupted state. Frederick William II of Prussia- King of Prussia from 1786. Russia expanded under his rule, adding territories it gained in the second and third partitions of Poland and acquiring additional German lands. He entered into an Austro-Prussian alliance, chiefly in opposition to the French Revolution. Arts and Music flourished during his reign. Edmund Burke- An author, philosopher and political theorist who served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party. He is mainly remembered for his opposition to the French Revolution. Jacques Danton- A leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution and the first President of the Committee of Public Safety. Danton's role in the onset of the Revolution is often described as "the chief force in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the First French Republic" Maximilien Robespierre- One of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He largely dominated the Committee of Public Safety and was instrumental in the period of the Revolution commonly known as the Reign of Terror, which led to his arrest and execution in 1794. Lazare Carnot- A French politician and engineer. He was a delegate in the Assembly and believed all citizens should be educated and wrote a series of reforms for the teaching systems. He also wrote a statement that foreshadowed the principle of energy as applied to a falling weight, and the earliest proof of the fact that kinetic energy. Pauline Leon & Claire Lacombe- Together they organized the political club the "Republican Revolutionary Society" which had many enemies, and many setbacks. Their club was only around for a short while but they managed to create some stir about politics, sexual equality and women. Gracchus Babeuf- A French revolutionary and organizer of a communist uprising against the Directory. He argued that the Revolution had not gone far enough merely by establishing political equality. 1. There were numerous and various types of causes of the French Revolution. The Enlightenment was a time period that causes people to think in different ways and view society from different perspectives. The ideas of Enlightenment writers like Voltaire and Montesquieu inspired French people to review their government and society. The success of the American Revolution also proved to the French people that they should go against their king and fight for freedom. The establishment of the United States of American was evidence that new Enlightenment ideas could be put into practice. Secondly, France was in a horrible economic situation. Louis XIV had spent way too much money, and his successors followed his spending habits. Louis XVI failed to fix the economy because the repeatedly dismissed financial ministers who tried to introduce financial reforms. By 1789, the French government was totally bankrupt. France was also experiencing great famine. There were also great social and political inequalities. Nobles were exempt from many taxes and commoners did not have political freedoms. Inequalities like these did not make a good base for a well-rounded nation. 2. The first estate consisted of the French clergy members, The second estate consisted of the Nobles. The third estate consisted of the bourgeoisie middle class, artisans, merchants, and peasants 3. This quote by Abbé Siéyés is a perfect example of the inequality and upcoming changes of French society. The Third Estate is composed of everyone who is not included in the other estates, for example the peasantry and people with no money. He is saying that it has had no purpose or position in politics up until now. But suddenly, the Third Estate is asking to become something. They want to gain political freedoms and equality. 
4. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was considered a great blunder of the French Revolution. It created sour relations between the church and state in France. It also caused clashes in the church among bishops who had support Gallican liberties over papal domination. The Civil Constitution also required all clergy to take an oath. Only about half of the clergy agreed to this. As a penalty, the clergy members who did not take the oat were designated as “refractory” and lost their clerical privileges. Therefore, the Civil Constitution was a great blunder because it caused more conflicts in the church, on top of many problems that already existed. In an effort to fix things, they just failed. 5. Who were the Girondins' 6. Louis XVI and the Girondists both wanted to go to war with Austria and Prussia. The Girondists believed that the war would preserve the revolution from domestic enemies and brined the most advances revolutionaries to power. Louis XVI favored war because he thought it would strengthen the executive power for the monarchy. Louis also figured that foreign armies would help defeat French forces and therefore restore the Old Regime. 7. European countries were “at war with the revolution”. Powers in Eastern Europe suppressed revolutionary thinkers and actions in their countries to prevent a revolution like what took place in France from happening in their countries. Specifically, the British statesman Edmund Burke, argued a different position on the French Revolution. He felt that the reconstruction of French administration ignored the realities of political development and the complexities of social relations. There was also a suppression of reform in Britain lead by William Pitt the Younger. He turned against both reform and popular movements leading to a limited number of reforms throughout Great Britain. The French revolution brought change to rest of Europe. The Convention of France stated it would help any country that wanted to rebel against their monarchial governments. The governments of all the countries with which France was at war- Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, Spain, Sardinia, and Holland, formed the First Coalition, an alliance to protect their social structures, political systems, and economic interests from the aggression of the revolution. This is why European countries were at war with the revolution. 8. France was de-christianized so the new political values could be imposed to justify the Reign of Terror. A new calendar was made and important events became known by their dates on the new calendar. To de-christianize France more, the Cathedral of Notre Dame was named a Temple of Reason and deputies on mission were sent to close churches and persecute believers. 9. The ideas of the Enlightenment are evident throughout the French Revolution. The Enlightenment put this overall feeling in citizens that they can revolt against their government. Prior to the Enlightenment, a country revolting against its government was very daring and not an often occurrence. After the success of the American Revolution and the words of the philosophes the French people finally felt inspired to revolt against their king. Also the Enlightenment caused a lot of ideas and talk about the freedoms of religion, speech and press etc. This is evident in the French Revolution because the citizens fought for these freedoms because the Enlightenment made them feel that they deserved all freedoms. 10. What was the Paris commune' How did the Mountains differ from the Girondins' 11. Who were the sans-culottes' What did they pressure the Convention into doing with the king' 12. How did Robespierre perceive "virtue"' 13. What was the purpose of the Committee of Public Safety' 14. Were the Committee's economic reforms pro-Smith or anti-Smith' Give examples. 15. Many people turned against Robespierre in the end mainly because of his ill-tempered speech in the Convention. He declared that leaders of the government were working against him and the revolution. From then on, he was shouted down in attempts to make more speeches. Jacobins turned against him because after Danton’s death they feared becoming the next victims. They saw him as a selfless creator of his own destruction. 16. In the early days of the Directory, there were problems that existed that were never overcome. The Directory lacked any broad base of meaningful political support. The Directory got to a point where it depended on the power of the army rather than on constitutional processes. Now there were officers in the army that were eager for political power. These problems within the Directory and the increased power of the army led to consequences for France.