Medieval Feudal System

10 Questions

What was the name of the former convent in Paris where the Jacobin club got its name?

St. Jacob

Who was the leader of the Jacobin club?

Maximilian Robespierre

Why did a large group among the Jacobins decide to wear long striped trousers?

To set themselves apart from the fashionable sections of society

Which of the following groups were the main members of the Jacobin club?

Small shopkeepers, artisans, and daily-wage workers

What is the meaning of the word 'convent' in the context of the chapter?

A building belonging to a community devoted to a religious life

What was the significance of Fig. 9 in the context of the chapter?

It shows a sans-culottes couple

What is the significance of Fig. 10 in the context of the chapter?

It is a painting by a woman artist

What was the main characteristic of the nobles in the context of the chapter?

They wore knee breeches

What was the main occupation of the artisans who were members of the Jacobin club?

Shoemakers, pastry cooks, and watch-makers

What does the chapter promise to provide more information about in Section 4?

The role of women in the French Revolution

Study Notes

The French Society in the 18th Century

Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord, including working in their house and fields, serving in the army, and participating in building roads.
The Church also extracted its share of taxes, known as tithes, from the peasants.
The third estate, which included peasants, artisans, and women, had to pay taxes to the state, including a direct tax called taille and indirect taxes on everyday consumption items like salt and tobacco.

The Burden of Taxes

The burden of financing state activities through taxes was borne by the third estate alone.
Wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices, widening the gap between the poor and the rich.
This led to a subsistence crisis, where the basic means of livelihood were endangered.

The Estates General

The Estates General consisted of three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the third estate.
The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each, while the third estate had 600 members.
The third estate was represented by its more prosperous and educated members, while peasants, artisans, and women were denied entry to the assembly.

The Democratic Principles

The third estate demanded that voting be conducted by the assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.
This was one of the democratic principles put forward by philosophers like Rousseau in his book The Social Contract.

The French Revolution

In 1792-93, France became a republic, and the king was beheaded.
In 1804, Napoleon became emperor of France, annexing large parts of Europe.
In 1815, Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo.

The Jacobin Club

The Jacobin club was a group of people who belonged mainly to the less prosperous sections of society.
They included small shopkeepers, artisans, servants, and daily-wage workers.
Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre, and they wore long striped trousers to set themselves apart from the fashionable sections of society.

The Use of Symbols

In the 18th century, many people could not read or write, so images and symbols were used to communicate important ideas.
The painting by Le Barbier uses symbols like the broken chain, the bundle of rods, and the eye within a triangle radiating light to convey the content of the Declaration of Rights.