The French Revolution Overview
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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the population did the rich nobles represent in the Second Estate?

  • 1 percent
  • 2 percent (correct)
  • 10 percent
  • 5 percent

Which group within the Third Estate consisted of urban workers and was the poorest?

  • Urban workers (correct)
  • Clergy
  • Bourgeoisie
  • Nobility

What was a primary belief of the bourgeoisie in the Third Estate?

  • Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality were essential. (correct)
  • Social status should be based on land ownership.
  • They should not pay taxes at all.
  • Their wealth should exempt them from governmental oversight.

How much land did the nobles in the Second Estate own compared to the population they represented?

<p>20 percent of the land with 2 percent of the population (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the clergy and nobility's view towards Enlightenment ideas is correct?

<p>They saw Enlightenment ideas as a threat to their status and power. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What major issue contributed to the social unrest in France leading to the Revolution?

<p>High prices and bad harvests (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group within the Old Regime was granted exemptions from taxes?

<p>The Roman Catholic Church and clergy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which Enlightenment thinkers' ideas contributed to the questioning of the Old Regime?

<p>Locke, Montesquieu, and Voltaire (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following did NOT contribute to the economic conditions leading to the French Revolution?

<p>Abundant crops from successful harvests (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the dominant social structure in France prior to the Revolution?

<p>Three estates with varying privileges (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group represented the majority of the population in France in 1787?

<p>Third Estate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a common characteristic of the First Estate's view on the Enlightenment?

<p>They scorned Enlightenment ideas. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Second Estate's view on Enlightenment ideas differ from the First Estate's view?

<p>They had mixed opinions about Enlightenment ideas. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group had the least amount of power to influence the government?

<p>The Third Estate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of income was typically paid in taxes by the Third Estate?

<p>20% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What caused the social unrest in France during the late 1700s?

<p>Bad harvests, high prices, and high taxes contributed to social unrest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were the social classes structured in the Old Regime of France?

<p>The Old Regime was divided into three estates: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did Enlightenment thinkers play in the French Revolution?

<p>Enlightenment thinkers like Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire inspired people to question authority and traditional structures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major privilege held by the First and Second Estates?

<p>Members of the First and Second Estates were exempt from paying taxes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors contributed to the perception of France as a prosperous nation despite underlying issues?

<p>France was seen as advanced due to its large population and successful foreign trade.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Old Regime in France

The social and political system of France in the 1770s, with three estates (social classes).

Privileged Estates

The First and Second Estates in France, who had high status, important positions, and tax exemptions.

First Estate

The Roman Catholic clergy in France, owning 10% of the land.

Economic and Social Inequalities

Significant differences in wealth and social standing that can cause unrest and revolution.

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French Revolution Causes

Economic hardship (bad harvests, high prices, high taxes), Enlightenment ideas, and social inequality of the Old Regime all contributed to the French Revolution.

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Second Estate

The wealthy nobility in France, owning 20% of the land but paying almost no taxes.

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Bourgeoisie

The middle class in France, including bankers, merchants, and skilled workers, often wealthy but lacking privileges enjoyed by the nobility.

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Third Estate

The vast majority of French people, including the bourgeoisie, workers, and peasants, bearing the burden of high taxes and lacking privileges.

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Clergy

The First Estate in France, composed of the Roman Catholic Church, who held significant power and owned 10% of the land.

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Enlightenment Ideals

Ideas emphasizing reason, liberty, and equality, which challenged the traditional power of the French aristocracy.

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Peasant Farmers

The majority of the Third Estate, who worked the land and paid high taxes. They were burdened by poverty and lacked political representation.

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Resentment towards Privileged Estates

The Third Estate felt strongly about the unfair treatment they received from the First and Second Estates, who enjoyed wealth, power, and tax exemptions.

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Old Regime

The social and political system of France in the 1700s, divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The first two estates had significant privileges and tax exemptions, while the third estate bore the burden of taxes and lacked power.

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Estates-General

A legislative assembly in pre-revolutionary France, representing the three estates. It was summoned by Louis XVI in 1789 to address the growing financial crisis, but ultimately became a catalyst for the revolution.

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Tennis Court Oath

A pledge taken by members of the National Assembly, mainly from the Third Estate, to stay together until a new constitution was written for France. This bold act marked a turning point in the French Revolution, as it challenged the authority of the monarchy.

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Great Fear

A period of widespread panic and fear that swept through France in July 1789. It was characterized by rumors of attacks on villages by bandits and noblemen, leading to widespread violence and peasant uprisings.

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National Assembly

A revolutionary body formed in France in 1789, primarily composed of members of the Third Estate. It aimed to establish a new political order based on principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

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Study Notes

The French Revolution

  • Economic Inequality: Social and economic disparities in the Old Regime (pre-revolutionary France) fueled the French Revolution.
  • Old Regime: France's social structure comprised three estates: the First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobles), and Third Estate (everyone else).
  •  First Estate: The clergy, who owned 10% of the land, paid little tax.
  • Second Estate: The nobles, who owned 20% of the land, paid almost no tax.
  • Third Estate: The majority (97%) of the population, including the bourgeoisie (middle class), urban workers, and peasants. They were heavily taxed and had little power.
  • Bourgeoisie: Were bankers, factory owners, merchants, and skilled artisans who were well-educated. They embraced Enlightenment ideas and resented their lack of privileges.
  • Urban Workers: Tradespeople, apprentices, laborers, and domestic servants who were paid low wages and often unemployed. They were heavily impacted by rising bread prices.
  • Peasants: Formed the largest group in the Third Estate and bore a substantial tax burden.
  • Enlightenment Ideas: Ideas of Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire influenced revolution by emphasizing liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty.
  • Economic Troubles: Bad harvests, high bread prices, and government debt contributed to the unrest.
  • Weak Leadership: Louis XVI's indecisiveness and Marie Antoinette's unpopularity further exacerbated the situation.
  • Estates-General: Assembly of representatives from the three estates, convened in 1789 to address the financial crisis.
  • National Assembly: The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly in 1789.
  • Tennis Court Oath: Representatives of the Third Estate vowed to continue meeting until a new constitution was established.
  • Bastille: A Paris prison, stormed by the people on July 14, 1789, signifying the start of the Revolution.
  • Great Fear: Widespread peasant uprisings and violence in the countryside.
  • Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: A document outlining revolutionary ideals, emphasizing liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty.
  • Limited Monarchy: A new constitution in 1791 established a limited monarchy, restricting the king's power.
  • Divisions: The assembly split into factions (radicals, moderates, and conservatives) differing on the pace and nature of change.
  • War: France went to war with Austria and Prussia.

Revolution Brings Reform and Terror

  • Legislative Assembly: Replaced the National Assembly in 1791.
  • Émigrés: Nobles and others who fled France.
  • Sans-culottes: The Parisian workers, who called for more radical change.
  • Jacobins: A radical political club that gained power and initiated the Reign of Terror.
  • Guillotine: A new method of execution.
  • Reign of Terror: The period in France where the Jacobin government used violence and executions to suppress opposition.
  • Maximilien Robespierre: A Jacobin leader who led the Reign of Terror.
  • End of Terror: Robespierre's execution marked the end of the Reign of Terror.
  • National Convention: Established a republic replacing the monarchy.

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The French Revolution Begins PDF

Description

Explore the key factors leading to the French Revolution, including economic inequality and the structure of the Old Regime. Learn about the roles and grievances of the three estates, particularly the bourgeoisie and urban workers, and how their struggles contributed to revolutionary sentiments in France.

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