The French Revolution Overview

The principle of freeing someone from forced labor or servitude.

The action of removing censorship, allowing unrestricted expression of ideas, thoughts, and information.

A derogatory term used to refer to people from Africa, south of the Sahara, and is no longer in common use.

The forceful act of controlling and exploiting a person or group for personal gain.

An event that signifies a significant and sudden change in a society's political, social, or economic structure.

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring they are applied fairly.

The branch of government responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws made by the legislature.

The branch of government responsible for making laws.

The ability of one branch of government to limit the power of another branch.

The power of the executive branch to reject a law passed by the legislature.

The process of choosing representatives to the National Assembly by a group of elected electors, not directly by citizens.

Citizens who had the right to vote and participate in the electoral process.

Citizens who did not have the right to vote.

The principle that the right to vote should be limited to certain groups of citizens.

The system of government established by the Constitution of 1791 in France, characterized by indirect elections, limited suffrage, and a separation of powers.

The practice of reading aloud in groups for those who are illiterate.

The French system of privileges, where certain social groups held special rights and advantages.

The resentment and opposition towards the French government's decision to raise taxes.

The experience of limited career opportunities for those without noble birth or wealth in pre-revolutionary France.

Arthur Young's argument that relying on exploited labor creates a dangerous and unstable society.

Arthur Young's description of the French aristocracy as 'slaves' who mistreat their workers.

Arthur Young's warning about the potential for violence and unrest due to the exploitation of workers.

Olympe de Gouges was a French writer and activist known for her advocacy of women's rights during the French Revolution.

The Third Estate was a pamphlet written by Abbé Sieyès that argued the importance of the third estate (commoners) in French society. It claimed that the third estate was the true source of power and wealth and that it should have more representation in government.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, a key document of the French Revolution, excluded women from basic rights. Olympe de Gouges criticized this exclusion, arguing that women deserved equal rights.

The Tennis Court Oath was a pledge made by the National Assembly on June 20, 1789. They swore to continue meeting until a new constitution was written, despite being locked out of the meeting hall by King Louis XVI.

Olympe de Gouges's Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen advocated for women's equal standing with men in society and politics.

The Great Fear was a period of widespread panic and unrest in France in July 1789. Rumors spread throughout the countryside about gangs and plots against the peasantry, leading to peasant uprisings and attacks on aristocratic estates.

In her declaration, Olympe de Gouges emphasized that women are born free and equal to men in rights. This statement was a bold challenge to the prevailing social order.

Olympe de Gouges believed that the source of all power (sovereignty) in a nation comes from the people, including both women and men.

The Great Fear was triggered by a combination of factors, including the bad harvest, rising bread prices, the king's deployment of troops, and rumors about attacks on the peasantry.

Olympe de Gouges argued that women should have the same rights as men to participate in political decision-making, including voting.

During the Great Fear, peasants targeted aristocratic estates, destroying documents and records of feudal dues. Many nobles fled their homes, fearing for their safety.

Olympe de Gouges was accused of treason by the National Convention, a revolutionary government in France, and executed.

The Bastille was a royal prison in Paris, a symbol of aristocratic power and oppression. On July 14, 1789, a crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.

Olympe de Gouges faced the opposition of the Jacobin government for her activism in supporting and organizing women's clubs.

The storming of the Bastille was significant as it showed the strength of the revolutionary movement and the growing power of the people.

The events of the Great Fear, including the storming of the Bastille, had a profound impact on French society.

Despite her tragic end, Olympe de Gouges' Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen remains an influential document in the history of feminist thought.

The Great Fear illustrated the widespread discontent and fear among the peasantry and the lack of trust in the government. It showcased that the French Revolution was not a limited affair, but had widespread support throughout France, especially from the lower classes.

Olympe de Gouges's declaration emphasized the importance of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of gender, have the right to security, property, and resistance against oppression.