Causes of the French Revolution Vocabulary

The first estate The Clergy About one hundred thousand out of total population of 24 million Catholic church owned 10% of the land Made money by collecting Tithe and taxing people who lived on their land. Controlled educational institutions and censored the press.

The second estate The nobles Approximately four hundred thousand people Only ones to be officers in the army, fill high church positions. Did not have to pay taxes Owned 20 % of land

The third estate Commoners –the bourgeoisie, the proletariat and peasantry Was about 96% of the total population Not all were poor, some were wealthy

Noblesse de la robe Also known as Nobles of the Robe or Nobles of the Gown French aristocrats- whose rank came from holding judicial or administrative posts. Former rich bourgeoisie that purchased judgeships

Bourgeoisie Bankers, merchants, shopkeepers and lawyers Many were influenced by the Enlightenment By the late eighteenth century many had become richer than the nobility but were shut out of the highest levels of government. HINT – think “borough” or city- those that live in the city- not rural areas.

Proletariat Working class (part of the third estate) In Paris about half the population were proletariats- played significant role in revolution Many were servants to the rich

The French Revolution Begins Vocabulary

National Assembly Was a result of the Estates General meeting– third estate wanted reform in the voting system because the first and second estate outvoted them. The Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly- wanted to write a constitution. Louis the XVI excluded them from the palace meeting – leading to the Tennis Court Oath

Tennis Court Oath A result of the Third Estate being banished from the palace by Louis XVI. The third estate promised to stay at the palace until France had a constitution.

Bastille Day July 14th, 1789 (now celebrated as the French independence day) Citizens of Paris stormed Bastille and released its prisoners (they were also looking for gunpowder and weapons). Symbolic start to the French Revolution The Bastille represented years of the Monarchy’s power over the people of France

Great Fear Stories spread of attacks on towns and villages and that government troops were taking the peasant’s crops- these rumors led to the Great Fear. The peasants were scared and starving- they took it out on the nobles- set fire to old manor records, stole grain and held nobles as leverage.

Declaration of rights of man Outlined the basic rights that all individuals should have. Written by the National Assembly - document inspired by the American Declaration of Independence Stated that all men were “born and remain free and equal in rights” They had natural rights to “liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.” Governments should protect the citizen’s natural rights (similar to what Locke said)

The Revolution gets messy Vocabulary

Emigres Nobles in exile Some left the country due to the Terror They were lobbying Austrian and Prussian rulers to take action

Radicals Overthrew the new government Called for a new constitution Elected to the National Convention (new governing body) Voted to make France Republic (got rid of Monarchy)_

Jacobins Demanded Louis XVI be tried for treason Robespierre was elected president of the Jacobin club Radical group- wanted France to be a republic.

Committee of public safety Created to address the “threats to France” Helped avoid civil war and French army started to win victories 12 members- had absolute power Issued a levy (tax) requiring the people to contribute to the war In charge of trials and executions Decided there was no longer a need for defense lawyers/ witnesses- lead to many executions.

Maximilien Robespierre Leader of the Committee of public safety Nickname “the incorruptible” Believed France could become a “republic of virtue” through “prompt, severe, inflexible justice” “Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads” Through these ideas he lead France into the Reign of Terror

Guillotine Beheaded the victim Was the main form of execution during the Reign of terror If sentenced to death, the person would be put in a cart and driven around as witnesses threw mud at them People would come to watch – many feared being put on the “list” for the guillotine

Reign of Terror September 1793-July 1794 Quick trials – many were accused of resisting the revolution People were put into prisons or faced death in the guillotine Lead by Robespierre and Committee of Public Safety Between 20,000 – 40,000 killed