The Ancien Régime was the political and social system of France prior to the French Revolution, characterized by absolute monarchy and feudal privileges for the nobility and clergy.
What financial crisis contributed to the French Revolution?
The French government was deeply in debt due to costly wars, including the American Revolution, and extravagant spending by the monarchy.
How did the Enlightenment influence the French Revolution?
The Enlightenment ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired revolutionary thought and challenged the traditional authority of the monarchy and church.
What role did social inequality play in the French Revolution?
The vast social inequality between the privileged estates (nobility and clergy) and the Third Estate (common people) fueled resentment and demands for reform.
What was the significance of the Estates-General in 1789?
The Estates-General was called by King Louis XVI to address financial issues, but it exposed the underlying social and political tensions, becoming a catalyst for revolution.
How did poor harvests influence the French Revolution?
Poor harvests in the late 1780s led to food shortages and high bread prices, causing hardship for the peasantry and urban poor and increasing unrest.
Why was taxation a cause of the French Revolution?
The inequitable tax system heavily burdened the Third Estate, while the clergy and nobility were largely exempt, leading to widespread discontent.
What impact did the American Revolution have on France?
France's involvement in the American Revolution increased its debt and demonstrated the potential for successful revolution against a monarchy, inspiring French revolutionaries.
What event marked the beginning of the French Revolution?
The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, is widely regarded as the beginning of the French Revolution.
How did King Louis XVI attempt to solve the financial crisis?
He attempted to impose new taxes and called the Estates-General to convene for the first time in over a century.
Who were the bourgeoisie, and what was their role in the Revolution?
The bourgeoisie were the middle-class merchants and professionals who became key leaders and supporters of the revolutionary movement.
What was the impact of the Financial Comptroller General's report?
Jacques Necker's report exposed the financial mismanagement of the monarchy, leading to public outrage.
How did the nobility respond to proposed tax reforms?
The nobility resisted tax reforms, fearing loss of privileges, which added to the tensions with the Third Estate.
Who were the philosophes and what was their influence?
Philosophes were Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau, who advocated for reason and reform, influencing revolutionary ideas.
What was the Tennis Court Oath?
The Tennis Court Oath was a vow by members of the Third Estate not to disband until a new constitution was established for France.