Vocabulary 3

The Estates General were representatives of the three estates, in which made up a legislative body. They provided nobles an opportunity to bring about change (like the Glorious Revolution in England). They hoped they could guarantee their own civil liberties by putting the absolute monarcy in power over the nobles.

1st Estate consisted of the clergy. The clergy had enourmous wealth and privilege. People in this estate included high Church leaders (bishops and abbots) and common church workers (parish priests, nuns, and monks). It was responsible for some social services as well. The priests, nuns, and monks were in charge of schools, hospitals, and orphanages.

2nd Estate consisted of the nobility of French Society. The occupants of this class were the noble knights. Richelieu and Louis XIV terminated the nobles' military power, but provided them with additional rights under tight royal control. They gave those in this class opportunities to have top jobs in government, the army, the courts, and the Church.

3rd Estate consisted of the majority of the population. Of all the estates, this was the most socially diverse. The highest on the social latter of this estate was the bourgeoisie (middle class) which included successful bankers, merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and professors. The estates majority, however, included rustic peasants. Some of these peasants were successful landowners in which hired laborers. The rest were either tenant famer and/or day laborers. Urban workers were the poorest member of the 3rd Estate.

Bourgeoisie were considered the middle class overall, however, it was the top social class of the 3rd Estate. It included affluent merchants, bankers, manufacturers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and professors. These people often thought money, power, and social standing was of upmost importance.

Declaration of The Rights of Man was the first step toward a constitution. It had the same ideals as the American declatation of Independence and expressed similar opinions toward natural rights as John Locke. For example it stated that the government is only here to protect our natural rights as citizens. It also stated that all men were equal under the law. Women were very upset with the fact that these laws didn't pertain to them.

Era of Mutual Discontent was one of the first steps toward the French Revolution. It started when the 3rd Estate was disappointed because they were always being out voted by the other estates two to one, in which they decided to create the National Assembly and revolt against the 1st and 2nd Estates.

National Assembly was what the 3rd Estate declared themselves to be when the other estates were out voting them two to one and would not consider the votes to be counted "by head". Its meeting hall was in a local indoor tennis court, locked and guarded because they were afriad that King Louis would banish them. This is where they came up with the infamous Tennis Court Oath in which stated that they wouldn't part and meet only when completely neccessary until they have a voice in their society and a fair consitution.

Tennis Court Oaths was a historic agreement made by those in the 3rd Estate on a tennis court. The oath was formed because the 3rd Estate was always getting out voted by the 1st and 2nd two to one. The 3rd Estate wanted all three to vote as one society, in which the votes would be counted "by head". The 3rd Estate decided to proclaim themselves as the National Assembly, and because they feared they'd be sent away by King Louis, they met in an indoor tennis court to discuss the matter at hand. In the oath they swore "never to separate and to meet whenever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution."

King Louis XVI ruled France from 1715 - 1774. He often placed personal gratification before important business and had France drowning in debt. He was well-meaning, however, he was also shy and indecisive. His lack of leadership caused him to trust those he was close with and use their opinions over his own. For example, he sensibly chose Jacques Neckler (financial expert) as an advisor. He had gave great advise to the king about overspending, reforming the government, and getting rid of tariffs on international trade. However, when he suggested the 1st and 2nd Estates should be taxed, the high clergy and nobles forced the king to fire him. This therefore concludes that he was intimitated by those he knew.

Maximilien Robespierre was an insightful lawyer and politician who had lead the Committee of Public Saftey. He was known as the "incorruptible" by the Jacobins because of his extreme devotion to this revolution. His opponents called him a tyrant. He was a believer in freedom of religion and wanted to get rid of slavery. The sans-culottes and him joined together with their hate of their dated government. Robespierre said, "Libery cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads."

Reign of Terror was one of the neccessary steps to achieve revolution. According to Robespierre, it was essential because the French needed to "stifle the domestic and foreign enemies of the Republic, or perish with them...If the basis of popular government in time of peace is virtue, the basis of popular government in time of revolution is both virtue and terror." Some people who did not take part in the revolution were convicted and arrested by the government. They were either beheaded by the guillotine or died of disease in the disgusting prisons. After Robespierre was arrested and killed, the deaths slowed down abruptly.

Jacobins were a revolutionary political club, in which the majority was made up of middle-class lawers or intellectuals. They were the sans-cuottes support in the Legislative Assembly. They took advantage of the media and asked editors of newspapers and pamphlets to publish the republican cause (ruled by elected officials rather than a monarch). Moderate reformers and political leaders had the opposite opinions and wanted the reform to be terminated.

Committee on Public Safety was a revolutionary organization run by Maximilien Robespierre (wise lawyer and politician). This committee took the idea of Rousseau's that common motivation was the cause for all just law. They supported the idea of religious freedom and desired to terminate slavery. They had a 12-member committee, in which had complete control of the whole assembly. They were also reponsible for trials and executions.

Girondins were the rivals of the Jacobins in the revolution. They wanted nothing to do with reform. They considered Robespierre to be nothing but a tyrant and disagreed with everything that he believed in. During the Reign of Terror they arrested and convicted both innocient and guilty people. They either beheaded them with a guillotine or threw them in a unsanitary prison, in which they would most likely die from disease.