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Question 1

What is a revolution

Answer 1

A forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system

Question 2

What are the multiple causes of the French Revolution using goldstone’s theory on revolution as a framework

Answer 2

1. A state (government) financial crisis- France was bankrupt due to the tax exemption of the 1st and 2nd estates and the financial support of the American revolution and previous unsuccessful wars
2. Severe political or ideological divisions amongst the elite class- king Louis calling parliament represented the end of absolute monarchy in France. the lords agreed to pay taxes and in return sought to impose a constitutional arrangement upon the monarchy
3. High potential for mobilizing popular groups, brought on by rising grievances- poor harvests led to large scale societal unrest. This then cause people to seek a better life in the cities, but urban unemployment had hit 50%. France society soon saw a hungry, unemployed and increasingly volatile mass of its population congregated in cities where they could affect a maximum political impact.
4. The increased prominence and popularity of non-traditional cultural and religious ideas- enlightenment thinking

Question 3

What are the different estates in France

Answer 3

The first estate- catholic clergy
The second estate- nobility (monarch and lords)
The third estate- common people (middle and lower classes) which represented the 95% of the population

Question 4

What is the significance of the estate system

Answer 4

The estate system represented the social class division and the traditional hereditary hierarchy in France

Question 5

What are the differences and similarities argued for in abbe sieyes “what is the 3rd estate?” And the traditional form of government in WC

Answer 5

Abbe sieye’s called for the end of the traditional hereditary hierarchy and wanted a meritocracy instead. This differed greatly from the traditional form of government in WC in that those born are not given a status and instead earn it

Question 6

Why does the nation have more sway and allegiance over individuals than traditional authority

Answer 6

A nation emphasizes that all citizens have a role to play in society and it is for and by the people. This compares to a Kingdom, which has subjects and is for and by the elite.

Question 7

What are the phases of the French Revolution

Answer 7

Moderate phase (1789-1792)
Radical phase (1792-1795)
Transitional phase (the directory) (1795-1799)
Napoleonic phase (1799-1815)

Question 8

What occurred during the moderate phase of the revolution

Answer 8

A constitutional monarchy was created in which decisions were made by the monarch and the National Assembly. The constitution of 1791 classified half of the adult males as “active citizens” with voting rights. Only owners of significant amounts of property could hold government office. This included half of the adult males and all females and they were classified as “passive citizens”. There was still the expectation that all citizens held sovereignty. The moderate phase also sought to have government control over Christianity.

Question 9

What was the declaration of rights of man and citizen a revolutionary document

Answer 9

It calls for the end of hereditary hierarchy and calls for natural rights and general will

Question 10

What was the motivation for the role of the masses in French Revolution

Answer 10

This is the first time the underclass is able to majorly challenge the upper class. People want a nation in which everyone has claim to citizenship. People also want independence from the hereditary elite

Question 11

What are the differences between Burke and paine’s outlooks on the social and political change within human society

Answer 11

Burke was an English parliamentarian who criticized the revolution. Burke believed the past can provide guidance and abandoning it will lead to a big failure. Paine in contrast was positive about the French Revolution and believed traditional society was holding people back. He believed that revolution was necessary to construct modern society

Question 12

What is the republic of virtue

Answer 12

The republic of virtue is a republic of citizens dedicated toward public interest and reason

Question 13

What are the goals of Robespierre in constructing the republic of virtue

Answer 13

Robespierre wants to create an entirely new and greater society, which going along with locke’s blank slate theory, will produce better people

Question 14

What occurred during the radical phase of the revolution

Answer 14

The monarch was abolished and the republic was founded. Robespierre was the major leader of this phase and sought to incorporate the ideas of the republic of virtue into society. This led to the beginning of the reign of terror, which Robespierre viewed as the only way to insure the reorganization of society.

Question 15

Why was the oath of the horatii by Jacques louis David so popular during the radical phase of the French Revolution

Answer 15

This painting emphasizes the values of the radical phase and the belief that the group should remain above self-interest. The story behind the painting embodies the goals of the revolution

Question 16

What is the connection between the republic of virtue and the reign of terror

Answer 16

The reign of terror was brought about to insure the institution of the republic of virtue into french society. Robespierre believed that the terror was a necessary instrument in the creation of virtue

Question 17

Why during the radical phase of the revolution would the government seek to de-christianize society

Answer 17

The jacobins believed that religion and the power of the Catholic Church were root problems progressing beyond traditional society. Christianity was viewed as an obstacle to progressing society, and therefore, the government was not supportive of the practice

Question 18

Why would the french commit themselves during the radical phase to a war for liberty while living under authoritarian government

Answer 18

While some actually believed in the goals of the radical phase, others were afraid for their lives and committed because of this reason. There is also Rousseau’s theory of general will which plays a factor. Rousseau believed giving up liberty for the general will was its own type of liberty

Question 19

What are the factors which allowed napoleon to come to power

Answer 19

After the collapse of the radical phase of the French Revolution, in which even its leader, Maximilian Robespierre became a victim of the terror dying by execution in the guillotine, the revolution entered an uncertain and unstable phase. Out of the political chaos emerged an individual of great aptitude and genius, napoleon Bonaparte, who took power in France and lead the revolution to its greatest victories while also pursuing policies many considered betrayals of the revolution itself.

Question 20

What does the term careers open to talent mean? Why does this phenomenon help explain France’s military success during the Napoleonic era? Why does this inspire some to describe him as the individual most responsible for spreading the revolutionary ideas throughout Europe n

Answer 20

Napoleon implemented a revolutionary legal code known as the Napoleonic code which enshrined ‘careers open to talent’ (meritocracy), legal equality for all men (but not for women), equality of taxation for all the social classes, and the end of hereditary privileges

Arguably nobody did more to spread the ideals of the French Revolution than napoleon. It was under his political and military leadership that France took over nearly the entire european continent sweeping away the hereditary upper class and implementing the Napoleonic code based upon revolutionary principles of equality, social mobility, and the end of hereditary hierarchy

Question 21

What are the major goals of the Napoleonic code

Answer 21

It enshrined careers open to talent (meritocracy), legal equality for all men (not women), equality of taxation, and the end of hereditary privileges

Question 22

What is the purpose of the concordat of 1801

Answer 22

Napoleon instituted the concordat of 1801, a reconciliation between the french government and the Catholic Church which invited the church back into french society