1788-1789

Question 1

Proportion of income spent by labourers in Paris on bread in the winter of 1788-89

Answer 1

88%

Question 2

Paris Basin

Answer 2

Crucial region for grain production; a freak hailstorm destroyed the harvest in 1788.

Question 3

Eden Treaty

Answer 3

Free trade treaty with Britain signed in 1786 – French economy vulnerable to cheap British imports. This caused an industrial slump in France that contributed to the economic crisis of 1788-89.

Question 4

Increase in the price of bread between August 1788 and March 1789, causing a fall in demand for manufactured goods and a rise in unemployment.

Answer 4

50%

Question 5

Decline in employment in the textile industries in 1789. Devastating impact on urban workers.

Answer 5

50%

Question 6

Réveillon riots

Answer 6

Significant disturbances in Paris, during which a factory was set on fire in response to a rumour that the owner was planning to reduce wages. 50 protestors killed or wounded by government troops.

Question 7

Hoarding

Answer 7

Workers blamed the bread shortage on unscrupulous speculators, who were accused of withholding grain from the market to raise prices and make greater profits.

Question 8

Cahiers de Doleances

Answer 8

‘Books of grievances’. Amongst other things, the cahiers called for an end to privilege and arbitrary arrest, and the creation of a constitution.

Question 9

‘What is the Third Estate?’

Answer 9

An influential pamphlet written by Abbe Sieyes in January 1789.

Question 10

Comte de Mirabeau

Answer 10

A charismatic noblemen who was elected to sit in the Third Estate.

Question 11

Voting by order

Answer 11

Traditional voting system in the Estates General, which enabled the ‘privileged estates’ to outvote the Third Estate.

Question 12

Voting by head

Answer 12

Proposed new voting system in which all deputies votes would be counted to determine the majority.

Question 13

First meeting of the Estates-General

Answer 13

5 May 1789​​
First meeting of the Estates-General at the Palace of Versailles – in the absence of a specific agenda from the crown, the Third Estate took the initiative in proposing reforms to the voting system and demanding a new constitution. They refused to conduct any business until the three orders had been unified.

Question 14

The National Assembly

Answer 14

The new body created by Third Estate deputies on 17 June 1789. It is also known as the Constituent Assembly.

Question 15

The Tennis Court Oath

Answer 15

Oath sworn by members of the National Assembly on 20 June 1789.

Question 16

Séance Royale

Answer 16

Held by the king on 23 June 1789 to annul the resolutions of the National Assembly and re-establish voting by order. Did propose some key reforms, but too late to win support from the deputies.

Question 17

Swiss Guards

Answer 17

Troops called up to surround Paris in July 1789, rumoured to have orders to close down the National Assembly. As many as 25,000 troops had been called up by 11 July 1789.

Question 18

Palais Royal

Answer 18

Unofficial headquarters of the ‘patriot’ resistance to the crown in July 1789. Thousands of people came each night to listen to popular speakers defending Necker and the National Assembly.

Question 19

Camille Desmoulins

Answer 19

Speaker in the Cafe du Foy who called for armed resistance following the dismissal of Necker.

Question 20

Gardes-francaises

Answer 20

Elite regiment of royal infantry. 5 out of 6 battalions deserted to the revolutionaries in July 1789.

Question 21

Weaponry seized by Parisians from Les Invalides (the royal arsenal) on 13 July.

Answer 21

28,000 muskets and 20 cannon

Question 22

The fall of the Bastille

Answer 22

14 July 1789

Question 23

De Launay

Answer 23

The governor of the Bastille - murdered by armed demonstrators.

Question 24

Paris Commune

Answer 24

New city council run by members of the bourgeoisie.

Question 25

The number of customs posts around Paris in destroyed by workers in July 1789.

Answer 25

40

They were attacked because they imposed tariffs on importing grain to the city, which forced up the price of bread.

Question 26

National Guard

Answer 26

Citizen militia created to keep order in Paris and prevent counter-revolution or mob rule.

Question 27

Tricolore

Answer 27

The flag adopted by the revolutionaries, combining the colours of Paris with the white of the Bourbon monarchy.

Question 28

Marquis de Lafayette

Answer 28

The first commander of the National Guard. Heavily influenced by the ideals of the leaders of the American Revolutionary War such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Question 29

Great Fear

Answer 29

Rioting in the countryside which saw the destruction of noble property.

Question 30

Émigrés

Answer 30

Members of the aristocracy who fled France following the revolution in Paris and the Great Fear.

Question 31

Duc d’Aigullon

Answer 31

A liberal French nobleman who encouraged his fellow nobles to declare an end to feudalism on their estates.

Question 32

August Decrees

Answer 32

A series of decrees of the National Constituent Assembly that abolished feudalism, privileges and venality.

Question 33

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Answer 33

A set of core principles of the revolution, heavily influenced by Lafayette.

Question 34

L’Ami du Peuple

Answer 34

Radical newspaper edited by Jean-Paul Marat – very hostile to Louis XVI and the ‘Austrian Committee’

Question 35

Les Révolutions de France

Answer 35

Satirical newspaper edited by Camille Desmoulins. Supportive of the Parisian clubs and closely linked with the radical deputy Maximillian Robespierre.

Question 36

Revolutionary cockade

Answer 36

Revolutionary emblem trampled by military officers at a state banquet given by Louis XVI at Versailles. One of the triggers of the October Days.

Question 37

The October Days

Answer 37

1789
6,000 women marched to Versailles to protest about economic problems and rumours of a counter-revolution. They forced the National Guard to escort the royal family and the National Constituent Assembly to Paris.

Question 38

Number of royalist deputies who refused to attend meetings of the Assembly in Paris, weakening the position of the crown even further.

Answer 38

56

Question 39

The Tuileries Palace

Answer 39

The royal family’s new home in the heart of Paris following the October Days.