Chapter 13: The French Revolution

Question 1

Absolute Monarch

Answer 1

Total power over the country and claimed he had a divine (god-given) right to rule, so could do whatever he wanted

Question 2

Enlightment

Answer 2

A movement of thinkers who valued reason and science above faith or authority as a basis for society.
They criticised Louis XVI absolute monarchy

Question 3

Social Divisions

Answer 3

First estate
Second estate
Third estate

Question 4

First estate

Answer 4

Clergy (priests and bishops). They owned 10% of the land and did not pay taxes. The population was around 100,000 people

Question 5

Second estate

Answer 5

Nobility (wealthy landowners who controlled the government and the army). Owned 60% of the land. They did not pay taxes. The population was 400,000 people

Question 6

Third estate

Answer 6

The common people: everyone from well-off doctors, lawyers, teachers and merchants to poor peasants and workers. The population was around 25 million people. They paid taxes, many of the peasants still lived under feudal law

Question 7

Taille

Answer 7

A land tax

Question 8

Gabelle

Answer 8

A salt tax

Question 9

Corvée

Answer 9

Third estate had to work for free, repairing roads

Question 10

Tithe

Answer 10

Tenth of earnings went to church

Question 11

Reasons for the French Revolution

Answer 11

The American Revolution inspired people

The social divisions increased hatred from people from the Third estate

The enlightment increasing people knowledge

Frances absolute monarchy

Question 12

The estates general

Answer 12

A kind of French parliament that was made up of three parts, each representing one of the 3 estates.

Nobles and Clergy fought for one vote for each state, this would lead to the the First and Second estate being able to vote out the Third Estate.

Question 13

The National Assembly formation

Answer 13

The Third Estate lost patience and left the estates general and called themselves the National Assembly.

They swore the Tennis Court Oath, promising to stay together until a constitution for France was drawn up.

Question 14

The Storming of the Bastille

Answer 14

The citizens of Paris formed their own militia called the National Guard

On 14 July 1789, an angry crowd attacked the Bastille Prison in Paris, they expected to find weapons there. It was also a way to prove their power.

Question 15

What was the mob in Paris called

Answer 15

The Sans - Culottes

Question 16

The Reforms of the National Assembly

Answer 16

They abolished the feudal system

All men are born free and equal

Abolished tithes, seized all church property for the state

Question 17

Liberty

Answer 17

All men are free

Question 18

Equality

Answer 18

All men are equal

Question 19

Fraternity

Answer 19

All men should treat each other as brothers

Question 20

Louis and Marie Antoinette escape plan

Answer 20

Louis and Marie Antoinette attempted to leave France and were caught near the border at the town of Verannes. They were stripped of most of their powers.

Question 21

The War with Austria

Answer 21

Austria had several victories over France. The sans - culottes of Paris suspected King Louis of helping France’s enemys. The royal family was imprisoned

Question 22

The execution of the king

Answer 22

The National Convention declared France a republic. They then executed Louis and Mary Antoinette. Britain, Spain and the Netherlands declared war on France. This crisis would lead to the power of Maximilien Robespierre and the Comitee of Public safety

Question 23

The Comitee of Public Safety: The Reign of Terror

Answer 23

The punished anybody they suspected of betraying the revolution

The rebellion in the Vendée was put down, killing nearly 250,000.

Another mass enlistement made the French army so massive (over 1 million people)

Harsh punishments were used on those found to br overcharging citizens for food and other goods

Question 24

The fall of Robespierre

Answer 24

Many feared that Robespierre had to much power. The sans - culottes turned against him and arrested him (along with his supporters) and executed him just a few hours later. The convention elected a five - member directory to run a more moderate goverment. This is considered the end of the French Revolution

Question 25

The results of the French Revolution

Answer 25

Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Emperor of France.

Many european countries took inspiration

The metric system was invented

The United Irishmen, staged their own revolution in 1798.

Question 26

Fanous person

Answer 26

Maximillian robespierre and the committee of public safety