Chapter 5: The Revolution (May-October 1789)

Question 1

When was the first session of the Estates-General?

Answer 1

5 May 1789

Question 2

When was the procession of the Estates-General?

Answer 2

4 May 1789

Question 3

What were the cahiers de doleances people were asked draw up in May 1789 and did they have a positive effect?

Answer 3

The cahiers de doleances were grievances the 3 estates were asked to draw up, they ended up bringing problems people had with France to the forefronts of their minds and angering people

Question 4

Why did the first session of the Estates-General somewhat anger the third estate?

Answer 4

• no reform package put forward
• didn’t settle pressing concerns
• no clear indication for how meetings will proceed or voting (by estate or head)

Question 5

Who was one of the most influential third estate leader?

Answer 5

Sieyes (wrote ‘What is the Third Estate?’ in 1789)

Question 6

When was the National Assembly formed?

Answer 6

17 June 1789

Question 7

Why did some deputies think the King was going to dissolve the Assembly on 20 June 1789?

Answer 7

The room where a reform package was to be presented on 23 June 1789 was under repairs

Question 8

Why did the Tennis Court Oath take place?

Answer 8

Deputies thought the King was going to dissolve the Assembly

Question 9

When was the Tennis Court Oath?

Answer 9

20 June 1789

Question 10

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

Answer 10

Deputies of National Assembly gathered under elected president Bailly and promised to never disband until France had a new constitution

Question 11

What was seen as the first revolutionary action?

Answer 11

Formation of Nation Assembly and Tennis Court Oath (June 1789)

Question 12

When was the Storming of the Bastille?

Answer 12

14 July 1789

Question 13

When was Feudalism abolished?

Answer 13

(August decrees) 4th August 1789

Question 14

When was the Declaration of the rights of man and citizen?

Answer 14

26 August 1789

Question 15

When was the Great Fear?

Answer 15

20 July - 6 August 1789

Question 16

When were the Three Estates ordered to separate?

Answer 16

27 June 1789

Question 17

When was the Union of the Three Estates?

Answer 17

23 June 1789

Question 18

What happened in the royal session on 23 June 1789 and what followed?

Answer 18

Louis consented to fairer land taxes (value of land not status) but refused to call deputies the National Assembly so many refused to leave in defiance

27 June 1789 - there were royal mercenaries sent to Paris and Louis agreed to recognise Assembly and vote by head not estate

Question 19

How did people respond to Necker being dismissed 11 July 1789?

Answer 19

people feared King was trying to prevent reform and after a poor harvest, the bread prices rised so political agitation was high

Question 20

Name 3 specific influences on Parisians that lead to the Storming of the Bastille

Answer 20

• Bad harvest in 1788 caused high bread prices
• Fear of growing unemployment
• pamphlets proliferated Paris
• many troops in Paris
• Cahiers aroused political passions

Question 21

Name 3 general influences on Parisians that lead to the Storming of the Bastille

Answer 21

• Paris 20km away from Versailles
• high literacy rate among Parisians
• thriving printing industry
• Parisians reliant on regular employment
• food supplies subjected to octrois

Question 22

What was the storming of the Bastille?

Answer 22

Bastille was stormed by Parisian mobs as it was an ammunition store and they needed the gunpowder inside, it was also a statement as this is where they kept political prisoners (only 7) so it was seen as a symbol of tyranny

Question 23

What did the mobs from the Storming of the Bastille cause?

Answer 23

Establishment of the National Guard

Question 24

Name 3 things that caused the Great Fear in the countryside (July -August 1789)

Answer 24

• cahiers aroused political passion and raised people’s expectation of reform
• peasants believed if records of sale were destroyed then so were feudal obligations
• poor harvest
• rumours of Great Fear (brigands stealing grain and attcacking farmers)

Question 25

What was the Great Fear?

Answer 25

• When peasants armed themselves to protect them (as they heard rumours about royal brigands ravaging the countryside)
• Attacked landlords and destroyed feudal contracts

Question 26

What was the August 4th Decrees?

Answer 26

Decrees passed to abolish signeurial feudalism as well as:

• exclusive hunting rights abolished
• tithes abolished
• all citizens pay same taxes on everything

Question 27

Why were the August 4 Decrees passed?

Answer 27

To pacify peasants during uprisings in countryside (Great Fear)

Question 28

What was the Declaration of the rights of man and citizen?

Answer 28

A new constitution derived from Enlightenment principles (cornerstone of revolution)

Question 29

What caused the October Days 1789?

Answer 29

• Louis XVI held banquet where Marat rumored in his newspaper that they stamped on the tricolore
• Louis summoned more troops to Paris

Question 30

What happened during the October Days?

Answer 30

5 October 1789 - around 7,000 people (mainly fishmonger’s wives) set out to Versailles

6 October 1789 - mob escorted royal family to Tuileries Palace

Assembly also moved to Paris so King and politicians are now subject to scrutiny of Parisian mobs

Question 31

What was the significance of the October Days in terms of the power of the Assembly?

Answer 31

Assembly were also moved to Paris with King so felt humiliated and just as imprisoned as King

Question 32

What was the significance of the October Days in terms of the role of the people?

Answer 32

• increased radicalisation of people and mobilisation of third estate

Question 33

What was the significance of the October Days in terms of the role of the press?

Answer 33

• Press became more influential

Question 34

What was the significance of the October Days in terms of the King’s power?

Answer 34

• suspensory veto meant King no longer had absolute power

- King is now a prisoner of Paris