French Revolution

Question 1

Who was Queen of France in 1789 and where was she from?

Answer 1

Marie Antoinette. Austria

Question 2

Who was the leading member of the Committee of Public Safety at the time of the Terror?

Answer 2

Maximilian Robespierre

Question 3

What happened on 14th July, 1789?

Answer 3

The fall of the Bastille.

Question 4

In the ‘Estate System’ who was in the First Estate?

Answer 4

The clergy (the Church)

Question 5

In the Estate System who was in the Second Estate?

Answer 5

The aristocracy

Question 6

What does the term ‘Ancien Regime’ refer to?

Answer 6

The way France was ruled before the Revolution, under the Estate System.

Question 7

What was the Tennis Court Oath and why was it important?

Answer 7

It was a solemn promise made by the National Assembly, in a tennis court, when they were locked out of the Estates General by Louis XVI. They swore an oath that they would not go home until they had forced the king to make changes to the constitution, in order to make France a fairer place. In doing so, they began the French Revolution. It marked the end of Louis’ absolute monarchy.

Question 8

Who was King of France in 1789, when the revolution began?

Answer 8

Louis XVI

Question 9

Who was in the Third Estate?

Answer 9

Everyone in France who was not a member of the clergy, or an aristocrat. This amounted to to over 98% of the population. It included everyone from well-off doctors and lawyers down to poverty-stricken peasants.

Question 10

Which was the ONLY estate to pay tax, in France, before the Revolution?

Answer 10

The Third Estate

Question 11

Which TWO estates in France did not pay tax and why?

Answer 11

The First and Second Estates ( the Church and the Aristocracy). It was one of the privileges which came with their status (position in society).

Question 12

Why did members of the Third Estate feel that the system of government, in France, was unfair?

Answer 12

Because they paid all the tax, but had no say in government, whereas the First and Second Estates did not have to pay tax, and were able to influence the king.

Question 13

Why were many French peasants going hungry in 1789?

Answer 13

The price of bread was extremely high. There were poor harvests in 1787 and 1788 and the population had been increasing during the 18th century, which had resulted in an increase in the number of landless peasants.

Question 14

What was the ‘tithe’ and why was it resented by many French peasants?

Answer 14

It was a tax, representing a tenth of a person’s income, which had to be paid to the Church. Only the Third Estate had to pay this and for many, it was an intolerable burden when times were so hard. The Church was an extremely wealthy and powerful organisation. Priests, bishops and archbishops paid no tax. This seemed very unfair.

Question 15

Who marched to Versailles on 5th October, 1789 and why?

Answer 15

The women of Paris, accompanied by the National Guard. Many of them were working ‘fisher-women’ and came armed with knives. They were protesting at the continuing high price of bread. They came to demand that the King lower the price of bread and open the royal grain stores to the people of Paris.

Question 16

What was ‘declared’ on 26th August, 1789 and why was it important?

Answer 16

The National Assembly voted for the ‘Declaration of the Rights of Man’. This said that all men were equal and had the right to freedom and protection by the law.

Question 17

What was the tricolour?

Answer 17

The red, white and blue flag of the French Revolution.

Question 18

What was the ‘Flight to Varennes’ and why was it unsuccessful?

Answer 18

The Royal Family’s attempt to flee, in disguise, across the border to Austria, in June, 1791. It failed because they were too slow, and Louis’ identity was revealed when they stopped to rest and change horses.

Question 19

Who did France declare war on in April, 1792?

Answer 19

Austria and Prussia.

Question 20

When and how did Louis XVI die?

Answer 20

He was executed on 21st January, 1793. He was guillotined.

Question 21

Who were the ‘sans-culottes’?

Answer 21

Parisian revolutionaries who were from the working classes. The phrase means ‘without breeches’ (the short trousers worn by the rich). The sans-culottes tended to be violent revolutionaries and were in control of Paris during the Terror.

Question 22

What was ‘the Terror’ and when did it take place?

Answer 22

A terrible period of killing from Sept,1793 to July, 1794. Terror was used by the National Convention (the Revolutionary Government) to control the country, especially Paris and parts of France where a civil war was being fought against royalists. During the Terror many people were executed for being suspected of opposing the Revolution.

Question 23

When and why did the Terror end?

Answer 23

In July, 1794 when Robespierre (who was seen as being the leader of the Terror) was executed. He was guillotined. It was felt that enough blood had been shed. During the Terror 3000 had died in Paris and 14000 across France.

Question 24

What was the guillotine and why was it developed?

Answer 24

It was a method of execution, invented by Dr Guilllotin. It was made up of a wooden frame, with an extremely sharp blade, which when released, would decapitate the victim instantly. It was devised as a more humane and egalitarian form of execution i.e. death would be quick (and therefore less painful) and everyone (rich or poor) would face the same form of execution.