French Revolution Key Individuals

Question 1

King Louis XVI

Answer 1

King of France from 1754-1793
He was an absolute monarch but was executed by revolutionaries in January 1793

Question 2

Marie-Antoinette

Answer 2

Born the Archduchess of Austria and became Last Queen of France before the revolution when she married Louis XVI in 1770. She was unpopular amongst the french population due to her excessive spending on indulgences and rumoured affairs. She had four children.

Question 3

Voltaire

Answer 3

Key enlightenment thinker, criticised the Catholic Church due to its corruption and wealth. He was a strong believer in a constitutional monarchy and admired the English monarchy and society. Spent a year in the Bastille after producing poetry about the nobility

Question 4

De Brienne

Answer 4

Finance minister of Louis XVI and french nobleman and politician

Question 5

Charles-Alexandre de Calonne

Answer 5

Louis’ controller general of finance leading up to the French Revolution, failed to pass reforms that would reduce government spending and implement property tax

Question 6

Diderot

Answer 6

Enlightenment thinker who produced the ‘encyclopedie’ in 1772 which was a compilation of all the worlds essential knowledge. He focused on modern ideas and criticised traditional beliefs such as beliefs of the Catholic Church and the idea of an absolute monarchy

Question 7

Marquis de Lafayette

Answer 7

French aristocrat and military officer who volunteered to join the army in the American Revolutionary war, in 1789 he helped to launch the revolution

Question 8

Mirabeau

Answer 8

French politician and influential member of the National Assembly during the early stages of the French Revolution

Question 9

Jacques Necker

Answer 9

Finance minister for Louis XVI, he implemented a rigorous economic policy which reduced the crowns expenditure and imposed structural reforms on the way the royal finances were administered

Question 10

Philippe, duc d’Orléans

Answer 10

French duke, youngest song of king Louis XIII

Question 11

Thomas Paine

Answer 11

English born American foundling father who supported the revolutionary cases in Europe and America. Published the ‘rights of man’ in 1791 and defended the rights of the French Revolution

Question 12

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Answer 12

Key enlightenment thinker who articulated the key idea of a social contract existing between government and individuals and concluded thats law and order is needed for stability in society. Wrote many books

Question 13

Montesquieu

Answer 13

Satirical of aspects of the french society and in favour of a constitutional monarchy. Key enlightenment individual and believed in separating government powers into different departments to deal with different functions.

Question 14

Abbé Emmanuel- Joseph Sieyès

Answer 14

Churchman and constitutional theorist who helped initially guide the revolution by his involvement in the leadership of the National Assembly.

Question 15

Charles Talleyrand- Périgord

Answer 15

French clergyman who became agent general of the clergy in 1780

Question 16

Anne-Robert Jacques Turgot

Answer 16

French economist and statesmen, served as finance minister for Louis XVI , his ideas influenced key reforms in the revolution.