French Revolution Unit Test

Question 1

The Old Regime

Answer 1

The political and social system of France before the Revolution

Question 2

Tennis Court Oath

Answer 2

Representatives of the 3rd Estate vowed that they would not adjourn until they had written a new constitution in France.

Question 3

The Storming of the Bastille

Answer 3

Rumors spread that the king had hired mercenaries to c ome into Paris and kill the people. The people stormed the Paris Prison (Bastille) looking for ammunition.

Question 4

The Great Fear

Answer 4

In 1789 the peasants, fearing nobles had hired thugs to attack them, broke into manor homes of the nobles and destroyed legal papers that had bound them to their feudal dues & obligations.

Question 5

March of the Women

Answer 5

In Oct. 1789 6,000 women marched to the Palace of Versaille to bring their complaints directly to the king. They forced the king and his family to return to Paris.

Question 6

National Assembly

Answer 6

The representatives of the 3rd Estate declared themselves a National Assembly or the true representatives of the French. This was the FIRST ACT Of THE REVOLUTION!!!

Question 7

Jacobins

Answer 7

A radical political club that wanted to remove the king and establish a republic. Jean Paul Marat was one of their leaders. (RADICAL)

Question 8

Girondists

Answer 8

They did not want to execute the king. They wanted to keep the Limited Constitutional Monarchy
(Moderates)

Question 9

The Monarchists (Royalists)

Answer 9

The did not want to make any political changes. They wanted to return to the Absolute Monarchy
(Conservatives)

Question 10

National Convention

Answer 10

The legislative branch of both the radical and moderate republics of France during the Rev

Question 11

Reign of Terror

Answer 11

Attempt by the Committee for Public Safety to destroy the internal enemies of the new French Republic. 40,000 people were guillotined.

Question 12

The Directory

Answer 12

The last government during the French Revolution. It was a moderate 5 man executive branch that was corrupt and incompetent. Napoleon overthrew them.

Question 13

Committee for Public Safety

Answer 13

Led by Robespierre this organization was given dictatorial powers. It was responsible for the Reign of Terror.

Question 14

Law of the 4th of August

Answer 14

• Written to appease the peasants. Serfs were granted freedom from feudal dues and obligations and church tithes.
• The nobles lost their feudal privileges
• The church lost its 10% tithe

Question 15

The Declaration of the Rights of Man

Answer 15

It reflected the ideals of the Philosophes.
The 3rd Estate gained equal rights before the law.
Everyone gained freedom of speech and religion.
The nobility lost their special privileges and position before the law

Question 16

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy

Answer 16

The church lost its lands and its political independence.
The clergy had to obey French law.
The clergy had to swear allegiance to the provisions of the new constitution or could not continue to practice.
The people gained the right to select their religious leaders.
Many priests & bishops left France. This drove a wedge between the devout peasants & the bourgeoisie. The peasants began to oppose further revolutionary changes of the middle class.

Question 17

The Constitution of 1791

Answer 17

This was the first constitution of the French Rev. The King lost his absolute authority as his power was limited by law.
He could veto a law, but not block it absolutely, he could propose war, but not declare it, & he could select ministers.
The Legislative Assembly-Made laws, levied taxes, spent public funds, declared war.
Only males who paid a specific amount of taxes could elect members to the legislature.
Citizens were equal before the law

Question 18

Maximilien Robespierre

Answer 18

A Jacobin and leader of the Paris Commune (city govt. of Paris) and the leader of the Committee for Public Safety. He was responsible for the Reign of Terror. His death by the guillotine ended the Reign of Terror and led to a more moderate Republic, the Directory

Question 19

Abbe Sieyes

Answer 19

An abbot who encouraged the Third Estate representatives to declare themselves a National Assembly, the true representatives of the French people

Question 20

Jean-Paul Marat

Answer 20

He founded the radical French newspaper “The Friend of the People” and verbally attacked the Girondists. He was stabbed by a royalist sympathizer, Charlotte Corday, while in the bathtub.

Question 21

Georges Jacques Danton

Answer 21

He was a member of the Paris Commune and a Leader of the Girondists. He was devoted to helping the poor of Paris. He verbally attacked the dictatorship of the Committee for Public Safety & the Reign of Terror run by Robespierre and was tried and beheaded.

Question 22

Political Causes of the Revolution

Answer 22

Absolute Monarchy (Divine Right Rule)
People had no voice in the government
Legal inequality before the law (nobles had preferential treatment)
Legislative branch had not met almost 200 years
No other legal recourse (no trial by jury, no court of appeals)

Question 23

Economic Causes of the French Revolution

Answer 23

French government was going bankrupt

• Expenditures of the Queen, Marie Antoinette
• Financial aid for the American Revolution: $250 Million
• Inefficient economic policies of previous Kings Louis XIV & XV
• 7 Years War/French and Indian War
• Versailles Palace – 300 Billion dollars

Inflation

• Poor harvest (drought) caused an increase in food prices which led to an increase in other goods
• Nobles increased the feudal dues and rent paid by the peasants.
• Goods once free now cost money (firewood)

Question 24

Social Causes of the French Revolution

Answer 24

Social differences defined by law
Legal stratification (division) of the 3 classes
No social mobility
No intermarriage between the social classes
Tension between the rich and the poor

Question 25

They wanted to take part in the festivities (parties) at court.

Answer 25

Bourgeoisie

Question 26

They wanted to limit the political power of the king

Answer 26

2nd Estate (Nobles)

Question 27

What did the French Revolution Accomplish/Results?

Answer 27

• Feudal System Abolished
• Chrurch lost political independence
• Proportional Taxation
• No more social class distinction
• It helped to unity the French people as a country
• It became an example for the later revolutions in the Latin American Colonies.