Quarter 1 Essay Practice

Question 1

Analyze the causes of the French Revolution. Include at least three causes.

Answer 1

• Outdated manorial system
• France’s poverty from American Revolution
• Failure of Estates General
• Crop failure
• Enlightenment Ideas

Question 2

Assess the influence of the Enlightenment ideals in the actions of the National Assembly and the Reign of Terror.

Answer 2

• Principle of liberty
• Equality before the law
• Economic equality
• Abolition of feudalism
• Declaration of the Rights

Question 3

Examine the role of the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.

Answer 3

• 12-man dictatorship with Robespierre as the figurehead
• Served as judicial branch of government that sentenced countless to the guillotine
• Created environment of fear and terror, suppressing freedom of speech and opinion

Question 4

To what extent was the French Revolution a success?

Answer 4

• Successful in that it removed the feudal government system and absolute monarchy
• Unsuccessful in that it was slow to fully enact liberalism and legal equality within government