Study Guide 2

Question 1

Why were government finances in France of the 1780s in such terrible shape?

Answer 1

Because the wealthiest didn’t pay taxes and the middle classes essentially wanted to become nobleman so they didn’t have to pay taxes. Also, the court of Versailles and other palaces were enormously wasteful in spending.

Question 2

What philosophical and financial effects did the American Revolution have upon France?

Answer 2

Philosophical: confirms to the French Enlightenment thinkers that a number of intelligent people like Washington and Jefferson can get together and create a good new national government, and so the French can do it as well.

Financial: The French help the Americans completely with their finances.

Question 3

What were the major principles of late 18th century and 19th century liberalism?

Answer 3

Constitution (established rule of law), freedom of speech, religion, press, and political participation of the middle classes. Important because it is JUST the middle classes.

Question 4

Why was the Tennis Court Oath of June 20, 1789 a revolutionary act?

Answer 4

Because the new parliament was proclaimed by EVERYBODY, not the CHURCH or NOBILITY.

Question 5

Why did the National Assembly create two political categories: “active” and “passive citizens”?

Answer 5

Active: were considered literate citizens who could use reason, and therefore they were the ones who got to vote and get elected. Passive citizens: the ones who couldn’t vote and had no property rights.

Question 6

Edmund Burke’s rejection of the Revolution was an indication of what larger development in European society – in other words, which major political philosophy does he articulate, and what is the philosophical position of the middle classes? What did he predict about the French Revolution after only a year?

Answer 6

The break-up of liberalism and the middle-classes into opposing forces regarding revolution; revolutionary liberalism vs conservative liberalism; “your horizons will be filled with gallows”

Question 7

What were the Jacobins, how did they control the National Assembly, and how were they able to set up such an effective and authoritarian political party system?

Answer 7

The Jacobins were a revolutionary political group that was distinguished for its left-wing, revolutionary politics. Because they followed the masons’ system and so they just followed that system.

Question 8

What was the “Flight to Varennes”, in which month and year did it occur, and what are its implications for the government in Paris?

Answer 8

When the King and Queen of France try to escape after being held captive in Paris. Occurred in June 1791. The National Assembly is creating a constitutional monarchy, but the monarchy clearly doesn’t want to play anymore and they can’t be trusted.

Question 9

What did Olympes de Gouges publish in 1791, and for which ideology did it lay the foundation? What happened to her within 2 years?

Answer 9

Writes Declaration for the Rights of Women. Foundation of feminism. Within 2 years, she is executed at the guillotine.

Question 10

Why were other European powers, such as Great Britain, Prussia and the Habsburgs very reluctant to intervene in France at this time in spite of the pressures exerted by powerful émigrés?

Answer 10

Because 1. don’t want a civil war and 2. they are underestimating what was happening.

Question 11

Who replaced the Habsburg Emperor Leopold II when he died in 1792? The National Assembly in Paris promptly declared war on the new Emperor – why, and how old was he at the time?

Answer 11

Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. Because land is power and prestige, and they were battling for it. He was 24.

Question 12

What was the governmental outcome of the “insurrection of August 10, 1792” – for example, what was the “Commune”, and what did this city government do to the National Assembly?

Answer 12

The Commune was the result of the city government of Paris being overthrown; this radical government overthrows the National Assembly and calls for elections.

Question 13

What were the “September Massacres’? What fate befell the Princess Lamballe? What appears to have been the purpose of these atrocities?

Answer 13

Attack upon everything that related to the Royals and set the stage for the abolition of the Monarchy. The Princess Lamballe is tortured and destroyed physically because she is the best friend of the queen and the symbol of what they would do to the queen. All of this happens within a week and leads us to Robespierre and his government. His government becomes the First Republic.

Question 14

Robespierre’s new government proclaimed a levée en masse. What was this, and was it successful?

Answer 14

Means a mobilization of the masses and everyone gets involved in the war against the Austrians and the Royalists. Becomes and example of the birth of nationalism because Robespierre’s government proclaims that we are doing this for France. For us! This motivates people to do a great deal more.

Question 15

What was the purpose of “the Terror”, and why was it so shocking to Europeans?

Answer 15

The Terror was to emphasize that the new government is established on virtue and that if you don’t accept it, you must leave or die. This was shocking because no one expected that so many people would be killed for such slim reasons.

Question 16

Why did Robespierre’s government become increasingly “Paranoid”, and how could citizens demonstrate that they were truly loyal to the Republic? What does the term “radical” mean?

Answer 16

Because you don’t know what people are thinking. You prove your loyalty by denouncing someone else. Means to change down to the roots.

Question 17

Who was Jacques Louis David? What was his role in the Revolution? How did he survive Robespierre and his fall?

Answer 17

Famous painter. His role was to use his art as propaganda. eventually, he becomes head of the Parliament. He becomes president of the National Convention. When Robespierre falls, he survives because of his wife and because he was able to argue that he was just a painter and was no threat.

Question 18

When was Marie Antoinette executed? Do you think Marie Antoinette was a tragic heroine? Explain how you would evaluate her life and role in history.

Answer 18

She was executed October 16, 1793. I would certainly say that Marie Antoinette was a tragic life heroine. Marie Antoinette was victim of the public perceptions of the French people, and became captive in her own capital with her husband, Louis XVI. She was accused of stealing a diamond necklace; she could never convince the public that she had not committed this crime. Because of how little the French people trusted her, she become a symbol quite accidentally of the downfall and decline of the monarchy. What is perhaps most tragic about her is that she didn’t CHOOSE any of this. She was born as the daughter of Maria Therésa and her mother chose to place her on the throne in France. She became a victim of her times (the Reign of Terror) and represented, to the French people, an example of the irrelevance decline of the monarchy.

Question 19

The statement, “The Revolution eats its own children”, was first formulated in the early 1800s.

a. Explain what it means and give at least two examples.
b. Also give at least two examples of men who seemed to survive the roller-coaster ride of this historical period quite well. Explain why you think their example does or does not undermine this chilling statement.

Answer 19

a. It means that those figures who so actively brought about significant changes and sought to terrorize the country inevitably ended up dying of the fate that they had designed for the masses. Robespierre is an example and also Louis Antoine de Saint-Just.
b. NOT SURE