The course of the revolution

Question 1

The slogan of the revolution was “Liberty, equality, and fraternity”, what did the people mean when they said
Liberty:

Answer 1

Was a call for individual human rights, such as freedom of speech and religion.

Question 2

Equality:

Answer 2

Was the desire for identical rights instead of special privileges for few. They wanted opportunity and the ability to obtain any position.

Question 3

Fraternity:

Answer 3

Means brotherhood, the revolutionaries believed in a sense of belonging and of working together for the same purpose for the good of the community.

Question 4

3 main stages of the revolution

Answer 4

1. The period of reform
2. The period of violent change
3. Reaction and the end of the revolution.

Question 5

What event began the revolution?

Answer 5

It began when the people of Paris attacked and captured the Bastille, an old castle used as a prison, because it was a symbol of royal authority.

Question 6

What did the third estate do to begin the reform?

Answer 6

The third estate met at Versailles and called themselves the National Assembly.

And vowed to continue working until they had drawn up a constitution for France. This vow was called the Tennis Court Oath.

Question 7

What led to the attack of the Bastille?

Answer 7

-High unemployment and bread prices continued to rise. People were spending most of their wages on bread.
-On July 1789 a crowd of angry people stormed the Bastille and when news of their success spread ordinary people throughout France joined the revolution.

Question 8

Period of reform

The national assembly introduced many constructive reforms:

Answer 8

1. They agreed to end the special privileges of the nobles.
2. They established a constitutional monarchy and an elected parliament. All men over 25 were allowed to vote.
3. They nationalized the property of the church.
4. They reformed the system of justice.
5. They drew up the declaration of rights of man and citizen.

Question 9

What was the problem with declaration of rights of man?

Answer 9

It was mainly concerned with the things that mattered to the better off classes and had little to offer for the poor.

Question 10

Why were the people angry with the king and his wife and what did they do?

Answer 10

A large crowd of angry working-class women marched to Versailles.
They were especially angry with the king’s Austrian wife, Marie Antoinette, because of her lavish lifestyle and her insensitivity.

Question 11

What caused the king to try leave France for help from other monarchies?

Answer 11

Louis XVI no longer had any real power and decided to leave France in secret but was discovered near the border and was imprisoned and later executed.

Question 12

The period of violent change

What caused the revolution to be under threat?

Answer 12

France was fighting against Austria, England, Spain and Sardinia. These countries wanted to crush the revolution and restore the monarchy.
However, France raised an army and put up a fight.

Question 13

Why were some against the revolution?

Answer 13

People were devout Catholics and didn’t like the revolutions criticism of the church. And people were upset about the conscription.

Question 14

What new government was formed?

Answer 14

The National Convention replaced the national assembly, and the revolution went through a very violent stage.

Question 15

How did the national convention work?

Answer 15

-Extremist political clubs like the Jacobin Club dominated the national convention.

-The convention formed a committee of public safety to run France. The leaders were Danton and Robespierre.

-It used a combination of planning and terror to unite the nation.

Question 16

What were the consequences of “The reign of terror” and how did it end?

Answer 16

-People suspected of disloyalty appeared before the revolutionary tribunal where they did not receive a fair trial.

-Rights such as free speech fell away and tens to hundreds of thousands of people were imprisoned and executed by guillotine or were drowned or shot.

-The terror finally ended after 2 years when Robespierre himself was executed.

Question 17

How were women discriminated against?

Answer 17

Men were the only ones given the right to vote.
Women formed clubs to petition the right to vote but were disbanded.

Question 18

Reaction and the end of the revolution

What new government took the place of the national convention?

Answer 18

A conservative government, the Directory, came to power and put an end to the terror. France was governed by a committee of five men (the directory).

It was supported by the moderate middle class, the provincial towns and the peasants.

It closed down radical political clubs, and changes the voting system so that only wealthier men could vote.