The French Revolution

Question 1

When did the French Revolution begin?

Answer 1

The French Revolution began on 14 July 1789.

Question 2

Why did people storm the Bastille?

Answer 2

• A severe winter had meant a bad harvest and the price of bread rose.
• At the same time the king order troops to move into Paris, agitating the citizens. Rumors that the King planned to use military force against the National Assembly.
• Rumours spread that the lords of the manor had hired brigands to destroy the rice crop.
• Thus, people stormed the Bastille to find hoarded ammunition and because it symbolized the king’s despotic power.

Question 3

What was the immediate cause of the French Revolution?

Answer 3

The financial crisis due to years of war, heavy taxation on the Third Estate, and food scarcity.

Question 4

Who was the king of France at the start of the Revolution?

Answer 4

King Louis XVI of the Bourbon dynasty.

Question 5

Why was the Bastille hated by the people?

Answer 5

It represented the absolute monarchy’s oppression and despotism.

Question 6

What was the Third Estate?

Answer 6

The common people, including peasants(90%), artisans, and the middle class, who paid all taxes.

Question 7

What were the three Estates in France before the Revolution?

Answer 7

1st Estate: Clergy, 2nd Estate: Nobility, 3rd Estate: Commoners.

Question 8

What is the Old Regime?

Answer 8

• The socio-political and economic system of France before the Revolution in 1789.
• Before the French revolution, French society was divided into three estates. This system of estates was called the “Old Regime”.

Question 9

What taxes were paid by the Third Estate?

Answer 9

• Direct Taxes - Taille (tax to the state), Tithe (tax to the Church)
• Indirect taxes on salt, tobacco, etc.

Question 10

Who were the Jacobins?

Answer 10

A radical revolutionary group led by Maximilien Robespierre.

Question 11

Who wrote ‘What is the Third Estate?’ and what was its main idea?

Answer 11

Abbé Sieyès, arguing that the Third Estate was the true nation of France.

Question 12

What were the main ideas of John Locke and Rousseau?

Answer 12

Locke opposed divine rights of kings; Rousseau proposed a social contract where government derives power from the people.

Question 13

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

Answer 13

A pledge by the Third Estate delegates to draft a new constitution, taken on 20 June 1789.

Question 14

What was the significance of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?

Answer 14

It established liberty, equality, and fraternity as fundamental rights.

Question 15

When did France become a constitutional monarchy?

Answer 15

In 1791, with the adoption of the Constitution of 1791.

Question 16

Who were the sans-culottes?

Answer 16

Radical revolutionaries from the working-class who rejected aristocratic fashion.

Question 17

What event led to the execution of King Louis XVI?

Answer 17

He was tried for treason and executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793.

Question 18

What was the Reign of Terror?

Answer 18

A period (1793-1794) when Robespierre executed thousands of ‘enemies of the revolution’.

Question 19

How was the monarchy abolished in France?

Answer 19

On 21 September 1792, the National Convention declared France a republic.

Question 20

Who was Robespierre?

Answer 20

Leader of the Jacobins, he ruled France during the Reign of Terror but was later executed in 1794.

Question 21

What was the significance of the guillotine?

Answer 21

It was used for executions, symbolizing equality in death.

Question 22

What changes were made under Robespierre’s rule?

Answer 22

Maximum wage and price limits, rationing of food, renaming of citizens, closing of churches.

Question 23

When did Napoleon Bonaparte come to power?

Answer 23

In 1799, he staged a coup and later became Emperor in 1804.

Question 24

What was the role of women in the French Revolution?

Answer 24

Women participated in protests, formed clubs, demanded education and voting rights.

Question 25

Who was Olympe de Gouges?

Answer 25

A revolutionary woman who wrote the ‘Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen’.

Question 26

What happened to Olympe de Gouges?

Answer 26

She was executed in 1793 for her revolutionary ideas.

Question 27

When was slavery abolished in the French colonies?

Answer 27

It was abolished in 1794 but reinstated by Napoleon in 1804, and finally abolished in 1848.

Question 28

What was the Directory?

Answer 28

A five-member executive government established after the fall of the Jacobins in 1795.

Question 29

Why did the Directory fail?

Answer 29

It was unstable and corrupt, paving the way for Napoleon’s rise.

Question 30

What role did Napoleon play in the French Revolution?

Answer 30

He spread revolutionary ideas across Europe but also established himself as a dictator.

Question 31

What were the long-term impacts of the French Revolution?

Answer 31

It inspired democratic movements worldwide, abolished feudal privileges, and promoted equality.

Question 32

Which document from the French Revolution inspired modern human rights?

Answer 32

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

Question 33

What is the legacy of the French Revolution?

Answer 33

It led to the rise of democracy, nationalism, and modern human rights principles.

Question 34

How did the French Revolution affect other countries?

Answer 34

It inspired revolutions in Europe and independence movements in Latin America.

Question 35

What was the National Assembly?

Answer 35

A body formed by the Third Estate that drafted the first constitution of France.

Question 36

What was the Great Fear?

Answer 36

A wave of panic where peasants attacked nobles’ estates fearing retaliation.

Question 37

What was the significance of the Marseillaise?

Answer 37

It became the French national anthem, symbolizing revolutionary zeal.

Question 38

What role did newspapers and pamphlets play in the Revolution?

Answer 38

They spread revolutionary ideas and debates to the masses.

Question 39

Why did people oppose the monarchy?

Answer 39

Due to absolute rule, heavy taxation, economic hardship, and lack of representation.

Question 40

What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

Answer 40

A 1790 law that put the Church under state control.

Question 41

Why did the Revolution radicalize after 1792?

Answer 41

Economic hardship, foreign threats, and royalist conspiracies led to extreme measures.

Question 42

Who were the émigrés?

Answer 42

Nobles who fled France during the Revolution fearing persecution.

Question 43

What was the September Massacre?

Answer 43

A 1792 event where revolutionaries killed thousands of prisoners suspected of royalist ties.

Question 44

How did the French Revolution impact women’s rights?

Answer 44

It initiated demands for equality, education, and political participation, though full rights came later.

Question 45

What was Napoleon’s Code?

Answer 45

A legal code that standardized laws and promoted merit-based society.

Question 46

What happened at the Battle of Waterloo?

Answer 46

Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815, ending his rule.

Question 47

What was the significance of the Estates-General of 1789?

Answer 47

It marked the beginning of the Revolution as the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly.

Question 48

What happened to Marie Antoinette?

Answer 48

She was executed on 16 October 1793 for alleged treason.

Question 49

What were the economic causes of the Revolution?

Answer 49

Debt from wars, high taxation, food shortages, and a lavish monarchy led to financial crisis.

Question 50

Describe the economic crisis that led to the French Revolution.

Answer 50

France faced severe financial difficulties due to years of war, extravagant spending by the monarchy, and an outdated tax system. The country had accumulated a debt of over 2 billion livres. To pay off these debts, Louis XVI increased taxes, but only the Third Estate bore the burden as the clergy and nobility were exempt. This, along with rising bread prices and poor harvests, created immense hardship for common people, fueling widespread discontent and ultimately sparking the Revolution.

Question 51

Explain the social structure of France before the Revolution.

Answer 51

French society was divided into three estates. The First Estate comprised the clergy, who were privileged and exempt from taxes. The Second Estate included the nobility, who also enjoyed privileges and held high positions in the government and military. The Third Estate consisted of commoners, including peasants, artisans, merchants, and the bourgeoisie. Despite forming 98% of the population, they had no political power and bore the entire tax burden. This inequality led to resentment and demands for reform.

Question 52

What was the role of the Enlightenment in the French Revolution?

Answer 52

The Enlightenment introduced new political ideas emphasizing reason, equality, and individual rights. Philosophers like John Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu criticized absolute monarchy and proposed government based on consent of the governed. Rousseau’s concept of the ‘social contract’ argued that political authority must come from the people, while Montesquieu’s ideas on the separation of powers influenced the drafting of the French Constitution. These ideas inspired revolutionaries to challenge the existing system and demand democracy.

Question 53

What was the Estates-General of 1789, and why was it important?

Answer 53

The Estates-General was a political assembly where representatives from all three estates met to discuss financial and political matters. Louis XVI convened it on 5 May 1789 to approve new taxes. Traditionally, each estate had one vote, but the Third Estate demanded voting based on population, giving them a majority. When their demands were rejected, they broke away and declared themselves the National Assembly. This marked the first direct challenge to the king’s authority and signaled the start of the Revolution.

Question 54

What was the significance of the Tennis Court Oath?

Answer 54

After being locked out of their meeting hall, members of the Third Estate gathered in an indoor tennis court on 20 June 1789. They swore not to disperse until they had drafted a new constitution. This event, known as the Tennis Court Oath, was a crucial moment in the Revolution. It showed the determination of the Third Estate to establish a government based on constitutional principles and limit the king’s power.

Question 55

Describe the impact of the storming of the Bastille.

Answer 55

On 14 July 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris, to seize weapons and ammunition. The Bastille symbolized royal tyranny, and its fall marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The event demonstrated the power of the common people, led to the spread of revolutionary fervor across France, and forced King Louis XVI to recognize the National Assembly. Bastille Day is now celebrated as France’s national holiday.

Question 56

How did the National Assembly reform French society?

Answer 56

The National Assembly introduced significant reforms, including: 1. Abolition of feudal privileges, ending the special rights of the clergy and nobility. 2. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, establishing equality and fundamental rights. 3. Civil Constitution of the Clergy, reducing Church influence and bringing it under state control. 4. Drafting of the Constitution of 1791, which created a constitutional monarchy and separated powers among the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

Question 57

What were the major features of the Constitution of 1791?

Answer 57

The Constitution of 1791 transformed France into a constitutional monarchy. Its key features were: 1. The monarchy was retained but with limited powers. 2. The National Assembly was given the power to make laws and was elected by active citizens. 3. Voting rights were granted only to men above 25 years who paid a certain amount of tax (active citizens). 4. Powers were divided among the legislative, executive, and judiciary to prevent absolute rule. 5. Church lands were seized and sold to pay off debts. Although the Constitution granted rights, it still excluded women and the poor from full political participation.

Question 58

What was the Reign of Terror, and why was it significant?

Answer 58

The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) was a period of extreme violence led by Robespierre. The government arrested and executed thousands, including nobles, clergy, and even revolutionaries deemed disloyal. The guillotine became the symbol of this period. Robespierre introduced strict economic controls and policies to enforce equality. However, his radical measures led to his downfall, and he was executed in July 1794. The Reign of Terror demonstrated the dangers of unchecked revolutionary zeal.

Question 59

How did Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power?

Answer 59

Napoleon rose to power due to political instability following the fall of the Jacobins and the Directory’s failure. He was a military general who gained popularity through his victories. In 1799, he staged a coup d’état, overthrowing the Directory and establishing himself as First Consul. By 1804, he crowned himself Emperor of France, marking the end of the Revolution and the start of his rule.

Question 60

What were Napoleon’s major reforms?

Answer 60

Napoleon introduced several reforms to stabilize France and expand revolutionary ideals: 1. Napoleonic Code: A legal framework ensuring equality before the law, religious tolerance, and property rights. 2. Education Reforms: Established schools to train future administrators. 3. Economic Reforms: Stabilized the currency and encouraged trade. 4. Administrative Reforms: Created an efficient bureaucracy based on merit rather than birth. These reforms had a lasting impact on France and influenced legal systems worldwide.

Question 61

What was the legacy of the French Revolution?

Answer 61

The French Revolution had a profound global impact: 1. End of monarchy and feudalism in France. 2. Establishment of democratic ideals, inspiring revolutions in Europe and Latin America. 3. Spread of nationalism and the idea of popular sovereignty. 4. Introduction of human rights and civil liberties as fundamental principles. Although it led to instability and violence, its ideals shaped modern democratic governments.

Question 62

Who was the President of the National Assembly (He led the tennis court oath, as he stood in the center)

Answer 62

Bailly, The President of the Assembly