The French Revolution

Question 1

What is a political revolution

Answer 1

A total change in the system of government

Question 2

When does a political revolution start

Answer 2

When people have been dissatisfied with conditions of the country for a long time. They see no other way for things to change other than to rise up and overthrow the leaders.

Question 3

What do historians argue about revolutions

Answer 3

They happen when people has hope that changes will be made but they are never carried out. The disappointment is more likely to bring a revolution than if there is no hope or when oppression is at its worst.

Question 4

What was the calling together of parliament called and when did it take place

Answer 4

The Estates General

1789

Question 5

What was the UK like at the time

Answer 5

The king shared his power with the parliament (his power was not absolute)

Question 6

What was Russia like at this time

Answer 6

The ruler (aka the Tsar) had absolute power. It was a feudal system.

Question 7

What are the four types of revolution

Answer 7

Political (change in government)
Economic (industrial revolution)
Cultural (change in music styles)
Technological (the computer revolution)

Question 8

What made the French Revolution possible

Answer 8

• people did not like the political system or social structure
• influence of new ideas on freedom and equality
• economic crisis (conditions of poverty and hunger)
• disappointment of the Estates General to rise tax

Question 9

What kind of government did France have in 1789

Answer 9

An absolute monarchy

Question 10

What was their form of parliament

Answer 10

The Estates General

Question 11

What was the problem with the Estates General

Answer 11

They could only meet if the king allowed it to

Question 12

How long had it been since the Estates General had met

Answer 12

175 years

Question 13

Who was the king in 1789

Answer 13

King Louis XVI

Question 14

How did the king come into power

Answer 14

He inherited the position from his grandfather

Question 15

Was the king a good leader, what did this lead to

Answer 15

No, it lead to making educated people begin to question the system of an absolute monarchy.

Question 16

Why was the king not a good one

Answer 16

He didn’t want to be king, he was more interested in hunting and spending time with his family, Louis also enjoys long walks on the beach and star gazing.

Question 17

Why was France in dept

Answer 17

They had been involved in many wars during the 18th century and the government had to borrow many to pay fourfold, weapons and wages for the army.
In 1780 they had to borrow more money to pay only the interest on these debts.
They didn’t collect enough taxes as the wealthy didn’t have to pay taxes.

Question 18

What are the three estates (social classes) of France

Answer 18

The first estate - the clergy (the church)
The second estate - the nobles (inherited titles)
The third estate - the rest (middle class, urban workers and poorer farmers aka the peasants)

Question 19

What was the French name for the middle class

Answer 19

The bourgeoisie

Question 20

Who were the bourgeoisie

Answer 20

The business people like shopkeepers and professional people like doctors and lawyers, generally they were well educated and some even wealthy.
Most were best qualified to play leading roles but positions were almost always given to nobles

Question 21

Why was the middle class frustrated

Answer 21

By their lack of opportunity and political power. They wanted a system based on merit. They criticized the lack of speech and laws which restricted trade. The disliked the facts that the law did not treat everyone as equal.

Question 22

Who was the largest part of the population.

Answer 22

Peasant farmers who mostly worked on land owned by the church and the nobles.

Question 23

What was the idea that the king was chosen by the gods

Answer 23

The Divine Right of Kings

Question 24

What did philosophers urge people to do during this time, what was this time called

Answer 24

To question ideas like the divine right of kings and to think critically instead of accepting the words of those in power,
It was called the “Age of Enlightenment”

Question 25

Who was the philosopher that criticized the church for being corrupt and worldly, what else did he speak out about, what happened to him

Answer 25

Voltaire, he spoke out about injustice and believed everyone should be able to express their opinions freely.
He was imprisoned many times in the Bastille jail and was later in exile for 20 years.

Question 26

What is a revolution

Answer 26

A time when a dramatic change happens