Questions and Answers
What are the three distinct social classes in France during the 1700s?
Estate
What is the King's Palace of France called?
Versailles
What was the First Estate?
Roman Catholic clergy
What is the significance of the Bastille?
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Which group comprised 97 percent of France's population before the revolution?
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What did the Second Estate consist of?
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What was the situation for members of the Third Estate before the revolution?
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Why did King Louis XVI summon the Estates-General in 1789?
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What was the main source of income for the nobility?
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What estate did commoners including the bourgeoisie, professionals, and peasants make up?
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What was the Reign of Terror?
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What was NOT guaranteed by the Declaration of the Rights of Man?
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What is considered one of Napoleon's greatest impacts?
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Which factors contributed to France's financial crisis?
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What was the wave of peasant violence following the storming of the Bastille called?
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What event did the Congress of Vienna accomplish?
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Which group made up the vast majority of French society?
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Who was Marie Antoinette married to?
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What did the National Assembly vow in the Tennis Court Oath?
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What did the National Convention vote to declare in 1792?
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What happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette in 1793?
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Who led the Reign of Terror?
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What was one of the treasonous acts committed by Louis XVI?
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How did the Napoleonic Code reflect Enlightenment principles?
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Where was Napoleon imprisoned after his final defeat?
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Which statement about France's social structures is true?
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What was the political body of France called?
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Who created and led the Committee of Public Safety?
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Why did the French people welcome Napoleon?
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Which document declared that all men are free and equal?
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What kind of government was common in Europe, including France, before the revolution?
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What caused the Great Fear?
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What were some of the causes of the French Revolution?
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What governing body wrote the second constitution and changed the French government?
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What are three ways Napoleon impacted France and Europe?
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Study Notes
Social Structure in Pre-Revolutionary France
- France had three estates: First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (commoners).
- The First Estate comprised 1% of the population, primarily Roman Catholic clergy.
- The Second Estate consisted of nobles who paid minimal taxes.
- The Third Estate made up 97% of France's population, including bourgeoisie, professionals, peasants, and urban workers.
Key Events and Terms
- The Bastille was a notorious prison in Paris, stormed on July 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
- The Great Fear spread across rural France following the storming of the Bastille, driven by fears of royal reprisals against the peasantry.
- King Louis XVI convened the Estates-General in 1789 to address the financial crisis and raise taxes.
The French Revolution
- The National Assembly was formed by the Third Estate, vowing to draft a new constitution in the Tennis Court Oath.
- In 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France was proclaimed a republic.
- King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were executed in 1793.
- The Reign of Terror saw around 40,000 executions, led by Maximilien Robespierre through the Committee of Public Safety.
Revolutionary Ideals and Documents
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed that all men are free and equal, although it did not grant equal rights to women.
- The Napoleonic Code established legal equality for citizens, reflecting Enlightenment principles.
Consequences and Aftermath
- The Congress of Vienna aimed to restore the monarchy and redraw the political map of Europe.
- After his defeat in 1815, Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena.
- Political inequality existed within estate structures, contributing to revolutionary sentiments.
Financial Crisis and Societal Issues
- Factors leading to the French Revolution included deficit spending, food shortages from bad harvests, and heavy taxes on the Third Estate.
- The nobility's income was primarily derived from feudal dues extracted from peasants.
Historical Figures
- Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, symbolized royal excess and appeared disconnected from her subjects’ hardships.
- Robespierre emerged as a leading figure during the Reign of Terror, advocating radical measures against perceived enemies of the revolution.
Legacy of the Revolution
- Napoleon’s influence included the spread of Enlightenment ideas, establishment of the Napoleonic Code, and initiation of a French national banking system.
- The ultimate changes led to a shift towards democratic governance in France with the establishment of various republics following the revolution.
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Description
Explore key terms from the French Revolution with these flashcards. Each card provides essential definitions that help you understand the social classes, significant locations, and events of 18th-century France. Ideal for students studying French history.
