Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary purpose of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
What was the primary purpose of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
What was a major consequence of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
What was a major consequence of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
Which group was allowed to participate in elections after the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
Which group was allowed to participate in elections after the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
What action was taken against clergymen who refused to accept the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
What action was taken against clergymen who refused to accept the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the Civil Constitution of the Clergy impact the structure of the French government?
How did the Civil Constitution of the Clergy impact the structure of the French government?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements correctly describes the First Estate in France prior to the French Revolution?
Which of the following statements correctly describes the First Estate in France prior to the French Revolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one of the primary characteristics of the Second Estate in France?
What was one of the primary characteristics of the Second Estate in France?
Signup and view all the answers
Which group constituted the Third Estate in France?
Which group constituted the Third Estate in France?
Signup and view all the answers
In the context of the French Revolution, what does the term 'tithe' refer to?
In the context of the French Revolution, what does the term 'tithe' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the French clergy's financial situation contribute to the revolution?
How did the French clergy's financial situation contribute to the revolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What was a misconception regarding the clergy's role in the lead-up to the French Revolution?
What was a misconception regarding the clergy's role in the lead-up to the French Revolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of the French population did the nobility represent before the Revolution?
What percentage of the French population did the nobility represent before the Revolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What percentage of land did peasants own in France?
What percentage of land did peasants own in France?
Signup and view all the answers
What were the corvèe obligations imposed on peasants?
What were the corvèe obligations imposed on peasants?
Signup and view all the answers
What privilege did nobles enjoy that directly affected peasants?
What privilege did nobles enjoy that directly affected peasants?
Signup and view all the answers
Which group demanded political and social power to match their economic status?
Which group demanded political and social power to match their economic status?
Signup and view all the answers
Which Enlightenment philosopher's ideas were particularly popular among critics of the French government?
Which Enlightenment philosopher's ideas were particularly popular among critics of the French government?
Signup and view all the answers
The French Revolution was partly influenced by which other revolution?
The French Revolution was partly influenced by which other revolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What was a major criticism faced by the French government during the Enlightenment?
What was a major criticism faced by the French government during the Enlightenment?
Signup and view all the answers
What document allowed for imprisonment without charges in France?
What document allowed for imprisonment without charges in France?
Signup and view all the answers
Which economic theory was popular among the middle class in France during the Enlightenment?
Which economic theory was popular among the middle class in France during the Enlightenment?
Signup and view all the answers
What prevented the government from declaring bankruptcy?
What prevented the government from declaring bankruptcy?
Signup and view all the answers
Who constituted the primary source of tax revenue for the government?
Who constituted the primary source of tax revenue for the government?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one of the major criticisms of France's economy by businessmen and merchants?
What was one of the major criticisms of France's economy by businessmen and merchants?
Signup and view all the answers
During the inflation period between 1730 and the 1780s, how much did consumer goods prices rise?
During the inflation period between 1730 and the 1780s, how much did consumer goods prices rise?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the privileged classes refuse in terms of taxation?
What did the privileged classes refuse in terms of taxation?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Louis XVI seek from the Assembly of Notables regarding his tax program?
What did Louis XVI seek from the Assembly of Notables regarding his tax program?
Signup and view all the answers
What action did the Parlements take against tax increases?
What action did the Parlements take against tax increases?
Signup and view all the answers
What fundamental laws did the nobility assert against the king's taxation?
What fundamental laws did the nobility assert against the king's taxation?
Signup and view all the answers
What happened in response to King Louis XVI's attempt to exile judges?
What happened in response to King Louis XVI's attempt to exile judges?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant event occurred on July 5, 1788, regarding the Estates General?
What significant event occurred on July 5, 1788, regarding the Estates General?
Signup and view all the answers
What response did workers and tradesmen have to the king's summoning of troops to Versailles?
What response did workers and tradesmen have to the king's summoning of troops to Versailles?
Signup and view all the answers
What event marked the start of the violent rebellion on July 14?
What event marked the start of the violent rebellion on July 14?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the initial outcome of the storming of the Bastille for the National Assembly?
What was the initial outcome of the storming of the Bastille for the National Assembly?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the 'Great Fear' of 1789 inspire among the French peasants?
What did the 'Great Fear' of 1789 inspire among the French peasants?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant action did the National Assembly take on August 4, 1789?
What significant action did the National Assembly take on August 4, 1789?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following was NOT a result of the abolition of feudalism?
Which of the following was NOT a result of the abolition of feudalism?
Signup and view all the answers
How did peasants respond as violence from the Great Fear subsided?
How did peasants respond as violence from the Great Fear subsided?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one of the major social changes brought about by the National Assembly?
What was one of the major social changes brought about by the National Assembly?
Signup and view all the answers
What measure did the middle class take in response to the chaos during the Great Fear?
What measure did the middle class take in response to the chaos during the Great Fear?
Signup and view all the answers
What precedent did the abolition of feudalism set in the eyes of the peasantry?
What precedent did the abolition of feudalism set in the eyes of the peasantry?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
French Revolution Overview
- The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval in late 18th-century France.
- It replaced the "Old Regime" with a modern society.
- It profoundly influenced future revolutions worldwide.
Chronology and Periodization
- The "Age of Montesquieu" (1789-1792): Constitutional Monarchy
- National Assembly (1789-1791): Tennis Court Oath, Storming of the Bastille, Great Fear, abolition of feudalism, Civil Constitution of the Clergy, and Declaration of the Rights of Man.
- Legislative Assembly (1791-92): Jacobins vs. Girondins, War of the First Coalition, Paris Commune.
- The "Age of Rousseau" (1792-1799): Republic
- National Convention (1792-1795): Creation of the Republic, Execution of Louis XVI, Committee of Public Safety, Reign of Terror, Thermidorian Reaction
- The "Age of Voltaire" (1799-1815): Napoleonic Empire/Enlightened Despot.
- The Directory (1795-99): Ruling bourgeoisie vs. aristocracy, sans-culottes, Coup d'etat Brumaire
- Napoleonic Empire (1804-15): Code Napoleon, Concordat of 1801, War of the 2nd Coalition, Peninsular War, Russian Campaign, Waterloo
Causes of the French Revolution
-
Long-Term Causes:
- Pre-Existing Inequalities: Unequal distribution of wealth and power among the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners).
- Enlightenment Ideas: Philosophers like Locke and Rousseau challenged absolute monarchy and advocated for individual rights and popular sovereignty. This influenced public opinion and fueled discontent.
- Economic Crisis: Financial mismanagement by the monarchy, involvement in costly wars (especially the American Revolution), and poor harvests led to widespread poverty and food shortages.
- Immediate Cause: Financial mismanagement and bankruptcy of the French monarchy.
The French Revolution and the Estates General
- Estates General (May 1789): Summoned by Louis XVI to address the financial crisis & feudal political grievances.
- The Estates General was divided on voting procedure and this led to the National Assembly.
National Assembly (1789-91)
- Tennis Court Oath (June 1789): The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly, vowing to continue meeting until a constitution was written.
- Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): A symbol of royal authority, its seizure marked the beginning of revolutionary violence in Paris.
- The Great Fear (Summer 1789): Peasant uprisings and attacks on manor houses to abolish feudal obligations.
- Abolition of Feudalism (August 4, 1789): Eliminated feudal privileges, serfdom, and other obligations of peasants.
- Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 26, 1789): Enshrined Enlightenment principles of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty.
- Women's March to Versailles (October 1789): Forced the royal family to move to Paris.
Constitutional Monarchy and Legislative Assembly
- The first period established constitutional monarchy with representative assembly
- Issues with voting rights
- Internal conflicts and political crises
The Reign of Terror (1793-94)
- Committee of Public Safety (1793-94): Established by the National Convention, led by Maximilien Robespierre, to deal with internal and external threats to the revolution.
- Execution of Louis XVI (1793): King executed by the National Convention.
- Reign of Terror: State-sponsored violence, executions, and imprisonment of suspected enemies of the revolution, including members of the aristocracy, clergy, and political opponents.
- Fall of Robespierre (July 1794): Robespierre was arrested and executed signaling the end of the Reign of Terror.
The Directory (1795-99)
- Establishment of a new government: New assembly & Executive Directory of five members
- Financial Crisis: The Directory struggled with economic instability.
- Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte: Successful military leader, Napoleon rose to power through a coup d'état (November 1799), and overthrow the Directory
Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)
- Napoleon seized control and established an empire across Europe.
- Consolidation of power
- Military conquests
- Impact on European politics and society
- Napoleon's defeat and the restoration of the monarchy.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the significant events and phases of the French Revolution, a transformative period that reshaped France and influenced global movements. This quiz covers key milestones, important figures, and the evolution from monarchy to republic through a series of momentous events.
