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Questions and Answers
What was the primary issue that caused conflict between the representatives of the 1st and 2nd estates and the 3rd estate during the Estates General?
What significant event led to the formation of the National Assembly?
During the storming of the Bastille, what was the primary goal of the crowd?
Which phase of the French Revolution is characterized by extreme political turmoil and violence?
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What percentage of their income did people spend on bread, indicating the economic strain during this period?
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What percentage of France's population was part of the Third Estate?
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What was the primary cause of the financial crisis in France by the late 1780s?
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Why was raising taxes seen as necessary by the French government?
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What was one result of the Enlightenment ideas during this period?
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What prompted the call for the Estates General after 175 years?
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How did urban workers react to the economic situation in France?
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What was one factor that contributed to the discontent of the Third Estate?
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What percentage of France's budget was allocated to pay for the king's lifestyle and court at Versailles?
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What phrase did Louis XIV famously declare to express his belief in absolute monarchy?
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Which of the following statements about Louis XIV is true?
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What was one consequence of Louis XV's reign?
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What significant action did Louis XVI take that had not occurred since 1614?
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What happened to Louis XVII during the French Revolution?
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What was the stance of Louis XVIII towards the revolutionaries after he returned to power?
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Which estate was known for not paying taxes and owning a significant portion of land?
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What was a characteristic of the Second Estate during the pre-revolutionary period?
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What was the primary role of the National Guard during the French Revolution?
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Which document was influenced by the Declaration of Independence?
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What significant change did the Civil Constitution of the Clergy bring about?
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What was a key feature of the Constitution of 1791?
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What slogan encapsulated the goals of the French Revolution?
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What was one major consequence of the royal family's attempted flight to Austria?
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Which group was known for its radical approach to abolishing the monarchy?
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What did widespread fear among European rulers regarding the French Revolution lead to?
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What was one of Napoleon's strategies to weaken Britain economically?
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What was a key consequence of Napoleon's Continental System?
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Which battle is noted as a significant naval victory for Britain against Napoleon?
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What change did Napoleon make regarding European thrones?
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Which statement about Napoleon's marital strategy is true?
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Study Notes
Louis XIV
- Louis XIV (1643-1715) ruled for 72 years
- Considered the most powerful of the Bourbon monarchs
- Known as "The Sun King"
- Ruled as an absolute monarch (believed in divine right of kings)
- Famous quote: "L’etat c’est moi" (I am the state)
- Built the Palace of Versailles, a massive symbol of royal power and wealth (lots of gold)
- Led France into numerous wars (mostly unsuccessful) which resulted in debt
- Outlived his son and grandson
Louis XV
- Great-grandson of Louis XIV
- Ruled during a time of economic and political difficulties
- Became king at age 5
- Ignored the problems of France
- Famous quote: "After me the deluge"
Louis XVI
- King during the French Revolution
- Indecisive and easily persuaded
- Married to Marie Antoinette of Austria
- Called for the meeting of the Estates General
- Beheaded on January 21, 1793, for treason
Marie Antoinette
- Queen of France during the revolution, married to Louis XVI
- Popularly known as the "Austrian Princess"
- Beheaded on October 16, 1793
Louis XVII
- Given the title, but never became king
- Son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
- Imprisoned at age 7 with his parents
- Died in prison from tuberculosis at age 10
Louis XVIII
- Younger brother of Louis XVI
- Became king after the defeat of Napoleon
- Lived in exile in England during the French Revolution
- Lazy and didn't want revenge against the people who killed his brother
The French Class Structure
- The First Estate: Catholic Church
- Owned 10% of land
- Collected tithes (tax on income) but didn’t pay taxes
- Provided social services (schools, hospitals, orphanages)
- Condemned by Enlightenment thinkers
- The Second Estate: Nobility
- Owned land but had little money
- Many hated the absolute monarchy and feared losing traditional privileges (ex. Not paying taxes)
- The Third Estate: Majority of the Population
- 98% of the population
- Divided into:
- Bourgeoisie - Middle Class (bankers, manufacturers, lawyers, merchants, journalists)
- Rural Peasants - 9/10 people (landworkers, day laborers)
- City Workers (construction workers, industrial workers, apprentices, street merchants)
Financial Crisis
- Louis XIV left France with a huge debt
- Causes of France's Debt:
- Wars
- Lavish court life (The Palace of Versailles)
- Government borrowed money (deficit spending)
- The king's proposals for raising taxes and reducing spending were rejected by the First and Second Estates
A Crumbling Economy
- Bad harvest in the late 1780s led to higher food prices
- Peasants, burdened by high food prices and heavy taxes, started to riot
Failure or Reform
- Louis XVI hired Jacques Necker to solve the crisis
- Necker's solutions angered the First and Second Estates, and he was fired
- The wealthy and powerful classes demanded the king to call for a meeting of the Estates General (it hadn't been called since 1614)
Estates General
- Each estate listed its grievances:
- Fairer Taxes
- Freedom of the press
- Regular meetings of the Estates General
- The First and Second Estates wanted each estate to have 1 vote (to outvote the Third Estate)
- The Third Estate wanted the votes to be based on the number of representatives from each estate
- The Third Estate left in protest and formed the National Assembly
The National Court Oath
- The National Assembly wanted to write a constitution
- They were locked out of their meeting place by the king
- They took an oath in a nearby tennis court
- Several members of the clergy and nobility joined the National Assembly
The Storming of the Bastille
- People feared the National Assembly would be dissolved by the king
- 800 people stormed the Bastille (a prison and armory) to get weapons and gunpowder
- The commander of the Bastille refused to open the gates and fired on the crowd
Creating A New France
- The French Revolution continued through four phases
- National Assembly (1789)
- Reign of Terror (1792-1794)
- Directory (1795-1799)
- Age of Napoleon (1799-1815)
Great Fear
- Rumor of marauders attacking villages, taking property, and burning records
- Peasants began to attack the homes of nobles, steal grain, and burn their records
Paris in Arms
- Marquis de Lafayette and the National Guard
- Fought with George Washington in the American Revolution
- Headed the National Guard (middle class militia)
- The National Guard used the tricolor flag
Paris Commune
- Replaced the royalist government in Paris
- Mobilized neighborhoods for protests and violent actions
- Newspapers and political clubs demanded an end to the monarchy
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
- The slogan of the French Revolution
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
- Written by the National Assembly in August 1789
- Modeled after the American Declaration of Independence
- Government exists to protect the natural rights of its people
- If the government doesn't uphold the rights, the people have the right to overthrow it
Reorganizing the Church
- France sold church land to pay off the national debt
- Catholic Church became under state control
- Bishops and priests became salaried officials
The Constitution of 1791
- Established a limited monarchy
- New legislative assembly had the power to make laws, collect taxes, and decide on war and peace
- Laws were selected by tax-paying male citizens
- Replaced the old provinces with 83 departments
- Abolished old provincial courts and reformed laws
- Protected private property rights
- Supported free trade
- Gave nobles money for land seized during the revolution
- Forbade city workers to organize labor unions
Widespread Fear
- European rulers and nobles denounced the French Revolution
- Border patrols were increased in other countries (fear of the "French Plague")
- The emigres spread rumors of attacks on their privileges, property, and religion
- France continued to face economic problems
From Right to Left
- Right: Believed the revolution had gone too far
- Left: Wanted to abolish the monarchy and pushed for further reforms
Napoleon Bonaparte
- Rose to prominence during the French Revolution
- Seized power after the Directory and became Emperor of France in 1804
- Known for his military genius, ambitious projects, and authoritarian rule
- Built a vast empire, conquering and controlling much of Europe
- Abolished the Holy Roman Empire
- Forced alliances and treaties on European powers
- Put friends and family on the thrones of Europe
- Divorced Josephine and married Marie Antoinette’s niece
France vs. Britain
- Britain was a major naval power
- Battle of Trafalgar (1805): British victory lead by Admiral Nelson
- Continental System: Attempt to destroy Britain by restricting trade
- The British responded by blocking European ports
- Failures of the Continental System
- The blockade didn’t work because Britain continued trading
- European merchants ignored the ban and smuggled goods
- Restrictions hurt Europe, creating scarcity and rising prices
- Successes of the Continental System
- Increased French nationalism
The End of an Era
- Napoleon was defeated by a coalition of European powers
- Resigned in 1814 and was exiled to the island of Elba
- Briefly returned to power in 1815 (Hundred Days) but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo
- Exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821
- The French Revolution marked the end of the old order and the beginning of a new era of modern European history
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Description
Test your knowledge about key events and issues from the French Revolution. This quiz covers important topics such as the Estates General, the formation of the National Assembly, and the storming of the Bastille. Challenge yourself and discover how economic factors influenced this historic period.
