French Revolution Overview

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Questions and Answers

What led to the rise of the Directory in France?

  • The establishment of a military dictatorship
  • The election of a two-house legislature by male citizens (correct)
  • The return of émigrés to support royalist policies
  • The overthrow of the monarchy by the proletariat

Which group primarily dominated the Directory?

  • Radical revolutionaries
  • Peasants and laborers
  • Middle class and professional bourgeoisie (correct)
  • Nobility and aristocrats

What was a significant method of execution during the Reign of Terror?

  • Burning at the stake
  • Hanging
  • Drowning
  • The guillotine (correct)

What was a consequence of the Directory's failings?

<p>The rise of political figures like Napoleon Bonaparte (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was recorded in the lists maintained during the Reign of Terror?

<p>The victims of executions and their circumstances (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What symbol represented liberty and equality for male citizens during the French Revolution?

<p>Red liberty caps (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of the revolution on the French national identity?

<p>Stronger sense of loyalty to the nation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following became the French national anthem during the revolution?

<p>La Marseillaise (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What change was made regarding education during the French Revolution?

<p>State-funded schools replaced religious institutions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the actions taken by reformers during the French Revolution?

<p>The establishment of state-funded welfare systems (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the government do to address the issue of slavery during the French Revolution?

<p>Abolished slavery in France's Caribbean colonies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What change did the French Revolution bring to social titles?

<p>The title 'citizen' replaced previous titles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the revolution influence attire among the populace?

<p>Simple clothes and hairstyles became more common (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Committee of Public Safety?

<p>To oversee the organization of military forces and trials (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What justified Robespierre's use of terror during the Revolution?

<p>To defeat enemies of the Republic and uphold virtue (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which groups opposed the revolutionary government in France by early 1793?

<p>Royalists, peasants, and some citizens of Paris (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Robespierre's early life experiences influence his later political views?

<p>He was raised in poverty after losing his family (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of revolutionary trials during the Reign of Terror?

<p>They often resulted in death sentences for accused enemies (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the mass levy organized by the Committee of Public Safety?

<p>Levée en masse (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Robespierre earn the nickname 'the incorruptible' for?

<p>His supposed resistance to corruption and dedication to the revolution (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the ideological divide within the Convention?

<p>It was split between Jacobins and Girondins with differing visions for the Revolution (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main reasons the National Convention decided to execute King Louis XVI?

<p>He was viewed as a traitor to France. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the National Convention aim to achieve by executing the king?

<p>Remove all traces of the old order. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a common criticism of King Louis XVI's execution?

<p>It violated principles of justice. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which prominent figure was associated with the Reign of Terror during this time?

<p>Maximilien Robespierre (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action accompanied Louis XVI’s final speech before his execution?

<p>His words were drowned by the roll of drums. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Reign of Terror

The period following the French Revolution marked by widespread political violence and executions, primarily led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety.

What was the National Convention?

The National Convention was a body of French representatives during the French Revolution and played a vital part in abolishing the monarchy and establishing the French Republic.

Execution of Louis XVI

The event where Louis XVI, the king of France, was executed by the National Convention.

Where was Louis XVI executed?

The public square in Paris where Louis XVI was executed in January 1793.

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What was the significance of the executions?

The event that followed the execution of the French king and queen, highlighting the shift in societal attitudes and the power of the people during the revolution.

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French Revolution's Impact on Society

The French Revolution dismantled the old social order, removing the monarchy and placing the Church under state control.

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New Symbols of the Revolution

New symbols like "liberty caps" and the tricolor flag symbolized the revolution's ideals of liberty and equality for all male citizens.

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Nationalism in France

The revolution promoted a sense of national identity in France, uniting citizens' loyalty to the nation, rather than local authorities or monarchs.

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Origin of "La Marseillaise"

The French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," emerged in 1793, urging “children of the fatherland” to fight against oppression.

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Social Reforms of the French Revolution

Revolutionaries pushed for social reforms, establishing state-funded schools, aid for the poor and widows, and abolishing slavery in French colonies.

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Slavery Abolition in French Colonies

The French Revolution abolished slavery in French colonies, including Saint-Domingue (Haiti), following a major slave revolt.

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Goals of the French Revolution

The French Revolution aimed to create a more egalitarian society, reducing the authority of the aristocracy and the Church, promoting citizens' rights, and establishing a new system of government.

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Goals and Actions of the Jacobins

The Jacobins, a radical political group, aimed to establish a republic based on principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. They implemented policies like the abolition of the monarchy, the Reign of Terror, and national conscription.

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Committee of Public Safety

A 12-member committee with near-absolute power, tasked with organizing war efforts, overseeing trials, and executing those deemed enemies of the revolution.

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Levée en Masse

A mass mobilization of citizens to support the war effort. It required all citizens to contribute.

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The Incorruptible

The nickname given to Maximilien Robespierre due to his fervent dedication to the revolution and his perceived incorruptibility.

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The Reign of Terror

A period marked by widespread political violence and executions of those deemed enemies of the revolution. It was led by the Committee of Public Safety, with Robespierre at the helm.

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Robespierre's Justification for Terror

Robespierre's justification for the Reign of Terror was the elimination of all opposition, both within and outside of France, to ensure the success of the revolution.

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Maximilien Robespierre

Robespierre was a lawyer and politician known for his dedication to the revolution. His early life experiences, including the loss of his parents, may have influenced his political views.

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French Revolution

The period of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799, marked by significant changes in French government and society. The monarchy was abolished and replaced by the First French Republic.

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The Thermidorian Reaction

After the Reign of Terror, a reaction to the excesses of the revolution. It favored moderate policies, aimed to restore order and re-establish traditional values.

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What was the Directory?

The Directory was a five-person executive body that ruled France from 1795 to 1799, after the Reign of Terror. It was elected by a two-house legislature dominated by the bourgeoisie.

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What challenges did the Directory face?

The Directory struggled to maintain order and faced rising discontent from various groups, including émigrés returning to France and Catholic supporters of a constitutional monarchy.

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What was the 'Reign of Terror'?

The Reign of Terror was a period of brutal violence and political repression in France during the Revolution. It is estimated that about 300,000 people were executed or died in prison.

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How were executions carried out during the Reign of Terror?

The guillotine was the primary method of execution during the Reign of Terror. Victims were brought to a platform, their heads were severed, and then placed in baskets.

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Why is the Reign of Terror significant?

The Reign of Terror was a period of significant violence with widespread executions and political repression. It marked a dark chapter in the French Revolution.

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Study Notes

Terror and Danger Grip France

  • By 1799, the 10-year-old French Revolution had dramatically changed France. It had dislodged the old social order, overthrown the monarchy and brought the Church under state control.
  • New symbols such as the red "liberty caps" and the tricolor confirmed the liberty and equality of all classes. All other titles were eliminated.
  • Before he was executed, Louis XVI was called Citizen Capet, from the name of the dynasty that had ruled France in the Middle Ages. Elaborate fashions and powdered wigs gave way to the practical clothes and simple haircuts of the sans-culottes.

Nationalism Spreads

  • Revolution and war gave the French people a strong sense of national identity.
  • In earlier times, people had felt a loyalty to local authorities, monarchs, or even a queen. Now, the government rallied sons and daughters of the king or queen.
  • The monarchs centralized power, loyalty shifted to the nation itself.
  • French people attended civic festivals and songs celebrating the nation and the revolution. A variety of dances and songs on themes of the revolution became immensely popular.
  • "Marseilles" (marseillaise), a nation marched in arms. From the new song it emerged. In 1793, France was a nation in arms, roung the port city of Marseilles, French troops marched to the war cry, "La Marseillaise" ("march against the bloody banner of the tyranny" children of the fatherland), to march against the "bloody banner of the tyranny". This song was later to become the French national anthem.

Revolution Pushes for Social Reform

  • Revolutionaries pushed for social reforms and organized toleration systems. They set up state schools to replace religious ones and organized systems to help the poor, old soldiers, and war widows.
  • With a major slave revolt raging in the colony of St. Domingue (Haiti), the government also abolished slavery in France's Caribbean colonies.

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