45 Questions
What was the French Revolution?
A revolutionary event that redesigned France's political landscape
Which period is often referred to as the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment?
1685-1815
What did Enlightenment thinkers from France and Britain begin to question?
Traditional authority, such as the Catholic Church
Which ideas influenced the French Revolution and the overthrow of King Louis XVI?
Liberty, equality, and individual rights
What did Enlightenment thinkers and writers influence revolutionaries to do?
Question how feudal society and authority in France worked
What motivated thinkers in the 1600s until the 18th century to challenge existing knowledge?
Intellectual, political, and social desire for progress
What was the primary cause of the French financial crisis that led to social unrest?
The cost of assisting the American colonists in their war against Britain
How did the French assist the American colonists during the Revolutionary War?
By sending troops, ships, arms and supplies
What was a key factor that led France to ally with the American colonists?
France's desire to restore its reputation after losing the Seven Years' War to Britain
What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War?
It convinced King Louis XVI to approve financial aid for the colonists
Which statement best describes the role of the Enlightenment in the events described?
French Enlightenment thinkers condemned censorship and spread liberal thought
What was the outcome of the American Revolutionary War for France?
France faced a debt crisis due to financing the war effort
What percentage of the French population did the First Estate, the clergy, make up?
1%
Which estate was exempted from paying most taxes?
The First Estate, the Clergy
What percentage of the French population did the Second Estate, the Nobility, make up?
4%
Which estate was required to pay land tax to the state and 5% property tax?
The Third Estate, the Commoners
Which estate was required to pay tithe, or one-tenth of their income, to the Church?
The Second Estate, the Nobility
Which estate was forbidden from holding petty positions in the regime?
The Third Estate, the Commoners
During which event were King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette executed?
French Revolution
What form of government was in place in France during Louis XVI's reign?
Absolute monarchy
Who was appointed as finance minister by King Louis XVI in 1774?
Turgot
What action by King Louis XVI resulted in deepening the financial crisis in France?
Imposing new taxes
What event took place on August 8, 1788, as an attempt to address the financial crisis?
Summoning the Estates-General
Which action by King Louis XVI had a direct impact on the grain market in France?
Deregulation of the grain market
What percentage of the French population did the Second Estate, the Nobility, make up?
4%
Which estate was exempted from paying most taxes?
The Second Estate - The Nobility
Which estate was required to pay land tax to the state and 5% property tax?
The Third Estate - The Commoners
What was the primary tax burden on the Third Estate - The Commoners?
Paying royal obligations through labor, in kind, and in coin
Which estate was forbidden from holding petty positions in the regime?
The Third Estate - The Commoners
What percentage of the French population did the First Estate, the clergy, make up?
1%
What fiscal policy did Calonne propose to address France's financial crisis?
Abolition of internal tariffs and free grain trade
What measure did Calonne take to gain public support for his fiscal reforms?
He published details of France's deficit and his reform attempts
Why was Loménie de Brienne able to gain influence in the royal court?
He was a favorite of Marie Antoinette
What tax reform did Calonne suggest to make the system fairer?
Proportional taxation that did not exempt the elite
What was the outcome of Calonne's fiscal reform proposals?
They were rejected by the Assembly of Notables
What was the primary reason King Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General in 1788?
To address the growing national debt and financial crisis in France
What was the main purpose of the Assembly of Notables convened by King Louis XVI in 1787?
To approve new tax reforms proposed by the finance minister
What was the proposed 'unitary land tax' reform by Calonne in the Assembly of Notables?
A new tax that would be payable in kind, affecting all landowners regardless of social rank
What was the primary reason the members of the Assembly of Notables did not support Calonne's proposed fiscal reforms?
They felt that major reforms affecting the Three Estates should be approved by the Estates-General
What was the purpose of Calonne's proposed 'commutation of the corvée' reform in the Assembly of Notables?
To abolish the corvée system of forced labor and replace it with a monetary contribution
What was the primary reason for France's growing national debt during King Louis XVI's reign?
The cost of France's involvement in the American Revolutionary War
What was the impact of King Louis XVI's 'deregulation of the grain market' policy on the people of France?
It led to increased food prices and famine among the lower classes
What was the primary reason for the growing discontent and social unrest among the French people during King Louis XVI's reign?
The growing gap between the wealth and living standards of the different estates
What was the main objective of the 'election of provincial assemblies' reform proposed by Calonne in the Assembly of Notables?
To decentralize power and reduce corruption in the provincial governments
What was the primary motivation behind France's alliance with the American colonists during the American Revolutionary War?
To weaken the power and influence of the British Empire
Learn about the French Revolution, a pivotal event in European history that occurred between 1789 and the late 1790s. Explore the political changes, abolition of the absolute monarchy and feudal system, and its lasting impact on modern nations.
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