French Revolution Part I Reading Questions

The French Revolution was fueled by the political ideas derived from the Age of…

Enlightenment

Why did many in the 18th century not equate representative government with democracy?

18th century liberals saw democracy as a mob of uneducated masses/peasants ruling. They thought voting for representatives being restricted to men who owned property as it being restricted to those with “a stake in society.”

Concerning voting rights, what is meant by the “stake in society” principle?

Belief that voting should be restricted to men who owned property and land.

Explain the connection between the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

French fought in American revolution to get revenge on Britain even though they couldn’t afford it. Both were inspired by Enlightened thinkers’ ideas like John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. American revolution inspired people in France to revolt. Marquis de Lafayette was inspired after helping in the American Revolution.

Due to the economic crises in the 1780s in France, many called for an end to what “Old Bargain?” What was the reaction of the French nobility to this proposal?

Where king wouldn’t tax nobility if they remained loyal and supportive of the King. French nobles agreed to this change but said the Estates General had to vote it to approve it.

Where did the French Estates General meet in 1789

Versailles

What was the reaction of the representatives of the Third Estate in France, when they learned that the Estates General would be conducted the old “medieval” way? How did the King, clergy, and nobles respond? Response of the Third Estate? King’s response to this?

Third estate was insulted, angry, scared and then the king barred them from the area where it took place, so instead they met in an indoor tennis court and took the Tennis Court Oath, King then gave a peacemaking speech that urged reform and a new meeting 4 days later and built up military forces to make them step down and they were also excluded from the estates general.

Since it appeared that the king was prepared to use violence to stabilize the situation (why?) what drastic action did the French citizens take in response?

French citizens stormed Bastille to get weapons to defend Paris from the military forces.

What “legislative” action did the National Assembly take on the night of August 4, 1789?

Abolished all old noble privileges: peasant serfdom, exclusive hunting rights, fees for having legal cases judged in the lord’s court, right to make peasants work on the roads, tithes (taxes) paid to the church, and many other things

Explain the “March on Versailles” by stating who was involved, their goals, and the results.

7,000 Parisians who were mostly women. Wanted to force the royal family to return and live in Paris where they could directly deal with the economic crises. Also wanted to protest price of bread. Royal family did return to Paris.

On paper, what type of government did France have as a result of the completion of the new Constitution of 1791, and what name was given to the new French parliamentary body created by this new constitution?

Constitution/Constitutional Monarchy. French parliamentary body called Legislative Assembly.

What event in June of 1791 led many in France to believe that further revolutionary action was necessary, despite the creation of a new constitution?

Louis XIV and the royal family tried to escape France, but were caught and returned to Paris.