French Revolution Quiz

What was a major turning point in European history?

The French Revolution

What did the French Revolution destroy?

The institutions of the Old Regime

What concept emerged from the French Revolution regarding loyalty?

Loyalty to the nation rather than the monarch

How was the population of France divided before the revolution?

Into three estates: First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (commoners)

What percentage of land did the First Estate own?

About 10 percent

Who made up the First Estate?

Clergy, including higher clergy and parish priests

What percentage of land did the Second Estate own?

About 25 to 30 percent

What was the Third Estate composed of?

Peasants, urban craftspeople, shopkeepers, workers, and the bourgeoisie

What percentage of the population did the bourgeoisie represent?

About 8 percent

What were the economic conditions leading to the French Revolution?

Food shortages, rising prices, and unemployment due to bad harvests and a slow economy

What was the immediate cause of the French Revolution?

The near collapse of the French budget

What significant event did Louis XVI call on May 5, 1789?

A meeting of the Estates-General

How many representatives did the Third Estate have in the Estates-General?

Almost 600 representatives

What did the Third Estate demand regarding voting in the Estates-General?

That each deputy have one vote instead of each estate having one vote

What did the Third Estate declare itself on June 17, 1789?

The National Assembly

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

An oath taken by the National Assembly to continue meeting until a new constitution was drafted

What event occurred on July 14, 1789?

The storming of the Bastille

What did the fall of the Bastille symbolize?

The collapse of royal authority in Paris

What was the Great Fear?

A period of panic and revolts among peasants due to rumors of foreign troops

What did the National Assembly vote to abolish on August 4, 1789?

All legal privileges of the nobles and clergy

What significant document was adopted by the National Assembly on August 26, 1789?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

What role did Enlightenment ideas play in the French Revolution?

They inspired criticism of the old order and were spread among the literate classes

Who were the philosophes?

Enlightenment thinkers who criticized the old social order

What was the economic situation in France leading up to the revolution?

The economy had expanded but faced crises, leading to financial collapse

What was Marie Antoinette known for that caused public resentment?

Her extravagance and spending

What was the significance of the Estates-General not meeting since 1614?

It highlighted the long-standing issues in French governance and representation

What did the Third Estate want to achieve with a constitutional government?

To make the clergy and nobility pay taxes

What was the reaction of the National Assembly to peasant rebellions?

They voted to abolish the privileges of the nobility and clergy

What inspired the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?

The English Bill of Rights of 1689 and the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

What are the 'natural and imprescriptible rights of man' according to the Declaration?

Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

What did the Declaration of the Rights of Man proclaim about men before the law?

All men are free and equal before the law.

What was the role of the Legislative Assembly in the new Constitution of 1791?

It was to make laws while the king remained as a limited monarch.

What significant action did the Parisian women take on October 5?

They marched to Versailles and forced Louis XVI to accept the National Assembly's decrees.

What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

It brought the Catholic Church under state control, requiring bishops and priests to be elected by the people.

What was the outcome of the king's attempt to flee France in June 1791?

The royal family was recognized, captured, and brought back to Paris.

What led to the declaration of war on Austria in the spring of 1792?

The Legislative Assembly feared that revolution would spread to other countries after threats from Austria and Prussia.

What was the Paris Commune?

A popularly run city council that declared itself and took radical actions during the revolution.

Who were the sans-culottes?

Members of the Paris Commune who identified as ordinary patriots and wore long trousers instead of noble breeches.

What was the significance of the National Convention's first major step on September 21, 1792?

It abolished the monarchy and established a republic.

What was the fate of King Louis XVI?

He was executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793.