Unit 1: Enlightenment & Revolutions

Which Enlightenment thinker supported separation of powers into three branches of government?

Baron de Montesquieu.

What fatal military mistake led to Napoleon’s downfall?

Invading Russia in winter.

What unfair tax burden contributed to the French Revolution?

The Third Estate paid nearly all taxes.

According to Thomas Hobbes, what guides human behavior?

Self-preservation and fear of death (selfishness).

How is a republic best defined?

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions.

What was the Reign of Terror?

A period of mass executions of "enemies of the revolution" by Robespierre's committee.

What does absolutism mean?

One ruler has total, unrestricted power.

What was the Enlightenment?

An 18th-century movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and critical thinking in government.

How did Napoleon’s reign influence nationalism?

Spread French pride; inspired resistance (nationalism) among conquered peoples.

What event does the Three Estates economic chart from class represent?

The social and economic inequality of pre-revolutionary France (Ancien Régime).

What is the difference between a republic and a direct democracy?

Republic: citizens elect representatives. Direct democracy: citizens vote on laws directly.

What did Enlightenment thinkers believe should guide government decisions?

Reason, natural laws, and the will of the people (consent of the governed).

Who believed people were naturally selfish and needed strong government control?

Thomas Hobbes.

What role did the clergy and nobility play in France’s unfair tax system?

They were exempt from most taxes.

What was the main goal of Enlightenment philosophers?

To challenge traditional authority and advocate for individual rights and freedoms using reason.

Why did the French revolutionaries distrust King Louis XVI?

Suspected him of trying to use foreign help to regain absolute power.

What was the major purpose of the Declaration of the Rights of Man?

To establish fundamental human civil rights (liberty, equality, fraternity).

Why did the Reign of Terror occur?

To eliminate internal and external counter-revolutionary threats and consolidate radical power.

What caused the rise of Napoleon after the Revolution?

The existing government (Directory) was weak, and Napoleon brought military success and promised stability/order.

How did Enlightenment ideas inspire revolutions across the world?

Provided the philosophical basis for challenging monarchs and advocating for self-governance and individual rights.