The French Revolution and the Rise of Napoleon, 1774-1815

What led to the outflow of nobility during the French Revolution?

The reforms went faster and further than the King and many nobles wanted.

What were the émigrés during the French Revolution?

They were nobles and their supporters who fled to other countries.

What was a major concern for the King during the French Revolution?

The King's position worried his fellow monarchs across Europe.

What were the promises made in the Constitution regarding poor relief and education?

They would be costly and difficult to put into practice.

What was the greatest weakness of the Constitutional Monarchy?

The lack of continuity.

What decision weakened the new Constitutional Monarchy?

Excluding members of the Constituent Assembly from the new Legislative Assembly.

What did the freer flow of ideas during the Revolution lead to?

It gave rise to more radical political notions and demands.

What was the Cordeliers Club?

Founded in April 1790, it was a society of middle-class radicals that attracted working-class members.

Who were the leading members of the Cordeliers Club?

Danton and Desmoulins.

What event did the Cordeliers Club participate in?

The Champs de Mars demonstration and the insurrection of 10 August.

What happened to the Monarchy by September 1792?

The Monarchy had been suspended, along with the Legislative Assembly.

What led to the outbreak of mob violence during the Revolution?

France was at war and under threat, leading to a new and more extreme National Convention.

What was the impact of political clubs during the French Revolution?

They gathered people with similar views to discuss ideas and policies, becoming very influential.

What undermined the idea of divine monarchy during the Revolution?

The theories of natural rights and popular sovereignty.

How did British monarchs adapt to the changes during the Revolution?

They accepted a constitutional monarchy where power was shared with elected ministers.

What significant event occurred on 20 June 1791?

Louis XVI attempted to flee Paris, known as the flight to Varennes.

What was the outcome of the Constitutional Monarchy's high hopes?

They were not fulfilled, leading to the suspension of the Monarchy.

What characterized the political clubs like the Jacobins and Feuillants?

Some were radical and eager for change, while others were moderate.

What was the significance of the flight to Varennes?

It supported the view that the Monarchy was doomed.

What did the rapid developments in 1792 lead historians to question?

The failure of the Constitution of 1791 and the possibility of its success.

What was the role of the Legislative Assembly during the Revolution?

It was the governing body that was eventually suspended along with the Monarchy.

What did the changes in the French Revolution signify for the monarchy?

Monarchy had to adapt to a new context of shared power with the people.

What two problems changed Louis XVI's position regarding the Revolution?

His religion and the realization that as a prisoner in Paris, his negotiating position was weak.

What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and why did it trouble Louis XVI?

It was a law that restructured the Catholic Church in France, troubling Louis due to his strong religious beliefs and the break of links between the Church and the Crown.

How did Louis XVI react to the priests who swore the Oath to the Constitution?

He came to see them as despicable.

What event in April 1791 demonstrated Louis XVI's loss of freedom?

The royal family tried to leave Paris to spend Easter at Saint Cloud but were blocked by crowds.

What was Louis XVI's plan in June 1791?

To escape Paris and join loyal troops under royalist commander de Bouillé.

What happened to the royal family during their escape attempt on June 20, 1791?

They were recognized and stopped at Varennes, then brought back to Paris.

What proclamation did Louis XVI leave behind after his escape attempt?

A proclamation denouncing the Revolution.

What was the public reaction to Louis XVI's escape attempt?

It provoked a wave of unrest in the countryside, described as a 'mini Great Fear'.

What was the impact of Louis XVI's escape attempt on the monarchy?

It caused many to lose trust in Louis' willingness to cooperate, putting constitutional monarchy in doubt.

What happened to the noble army officers after Louis XVI's escape attempt?

6,000 noble army officers left France to join émigré nobles in Germany.

What was the Jacobin Club and when did it originate?

A debating and discussion club that originated in June 1789 among Breton deputies.

What was the Jacobin Club's original name?

The Society of the Friends of the Constitution.

What significant change occurred in the Jacobin Club in July 1791?

The membership split, with moderate constitutional monarchists leaving to form the Feuillants.

Who were the early leaders of the Jacobin Club?

Brissot and the Girondins.

Who led the Jacobins to become more radical later on?

Robespierre.

What happened to the Jacobin Club after Robespierre's downfall?

It was shut down in July 1794.

What was the Feuillants' stance after splitting from the Jacobins?

They were more conservative and supported a ministry from 1791-92.

Who were the leaders of the Feuillants?

Antoine Barnave, Alexandre de Lameth, and Adrien Duport.

What issue led to the Feuillants being ousted by the Girondins?

The issue of war.

What was the significance of the Jacobin Club between 1793-94?

It became a major political center during that period.

What was the outcome of Louis XVI's actions during the Revolution?

They showed he did not understand the popularity of the changes since 1789.

What event led to the guillotining of Barnave in November 1793?

He was arrested in August 1792.

Who was Francois Claude Amour, Marquis de Bouillé?

A veteran of the Seven Years' War, former Governor of Guadeloupe, and commander in Alsace who deserted to Austria.

What was the Assembly's belief regarding King Louis during the Constitutional Monarchy?

They accepted the lie that Louis had been abducted by royalists, which undermined trust.

What was a vital reason for the failure of the Constitutional Monarchy?

The loss of trust between the Crown and the people.

What was the composition of the Legislative Assembly when it first met on October 1, 1791?

It consisted of 745 deputies, mostly from the bourgeoisie, with few nobles and some clergy.

Why did many deputies of the Legislative Assembly distrust the King?

Many distrusted him after the Varennes incident.

What was a major problem faced by the new deputies of the Legislative Assembly?

They lacked experience as no former member of the National Constituent Assembly could be elected.

How did the Queen view the deputies of the Legislative Assembly?

She thought they were 'scoundrels, madmen and fools'.

What economic issues did the Legislative Assembly face?

Bitter divisions in Paris, bad harvests, food riots, and financial problems due to unemployment and unaccepted paper money.

What was the significance of the sans-culottes during the French Revolution?

They were the restless Paris crowds who wore trousers instead of breeches, symbolizing the working class.

What declaration did Austria and Prussia issue in August 1791?

The Pillnitz Declaration, which threatened military intervention in French affairs.

How did the presence of émigré troops affect the revolutionaries' perception of the Monarchy?

It made them more suspicious of the Monarchy.

What contributed to the drift towards war during the French Revolution?

The inexperience of deputies and the economic unrest.

What was the outcome of the war against Prussia and Austria for the Constitutional Monarchy?

The war was a key element in the failure of the Constitutional Monarchy.

What were the conditions in Paris leading up to the food riots in early 1792?

Economic unrest, bad harvests, and unemployment due to the flight of nobles.

What was the impact of the slave revolt in St. Dominique on France?

It affected West Indies trade and supplies of sugar, contributing to economic distress.

What was the Legislative Assembly's response to the economic and political unrest?

They faced bitter divisions and increasing threats from opposition at home and abroad.

What did the Legislative Assembly represent in the context of the French Revolution?

It was an attempt to establish a constitutional government following the monarchy.

What was the significance of the Legislative Assembly's composition in terms of social class?

It reflected the wealth and status of the bourgeoisie, as elections favored the wealthy.

What was the role of experienced and moderate deputies in the context of the French Revolution?

They might have helped avoid extreme actions and the drift towards war.

What was the relationship between popular unrest and political unrest during the Revolution?

They were closely allied, as economic issues often fueled political discontent.

What did the failure to cooperate between the King and the Legislative Assembly indicate?

It highlighted the challenges of establishing a successful constitutional monarchy.

What made the revolutionaries suspicious of the Monarchy in early 1792?

The threat and presence of émigré troops under the Comte d'Artois on France's north-eastern frontier.

Who was a leading supporter of the war in early 1792?

Jacques-Pierre Brissot, a journalist.

What group of political supporters emerged around Jacques-Pierre Brissot?

The Brissotins or Girondins, named after the Gironde region.

What was one argument made by the Girondins for going to war?

They argued that war would end the threat from émigrés and deter foreign invasion.

What did the Girondins believe a war would achieve for France?

It would protect France by creating a ring of territory and unite the nation behind the Revolution.

What significant political shift occurred regarding the King's ministers in March 1792?

The King dismissed his moderate Feuillant ministers and replaced them with Girondin, pro-war ministers.

When was war declared against Austria and Prussia?

War was declared against Austria in April 1792 and against Prussia in June 1792.

What was the outcome of the French invasions of the Austrian Netherlands in 1792?

The invasions failed.

What was the Brunswick Manifesto?

A threat issued by Prussia's commander to French civilians in Paris if the royal family was harmed.

What was a significant French military victory during the Revolutionary War?

The first major French victory at Valmy in September 1792.

Which countries joined the war against France in 1793?

Spain, Portugal, Britain, and the Dutch Republic.

Who was Jacques-Pierre Brissot and what was his role?

He was a journalist who influenced the Girondin group and was heavily responsible for the war policy in 1792.

What happened to Jacques-Pierre Brissot in June 1793?

He was guillotined.

Who was Charles Philippe, Comte d'Artois?

The younger brother of Louis XVI, who was deeply conservative and opposed social change.

What actions did Comte d'Artois take after leaving France in 1789?

He established an émigré headquarters in Koblenz and fled to England in 1792.

What was the fate of Charles Philippe, Comte d'Artois after returning to France?

He became King in 1825 as Charles X but was overthrown in 1830.

Who were the Rolands and what was their significance?

Jean Marie Roland and his wife, Marie-Jeanne, were influential in politics and hosted a political salon in Paris.

What role did Jean Marie Roland hold during the Girondin's power?

He became Minister of the Interior.

Why was Jean Marie Roland dismissed from his position?

For opposing the royal veto on anti-emigré legislation.

What happened to Jean Marie Roland after the feud with the Jacobins increased?

He resigned in January 1793.

What was the significance of the salon hosted by Mme Roland?

It was a place where leading politicians, including Robespierre, discussed reform and radical ideas.

What was the relationship between the Girondins and the Jacobins during the Revolution?

The Girondins were in conflict with the Jacobins, who gained increasing influence.

What event led to the resignation of Roland in January 1793?

The increasing feud with the Jacobins and their growing influence.

What happened to Mme Roland during the French Revolution?

She stayed in Paris, was condemned, and executed.

What was the fate of Roland after his resignation?

He killed himself.

Who was Antoine Barnave and what was his role in the French Revolution?

A lawyer from Dauphiné, Barnave supported the reforms of 1789-90, was influential in the Jacobin Club, believed in constitutional monarchy, and later formed the Feuillants.

What happened to Antoine Barnave in 1793?

He was arrested during the Terror and executed based on evidence of his correspondence with the royal family.

Who was Georges-Jacques Danton and what was his significance?

A radical lawyer and early leader in the Cordeliers Club, he was a powerful orator who incited support for the overthrow of Louis XVI and served as Minister of Justice.

What was Danton's stance on the use of Terror during the Revolution?

He defended the Terror but later fell out with Robespierre over its continued use.

What happened to Danton and his fellow 'indulgents' in April 1794?

They were guillotined.

What was the King's strategy regarding the war declared on Austria in April 1792?

He hoped a successful war would make him appear strong and patriotic, while failure would lead to the restoration of the Crown's power.

What challenges did the French army face at the beginning of the Revolutionary War?

Almost half the officers had become émigrés, soldiers were demoralized, and there was a lack of experienced officers.

What was the outcome of the King's vetoes on security measures during the war?

His vetoes increased his unpopularity and led to mistrust of the King.

What was the significance of the Brunswick Manifesto issued by Prussia's army commander?

It threatened reprisals if the royal family was harmed, which identified Louis with the enemy and increased calls for a republic.

What event occurred on 10 August 1792?

The Tuileries Palace was attacked, leading to the suspension of the Monarchy and the imprisonment of Louis.