French Revolution Test Study Guide (Honors)

Format of the Test:

  • Matching
  • Multiple Choice
  • Short Answer
  • Fill in the Blank

Terms to Know:

All of these terms can be found in the French Revolution video packet. A link to the video is on the website. These terms can also be found in the book pgs 214-228

French Revolution

Events / People / Terms
  • Enlightenment
  • American Revolution
  • Tennis Court Oath
  • Fall of the Bastille
  • Reign of Terror
  • Great Terror
  • Old Regime
  • Estates General (1st,2nd,3rd estates)
/
  • Louis XIV
  • Marie Antoinette
  • Maximilian Robespierre
  • Jean Paul Marat
  • Jacques Necker
  • Charlotte Corday
  • Georges Danton
/
  • Versailles
  • Estates General
  • National Assembly
  • Tre colore
  • Declaration of the Rights of Man
  • Friend of the People
  • Women’s March on Versailles
  • Jacobins (radicals)
  • Girondins (moderate)
  • San-culottes
  • The Convention
  • Committee of Public Safety
  • Guillotine
  • Republic of Virtue

Questions to Consider:

  • What was the difference between the three estates? How many votes did each estate get in the Estates General?

1st estate- Members of the clergy and church leadership. Clergy made up 1% of population and owned 10% of land. Teamed up with 2nd estate to outvote 3rd estate in the Estates General. Paid little to no taxes

2nd Estate- Members of the Nobility. Made up 2% of the population and owned 20% of the land. Teamed up with 1st estate to outvote 3rd estate in the estates general. Paid little to no taxes

3rd Estate- Middle Class, Working Class, and Peasants. Made up a majority of the population, had to pay majority of taxes, and did not enjoy privileges that the first and second estate did.

  • Why did the French people grow to hate Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette? What kind of people/rulers were they?

The French people grew to hate the King and Queen because they did not rule with Enlightenment ideals, and did what was best for them instead of what was best for the people. Louis makes a series of poor financial decisions that lead to food shortages and bankruptcy in France. The poor suffered the most from Louis’ poor financial decisions.

  • Why did the people storm the Bastille? What is the significance of the storming of the Bastille today?

The people stormed the Bastille to gain access to gunpowder after hearing that Louis was mobilizing troops to put down the National Assembly. The storming of the Bastille is seen as a significant moment in France and is commemorated each year on Bastille Day which is France’s independence day.

  • How did the American Revolution both influence and cause the French Revolution?

The American Revolution caused the French Revolution because France gave money to America to help fund the Revolution. This money caused France to go into even more debt than they already were in. The American Revolution also inspired the French people to gain their own independence and reject the idea of a monarchy.

  • Who felt the effects of France’s financial situation the most?

The Lower Classes

  • A bad harvest left the French people with a shortage of ___grain______, which was used to make bread
  • Why was the Guillotine considered a ‘humane’ punishment? Who was allowed to be executed by the guillotine?

The guillotine was considered ‘humane’ because it was believed to be quick and painless. The guillotine was also seen as an equalizer because all citizens in France were executed by the guillotine, not just the upper class. The lower classes were subject to torture and medieval forms of execution before the guillotine was invented.

  • The Friend of the People-what was it? How did it help to perpetuate the violence of the French Revolution?

The Friend of the People was the newspaper created by Jean Paul Marat. The newspaper circulated radical thoughts, and encouraged supporters of the Revolution to commit acts of violence against supporters of the Old Regime.

  • Who killed Jean-Paul Marat? What was her reason for doing this? What did his death do instead?

Charlotte Corday killed Jean-Paul Marat. She did this in an attempt to silence the calls to violence published by the newspaper. She wanted to create peace, but instead, turns Marat into a martyr. The people view him in an almost saint-like way.

  • Who were the sans-culotte? What did they want to reject?

“Those without knee pads”. The san culottes saw themselves as common people. Most were from the Middle Class. They rejected all symbols and signs of nobility.

  • Why was France fighting a war with Austria and Prussia?

France was at war with Austria and Prussia because they believed that the two countries wanted to invade France and return power to the royal family.

  • What changes did Robespierre make to France during the Great Terror? (religious, social, political)

Religion- Gets rid of all signs of Catholicism. He executes priests, destroys churches, changes street names, and changes the calendar

Social- Reinstates censorship, and creates an environment of fear in France. People were afraid of being sent to the guillotine.

Political- Robespierre forms the Committee of Public Safety, and executes people in large numbers. Robespierre wants to create a “Republic of Virtue” where all citizens take an active role in preserving the new Republic.

  • How did the Great Terror end?

The Great Terror ends with Robespierre’s death. He is sent to the guillotine. After his death, the extreme violence seen in the Great Terror ends, and a sense of normalcy returns to society.

Napoleon

All of these terms can be found in the notes on Napoleon and in the textbook pgs 227-241.

Terms to Know:

Events / People / Terms
  • Campaign in Spain
  • Campaign in Russia
  • Battle of Trafalgar
  • Battle of Waterloo
  • Congress of Vienna
/
  • Napoleon Bonaparte
  • Horatio Nelson
/
  • The Directory
  • Coup d’état
  • Dictatorship
  • Napoleonic Code
  • Exile
  • Scorched earth policy
  • Concordat
  • Continental System
  • Scorched earth policy
  • Blockade
  • Nationalism

Questions to Consider:

  • How did Napoleon Rise to Power?

Napoleon overthrows The Directory, after gaining popularity as a successful military commander. He is well liked by the people, who are mostly in support of his rise to power.

  • What was the Napoleonic Code?

The Napoleonic Code was the code of laws that Napoleon creates for France. The code was largely based off of ideas developed during the French Revolution. The code made everyone equal under the law, allowed for religious toleration, and gave increased property rights to citizens. The code put restrictions on the rights of women, and reduced free speech.

  • What successes did he enjoy?

Napoleon had successful Campaigns in both France and Italy. For most of his military career he enjoyed success and was known as a brilliant army commander

  • What military failures did he have?

Napoleon’s biggest failures came at the Battle of Trafalgar (against British navy), The Russian Campaign (scorched earth policy caused Napoleon to lose hundreds of thousands of troops) and the Battle of Waterloo (Napoleon’s last defeat)

  • How did he transform France after the Revolution?

Napoleon turned France into a centralized state with a constitution. He reformed the legal code, making it easier to understand and more universal. He also promoted education with state sponsored schools. His quests for power led to a rise in nationalism throughout Europe, and a desire by all countries to gain independence and form democracies.