Chapter 6 Homework:

The French Revolution

ancien regime: old order in France with people separated into three estates (classes); led to anger and discontent

Louis XVI: Weak king of France whose inability to solve financial crisis led to French Revolution

Jacques Necker: Louis XVI’s financial advisor who urged Louis to make drastic financial changes; was dismissed when he suggested taxing the first and second estates.

Estates-General: body made up of representatives of the three estates in pre-revolution France. Each estate had one vote, and the 3rd estates refusal to vote led to the Tennis Court Oath.

Tennis Court Oath: when members of each estate swore to never separate until a constitution was established in France; was first documented rebellion towards King.

Bastille: fortress/prison where citizens united and overran guards in reaction to troops threatening National Assembly. Event marks the beginning of the French Revolution.

2. Who was in each of the three estates of the ancien regime and what privileges/hardships were associated with that estate?

First Estate: Clergy, paid no taxes, owned 10% of land, collected tithes

Second Estate: nobility, held top positions in government, army, courts, etc.

Third Estate: Everyone else who wasn’t in the First of Second Estate. The wealthy despised the nobles for their titles, the poor struggled to survive. The Third Estate paid the majority of France’s taxes

3. According to the Infographic on page 212, why did Sieyes say the Third Estate was “nothing”?

• Third Estate had no political power

4. What economic troubles did France face in 1789, and how did they lead to further unrest?

• Debt—for years government spent more money than it earned. King was afraid nobles would use economic crises to reclaim their lost power; crop shortages led to unemployment and famine

5. What issues arose when Louis XVI called the Estates-General in1789?• Estates could not agree on a system of voting (1st and 2nd Estate always outvoted 3rd Estate 2-1), there were obvious class resentments

Faction: dissenting groups of people (people with differing political opinions); the Jacobins and Girondists were factions

Olympe de Gouges: journalist, demanded equal rights be spread to women; wrote Declaration of the Rights of Woman

Marie Antoinette: Louis XVI’s wife, who became a symbol of the monarch’s extravagant lifestyle.

emigrés: nobles, clergy, and others who fled France during the revolution; their flight was “proof” to many third estate members that the 1st and 2nd Estate did not want the Revolution

sans-culottes: “without breeches,” the radical, poor working class, demanded a republic

republic: government ruled by elected representation; this was the most favored new style of government by French radicals

Jacobins: political club made up of mostly middle class intellectuals who wanted radical (extreme) change; supported the sans-culottes.

7. How was the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen similar to the American Declaration of Independence?

• Both had the ideas of John Locke: natural rights, government exists to protect rights

8. What did the Constitution of 1791 do, and how did it reflect Enlightenment ideas?• equality before the law• ended church interference with government• limited monarchy• elected officials

9. Why did European rulers and nobles denounce the French Revolution?• They were afraid of revolution in their own country

10. Why did radicals continue to push for further change (What was their goal)?• They wanted a republic.

Robespierre: Jacobin leader and head of the Committee of Public Safety, used terror to achieve his political goals; Led the Reign of Terror

Reign of Terror: Radical phase of the revolution led by Robespierre; citizens were arrested for not supporting the revolution, many were executed; led to Directory and Napoleon

Napoleon: Brilliant military leader who took control of France during the Directory, ending the French Revolution

Nationalism: a strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country that French Citizens felt after military victories outside of France and changes to the government within France.

12. What happened to the monarchy after radicals took control of the Assembly?• Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed

13. Summarize the goals and actions of the Jacobins.• Wanted a republic, erase traces of ancien regime, seized nobles’ lands, and abolished titles of nobility

14. Why was the Committee of Public Safety created?• Control threats made to France (led by Robespierre)

How did the Committee of Public Safety enforce its will?• Terror, arrests, executions

15. Why did Robespierre think the Terror was necessary to achieve the goals of the revolution?

• “Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads.”

16. What was the government structure under the Directory? Was it more moderate or radical than the Committee of Public Safety?

• Directory was five men, and a two-house legislature. The Directory drastically slowed executions and ended some of France’s European conflicts.

17. What was the social impact of the revolution?• The rise of nationalism in France, • “La Marseillaise” new national anthem

annexed: to add a territory to an existing state or country; Napoleon annexed much of Northern Europe into his empire; this created future enemies

Continental System: French blockade designed to hurt Britain economically by closing European ports to British goods; unsuccessful and created resentment by rest of Europe towards Napoleon.

guerrilla warfare: fighting carried on through hit-and-run raids; used by Spanish who opposed Napoleon’s power.

abdicate: When a leader gives up or steps down from power; Napoleon abdicated, only to return once again.

Congress of Vienna: assembly of European leaders after end of Napoleonic era to restructure Europe; many rights gained were lost; led to ultimate goal of maintaining peace and balance of power

19. Why was Napoleon viewed as a great choice to rule France?• He was a viewed as a great military leader• They thought he would bring stability

20. List at least three ways Napoleon reformed France after he became emperor.• Controlled prices• Encouraged new industry• Built roads and canals• Set up public schools• Religious freedom to Catholics• Jobs open to everyone bases on skill

21. Why was Napoleon unsuccessful in his attempt to conquer Russia?• Russia’s scorched-earth policy• Cold winter• Russia is too vast

22. What events led to Napoleon’s downfall?• Defeat in Russia• Battle of Nations• Battle of Waterloo

23. How did the Congress of Vienna try to restore the balance of power in Europe?• Surrounded France with strong countries• Legitimacy: restoring hereditary monarchies to the throne• Concert of Europe: leaders met periodically to discuss the peace