Question

French Revolution to Napoleon Notes

Terms and People
• Ancient régime – the government in pre-revolution France
• Estate – social class
• Deficit spending – when a government spends more money than it takes in
• Louis XVI – king of France from 1774 to 1792; executed in 1793
• Estates-General – the legislative body consisting of representatives of the three estates
• Cahier – notebook used during the French Revolution to record grievances
• Tennis Court Oath – an oath taken by the members of the National Assembly to meet wherever the circumstances might require until they had created a constitution
• Bastille – fortress in Paris used as a prison; French Revolution began when Parisians stormed it in 1789

1. Who made up the three estates in French society?
First Estate
Second Estate
Third Estate

2. What wealth and privileges did the First and Second Estates enjoy?

3. What were some of the causes of France’s economic problems and deficit spending?

4. What was the Estates-General?

5. What happened in June 1789?

6. Tennis Court Oath:

7. What occurred on July 14, 1789?

8. What were the four phases of the French Revolution?




9. At the end of August 1789, what did the National Assembly issue?

10. After the Constitution of 1791, the Legislative Assembly had the power to:

11. Radicals took control of the Legislative Assembly and called for the election of a new legislative body called ________________.

12. What happened in January 1793?

13. Who became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety?

14. The rule of the Committee of Public Safety is known as _______________ and resulted in _____________ people arrested and ___________ people executed by guillotine.

15. After Robespierre was executed and the Reign of Terror ended, who ruled France?

16. Who did the Directory appoint to rule France?

Answers

GPT-4o mini
### French Revolution to Napoleon Notes

#### Terms and People
- **Ancien Régime** – The government and social system in pre-revolution France, characterized by a monarchical regime and distinct social classes.
- **Estate** – A social class in the context of the French societal hierarchy, divided into three main groups.
- **Deficit Spending** – The practice of a government spending more money than it receives in revenue.
- **Louis XVI** – King of France from 1774 to 1792, executed in 1793 after being found guilty of treason.
- **Estates-General** – The legislative assembly composed of representatives from the three estates, convened to discuss the financial crisis.
- **Cahier** – A notebook used by the representatives of the estates to document grievances and suggestions.
- **Tennis Court Oath** – A pledge made by members of the Third Estate, promising to meet until a new constitution was established.
- **Bastille** – A fortress in Paris that served as a prison; stormed on July 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.

### Questions

1. **Who made up the three estates in French society?**
- **First Estate**: Clergy
- **Second Estate**: Nobility
- **Third Estate**: Common people, including peasants, urban workers, and the bourgeoisie (middle class)

2. **What wealth and privileges did the First and Second Estates enjoy?**
- The First and Second Estates enjoyed significant privileges, including exemption from many taxes, access to high government positions, and the ability to collect dues from the Third Estate. They had luxurious lifestyles, agricultural lands, and performed various social functions, such as holding court and influencing church matters.

3. **What were some of the causes of France’s economic problems and deficit spending?**
- Causes included costly involvement in wars (e.g., American Revolution), lavish spending by the monarchy and nobility, agricultural failures leading to food shortages, and an outdated taxation system that placed the burden on the Third Estate.

4. **What was the Estates-General?**
- The Estates-General was a legislative assembly that represented the three estates of France. It was convened to address the financial crisis but had not been called since 1614 prior to its meeting in 1789.

5. **What happened in June 1789?**
- In June 1789, the representatives of the Third Estate proclaimed themselves the National Assembly, asserting their authority to represent the people of France.

6. **Tennis Court Oath:**
- The Tennis Court Oath was an agreement made on June 20, 1789, where members of the National Assembly vowed not to disband until a new constitution had been created for France.

7. **What occurred on July 14, 1789?**
- On July 14, 1789, Parisians stormed the Bastille, a fortress and prison, which became a symbol of the tyranny of the monarchy and marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

8. **What were the four phases of the French Revolution?**
1. National Assembly (1789-1791) – Formation and establishment of the National Assembly, Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
2. Legislative Assembly (1791-1792) – Formation of a constitutional monarchy and increasing radicalization.
3. National Convention (1792-1795) – The republic is established, leading to the Reign of Terror.
4. The Directory (1795-1799) – A more moderate phase that faced corruption and eventually led to the rise of Napoleon.

9. **At the end of August 1789, what did the National Assembly issue?**
- The National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, proclaiming individual and collective rights.

10. **After the Constitution of 1791, the Legislative Assembly had the power to:**
- Make laws, collect taxes, and control the government, effectively limiting the power of the king who remained as a constitutional monarch.

11. **Radicals took control of the Legislative Assembly and called for the election of a new legislative body called ________________.**
- The National Convention.

12. **What happened in January 1793?**
- King Louis XVI was tried for treason, found guilty, and executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793.

13. **Who became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety?**
- Maximilien Robespierre.

14. **The rule of the Committee of Public Safety is known as _______________ and resulted in _____________ people arrested and ___________ people executed by guillotine.**
- The Reign of Terror; approximately 300,000 people arrested and around 17,000 executed.

15. **After Robespierre was executed and the Reign of Terror ended, who ruled France?**
- The Directory composed of five directors governed France.

16. **Who did the Directory appoint to rule France?**
- The Directory appointed Napoleon Bonaparte as the military leader, allowing him to gain significant power and eventually leading to his rise as Emperor.

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