French Revolution

A

100

1. How might the idea of “divine sanction” be both empowering and constraining for a king?

It gives the king absolute power, but he may be more inclined to do the right thing because he would be punished more severely than a normal people.

200

6. Why/how did the process of desacralization unfold?

Because the King was doing such a bad job and the people were suffering so much that they lost sight of a definite religion, the king was no longer seen as chosen by god.

300

11. How did foreign intellectuals react to the French Revolution?

- triumph of liberty over tyranny - Edmund Burke from England feared chaos & tyranny - Mary Wollstonecraft defends rights of men and women

400

16. Describe the Reign of Terror.

People were tried in court for crimes against the political goals of the revolution. Many people were killed. Pretty much, they scared the people into accepting the revolution and gaining support.

500

7. What enlightenment ideals might challenge royal absolutism?

The fact that we need to use reason to figure out what is correct and true in the world challenged royal absolutism because royal absolutism didn't use reason or science but was just about accepting something because "god" or the church said so. In absolutism, the king is said to be chosen by god because that is what is said in the Bible. This strays from reason and logic among social endeavors. Also, the people are given little representation if less wealthy (3rd estate), while the enlightenment fostered that regardless of status, the voice was heard.

B

100

2. Describe problems that faced Henry IV and how he was able to address them.

Henry IV led a recovery from the debt from the American Revolution by keeping peace, lowering taxes, and improving infrastructure and signed the Edict of Nantes, allowing Protestants to worship freely (lowered religious animosity).

200

7. Describe the financial crisis that plagued France in the 1780s and Louis XVI’s response.

France was in financial debt due to participation in the American Revolution. Moreover, the people began to go hungry and want bread. Also, the people saw him sleeping around and being tyrannical and started to distrust him. Furthermore, by bringing back the parlements, he unintentionally weakened his power. Moreover, he tries and imposes a tax but the nobles refuse to pay it saying that he needs the approval of the Estates General.

300

12. Explain the reaction of foreign monarchs to the French Revolution.

- feared revolution in own land - Declaration of Pillnitz (Austria and Prussia would intervene if the French king was threatened)

400

17. How was France able to reverse its fortunes and win battles abroad by 1794?

People became united by a common loyalty and began to see the wars as a struggle between good and evil, revolutionary France being good and all others being evil. Along with organization and government control over resources, the French army grew strong. All unmarried young men were drafted, but they wanted to fight for their country because of their nationalistic attitude. Also, the people actually began to support the revolution. They wanted to fight for something different and that made all the difference.

500

Thermidorian Reaction:

Recalled the old days of the revolution where the middle class who led the early revolution became in control again and go support from their class, provincial cities, and higher class peasants.

C

100

3. How did Richelieu help Louis XIII consolidate his power?

Louis XIII had Cardinal Richelieu build an administration to strengthen royal control. He used intendants to administer 32 districts and report to the King. - Intendants collected taxes, enforced laws, monitored nobles (to prevent uprising), regulated the economy, and recruited for the royal army.

200

8. How did the meeting of the Estates General lead to revolution?

Each estate had issues on how they would vote because the third estate, even though it had a significant amount of the population, only got one vote. Also, the nobility and the clergy would also oftentimes team up. Finally, after the Estates General got nothing done, the third estate split off and formed the National Assembly along with a few members of other estates because they actually wanted change. Then, the National Assembly took the tennis court oath.

300

13. Describe how a new republican and nationalistic culture began to take root.

The new republic got rid of the King and phased out catholic church in order to banish old symbols. They got rid of the all saints day and changed all of the months in order to get the calendar away from the catholic church so there was no time to worship. Also, the wars called all the people together to fight for a common cause.

400

18. What was the Directory and how was Napoleon able to replace it?

The directory was a five man executive council. When he realized that some French revolutionaries thought that they needed a strong military leader to restore power, he paired up with them and expelled the Directory, bringing in soldiers to break the legislature apart. His main goals were to use his personal power to maintain order (by replacing a weak dictatorship w/ strong one) and end civil conflict.

D

100

4. Why do some people point to Versailles as the ultimate symbol of absolutism?

Because it was separate from the people and very extravagant, people believed that Versailles was the ultimate symbol of absolutism. Also, the nobles begged for the favor of the king, contributing to how highly reguarded the king actually was.

200

9. In the Cahiers de Doleances, how did grievances compare between the orders?

- problems with the way things are run Similarities: Justice (laws), basic freedoms, fairness in business, and equality Differences: clergy wanted to preserve monarchy; nobility wanted legislative branch to preform a check on royal power and approve any taxes/ laws (didn't want any taxes); 3rd estate focused on equality (no one should have separate privileges)

300

14. What was the “Second Revolution”?

A period after the fall of the monarchy that initiated a more intense phase of the revolution. There was a period called the September Massacres where people stormed prisons and killed prisoners. Then, the National Convention declared France a republic. A heightened sense of chaos and paranoia.

400

19. How was Napoleon able to consolidate power?

He arranged unwritten agreements with powerful groups in France (they got favors in return for loyal service). He also codified a bargain with the middle class in the Civil Code of 1804 which reasserted equality of all male citizens before the law and the security of wealth/ property. He also worked with the leading bankers in Paris to make the privately owned Bank of France (good for financial oligarchy and state; helps state and wealthy individuals). He also defended the status and land that the peasants had gained during the revolution. He also keeps the image of the Republic with a constitution (that outlines rights/ laws and makes the laws definite and accessible) and a plebiscite (popular vote) makes it look like a republic but in reality, France becomes Napoleon's private project.

E

100

5. How did Louis XV try to preserve absolute power?

He abolished the parlement (giving more power to the king) and taxed privileged groups.

200

10. What is the importance of the storming of the Bastille?

Paris fell to the people.

300

15. Explain conflict between the Girondists and the Mountain.

(members of the Jacobin club) The Girondists (controlled, moderate, right) thought that King Louis XVI was guilty of treason, but didn't want to kill him. The Mountain (radicals, urban, left) thought that he should be killed and they won by a small majority. Both hated tyranny. Robespierre was the leader of the Mountain.

400

20. What brought about Napoleon’s downfall?

The perception of Napoleon changed. He was now seen as a tyrant instead of a liberator. He became to radical and pushed too far. He also isolated England with his economic policies and the french actually needed some supplied from England Also, he lost in Russia and tried to retreat however, they got caught in the russian winter and thousands of troops died.