The Ancien Régime
What was the term used to describe the old political and social system in France?
The Ancien Régime
What meeting did Louis XVI call in 1789 to discuss taxes?
The Estates-General
Who led the Jacobins during the Reign of Terror?
Maximilien Robespierre
What was the revolutionary motto of France?
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Where was Napoleon born?
Corsica
Who was king of France at the start of the Revolution?
Louis XVI
What new body did the Third Estate form?
The National Assembly
What was the guillotine used for?
Executing enemies of the Revolution
What document did the National Assembly pass on 26 August 1789?
Declaration of the Rights of Man
What legal system did Napoleon create?
The Napoleonic Code
What privileges did French nobles enjoy under the Ancien Régime?
They could tax peasants, run courts, and demand unpaid labour.
What event on 14 July 1789 marked the start of the French Revolution?
The Storming of the Bastille
What was the new state religion created during the anti-Catholic movement?
The Cult of the Supreme Being
What was the name of the lower-class revolutionaries who didn’t wear silk breeches?
Sans-culottes
What battle in 1805 was one of Napoleon’s greatest victories?
The Battle of Austerlitz
How much land did the nobility own in France?
One quarter (25%) of the land
Why did France face a financial crisis by 1788?
Debt from the American Revolution and poor harvests
How many people were officially executed during the Reign of Terror?
About 17,000
What mistake led to the loss of trust in Louis XVI?
His escape attempt to Varennes
What was the scorched earth tactic used by Russia?
Burning everything to deny resources to the enemy
Which class paid most of the taxes in France?
The peasantry
What percentage of the French population were peasants?
About 75%
What happened to Louis XVI in 1793?
He was executed by guillotine
What major foreign war did France declare in June 1792?
War against Austria and Prussia
Where was Napoleon exiled after his final defeat at Waterloo?
St. Helena