1789
What forced Louis XVI to summon the Estates-General?
Bankruptcy, bankers insisted, the privileged classes refused to accept any taxes
What happened to church lands?
The National Constituent Assembly took them.
Who took power in 1792 and threw out the government and constitution?
Danton, leader of the Paris Commune, and the Paris mob.
What was the name of the government that took over after the fall of Robespierre?
The Directory
Which wars in the 18th century caused the French monarchy to go into debt?
The French and Indian War (Seven Years War) and the American War of Independence
What did the Third Estate quarrel with the First and Second Estates about?
Voting. The traditional voting system was to vote by order, so one vote each for the First, Second, and Third Estates.
The Third Estate wanted to vote by population, because they represented over 90% of the population.
What were Catholic priests forced to do?
To swear an oath to the new constitution.
What kind of government did France create now?
A republic - an elected government without a king.
When did Napoleon take power?
On the 18th of Brumaire, 1799
Which two previous revolutions influenced the French Revolution?
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 (England) and the American Revolution of 1776.
What was the Tennis Court Oath?
When the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly, Louis XVI locked them out of the building.
They assembled in a near-by tennis court and swore to create a new constitution for France.
Why did King Louis XVI and his family try to escape from France?
He was not happy with the revolution and the new constitution. He had many friends abroad who could help him take back his throne.
What happened to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette?
They were executed by guillotine.
Did Napoleon defeat Austria and Prussia?
Yes
What was the name of the palace built by Louis XIV where the French kings kept an extravagantly expensive court?
Versailles
What happened on July 14, 1789?
The Storming of the Bastille.
Believing Louis XVI was about to send soldiers to close the National Assembly and kill them all, the Paris Mob stormed the fortress-prison of the Bastille.
Which two countries invaded France, causing fear and alarm in Paris?
Austria and Prussia
What happened to Danton?
He was guillotined by Robespierre (for corruption).
Did Napoleon defeat Russia?
No
What 2 things did Marie Antoinette spend large sums of money on?
Her dresses and gambling at cards.
Why did the women of Paris march on Versailles?
They wanted bread, and they wanted to bring the king and his family back to Paris where they could watch him.
What happened to many Roman Catholic holidays, ceremonies, and statues?
They were replaced by revolutionary holidays, ceremonies, and symbols.
What happened to Robespierre?
He was overthrown when the rest of the assembly finally saw that no one was safe from the Terror.
What happened to Napoleon after his final defeat in 1815?
He was exiled to St Helena, a tiny island in the south Atlantic.
When the Enlightenment thinker Voltaire said 'Crush the infamous thing!", what did he mean?
He meant crush the tyranny and superstition of the king and the church.