French Revolution Key Concepts

What was the primary financial state of France in 1789, leading up to the revolution?

• Prosperous due to successful overseas trade.

• Stable with a balanced budget.

• Virtually bankrupt from continuous warfare.

• Experiencing a minor economic downturn.

What was a significant criticism leveled against Marie Antoinette during the period leading up to the French Revolution?

• Her strong political influence over her husband.

• Her inability to produce an heir to the throne.

• Her extravagant spending and disconnect from the struggles of the poor.

• Her attempts to reform the tax system.

Which three groups were represented in the Estates General summoned by Louis XVI in response to the financial crisis?

• Peasants, Merchants, and Soldiers.

• Clergy, Aristocracy, and Ordinary People.

• Farmers, Artisans, and Intellectuals.

• Royal Family, Bankers, and Judges.

What was the main objective of the Tennis Court Oath sworn by the members of the Third Estate?

• To declare war on Austria and Prussia.

• To establish a new monarchy with Louis XVI as absolute ruler.

• To create a nation of individual citizens rather than servile subjects.

• To demand lower bread prices and better crop yields.

What did the storming of the Bastille fortress symbolize for the people of Paris?

• The end of the monarchy's absolute power and arbitrary imprisonment.

• The beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity.

• A successful military coup against the king.

• The establishment of a new democratic government.

What fundamental principle was declared in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?

• That all men are born and remain free and equal in rights.

• That the king's power is divinely ordained and absolute.

• That only property owners have the right to vote.

• That Catholicism must remain the sole official religion.

What significant change did the Civil Constitution of the Clergy introduce regarding the Church in France?

• It established Catholicism as the state religion.

• It confiscated church property and mandated the election of priests.

• It granted the Church more political power.

• It abolished all religious practices in France.

How did the terms "left" and "right" originate in the context of political ideologies during the French Revolution?

• They referred to the geographical location of different regions in France.

• They described the seating arrangement of different political factions in the Assembly hall.

• They were derived from the names of prominent revolutionary leaders.

• They represented the economic status of different social classes.

What was a significant achievement for women in France during the early years of the revolution?

• Gaining the right to vote in national elections.

• Being granted equal pay for equal work.

• Successfully pushing for laws that ended men's power over the family and inheritance.

• Achieving full representation in the National Assembly.

What significant political change occurred in France in 1792?

• The establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

• The complete abolition of the French monarchy.

• The signing of a peace treaty with foreign royal armies.

• The election of a new king.