APEURO: Unit 5, Conflict, Crisis, Reaction, Late 18th Century - The French Revolution, Causes, Estates-General, National Assembly, Storming of the Bastille

Why This Matters

The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a pivotal event in modern European history that had far-reaching consequences for the continent and beyond. It marked a significant turning point in the development of modern democracy, as the French people overthrew their absolute monarchy and established the First Republic. This revolution also had a profound impact on the concept of citizenship, equality, and individual rights, influencing the course of modern politics and shaping the AP theme of Politics and Power.

Key Events & People

• Estates-General (May 5, 1789): A representative assembly of the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners) that met to address France's financial crisis and became the precursor to the National Assembly.
• National Assembly (June 17, 1789): A revolutionary assembly that emerged from the Estates-General, committed to the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): A pivotal event in which a mob of Parisians stormed the Bastille prison, symbolizing the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution.
• Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794): A leading figure of the Revolution, known for his advocacy of the Reign of Terror and his role in the Committee of Public Safety.
• King Louis XVI (1754-1793): The last king of France before the Revolution, who was executed by guillotine in 1793 for treason.
• Marie Antoinette (1755-1793): The queen of France, who became a symbol of the monarchy's excesses and was executed by guillotine in 1793.
• Camille Desmoulins (1760-1794): A journalist and politician who played a key role in the early stages of the Revolution, advocating for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
• Georges Danton (1759-1794): A leading figure of the Revolution, who served as the first president of the Committee of Public Safety and was executed by guillotine in 1794.
• Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821): A military leader who rose to power during the Revolution and eventually seized control of the government, establishing the Napoleonic Empire.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: Financial crisis in France (heavy taxation, food shortages, and economic inequality)
• Effect: Estates-General meets in 1789 to address the crisis

• Long-term consequence: The establishment of the First Republic and the end of absolute monarchy in France

• Cause: The National Assembly's adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 26, 1789)

• Effect: The spread of revolutionary ideas and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy

• Long-term consequence: The influence of the French Revolution on the development of modern democracy and human rights

• Cause: The Reign of Terror (September 1793-July 1794), characterized by mass executions and violence

• Effect: The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and the eventual establishment of the Napoleonic Empire
• Long-term consequence: The end of the French Revolution and the beginning of a new era of French history

Essential Vocabulary

• *Absolute monarchy*: A system of government in which the monarch holds complete power and authority.
• *Estates-General*: A representative assembly of the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners) that met to address France's financial crisis.
• *National Assembly*: A revolutionary assembly that emerged from the Estates-General, committed to the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• *Reign of Terror*: A period of violence and mass executions that characterized the French Revolution from September 1793 to July 1794.
• *Committee of Public Safety*: A revolutionary committee that played a key role in the Reign of Terror and the establishment of the First Republic.
• *Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen*: A document adopted by the National Assembly on August 26, 1789, that enshrined the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• *Liberty, Equality, Fraternity*: The motto of the French Revolution, which became a symbol of the Revolution's ideals and values.
• *Guillotine*: A device used for executing people by beheading, which became a symbol of the Reign of Terror.
• *Napoleonic Empire*: The empire established by Napoleon Bonaparte, which lasted from 1804 to 1815.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: The Estates-General was a representative assembly of the three estates, but it was not the same as the National Assembly.
• Correction: The Estates-General met in 1789, but it was not until June 17, 1789, that the National Assembly emerged from it.
• What students often get wrong: The Reign of Terror was a period of violence and mass executions, but it was not the same as the French Revolution as a whole.
• Correction: The Reign of Terror lasted from September 1793 to July 1794, and it was characterized by the Committee of Public Safety's efforts to suppress opposition and maintain control.
• What students often get wrong: Napoleon Bonaparte was a key figure in the French Revolution, but he was not a leading figure of the Revolution.
• Correction: Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power during the Revolution, but he did not play a significant role in the early stages of the Revolution.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Possible essay prompt: Analyze the role of the Estates-General in the French Revolution. How did it contribute to the emergence of the National Assembly, and what were the key factors that led to its failure?
  • Specific evidence: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the National Assembly's adoption of the Constitution of 1791, the financial crisis in France.
• Possible essay prompt: Evaluate the significance of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. How did it contribute to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, and what were the long-term consequences of this period?
  • Specific evidence: The Committee of Public Safety's efforts to suppress opposition, the execution of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the establishment of the Napoleonic Empire.
• Possible essay prompt: Compare and contrast the ideals of the French Revolution with the reality of the Reign of Terror. How did the Revolution's emphasis on liberty, equality, and fraternity shape the course of modern history?
  • Specific evidence: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the National Assembly's adoption of the Constitution of 1791, the Reign of Terror's violence and mass executions.

Quick Self?Check

1. What was the significance of the Estates-General in the French Revolution?
   • Correct answer: It was a representative assembly of the three estates that met to address France's financial crisis and became the precursor to the National Assembly.
   • Explanation: The Estates-General was a key event in the French Revolution, marking the beginning of the end of absolute monarchy and the emergence of the National Assembly.
2. Who was a leading figure of the French Revolution?
   • Correct answer: Maximilien Robespierre
   • Explanation: Robespierre was a key figure in the early stages of the Revolution, advocating for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy and playing a leading role in the Committee of Public Safety.
3. What was the significance of the Storming of the Bastille?
   • Correct answer: It was a pivotal event in which a mob of Parisians stormed the Bastille prison, symbolizing the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution.
   • Explanation: The Storming of the Bastille was a key event in the French Revolution, marking the beginning of the end of absolute monarchy and the emergence of the National Assembly.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The French Revolution began in 1789 and lasted until 1799.
• The Estates-General met in 1789, but it was not until June 17, 1789, that the National Assembly emerged from it.
• The Reign of Terror lasted from September 1793 to July 1794.
• The Committee of Public Safety was a revolutionary committee that played a key role in the Reign of Terror and the establishment of the First Republic.
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted by the National Assembly on August 26, 1789.
• The National Assembly adopted the Constitution of 1791, which established a constitutional monarchy in France.
• The Storming of the Bastille occurred on July 14, 1789.
• King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in 1793.
• Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine in 1793.
• Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power during the Revolution and eventually established the Napoleonic Empire.