French Revolution of 1789: Notes Summary

In the 18th century the power of the French monarchy was enormous and unrestricted, and there were great inequalities in the country. The nobles (or aristocrats) had many special privileges: they paid very few taxes and they were lords of their own wide-spreading domains. The working class (still peasants) were in a state bordering on slavery. They were forced to pay money to their overlords as well heavy government taxes. In fact, the government took fifty percent of their earnings and the nobility another thirty percent.

All this led to a great deal of resentment, misery and unrest. The peasants themselves were too ignorant and wretched to revolt against their king and his nobles. They were influenced and helped to do so by the bourgeoisie (the ambitious middle class, which consisted of tradesmen, lawyers, doctors, writers and so on) many of whom had deep sympathy for the suffering of the working class.

In 1789 the French Revolution began. The King of France, Louis XVI, his wife, Marie Antoinette, and their family were all imprisoned and later executed. A Committee of Public Safety was elected by the revolutionaries, with the idea of setting up a Republic governed by the people. Their slogan was “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”, and there were many honest and sincere men amongst them who really believed in these three ideals.

Gradually, however, the more cruel, ambitious and self-seeking men gained power, killing anyone who stood in their way and sending opponents and royalists alike to the guillotine. There followed a reign of terror. The terrible and sometimes senseless bloodshed lost the Republicans the sympathy of the other nations.

Select the best of the four choices a, b, c, d, after each question.

  1. After the peasants had paid all their taxes they were left with:

a)Less than a quarter of their earnings;

b)only half of their earnings

c)Between a quarter and a half of their earnings;

d)slightly less than half of their earnings

  1. In the French Revolution:

a)The peasants joined forces with the aristocrats against the growing power of the middle class;

b)The aristocrats were hunted down but the royal family were left in peace;

c)The peasant joined forces with the middle class against the King and his nobles;

d)The nobles joined forces with the middle class to keep the peasants under subjection.

  1. The common people:

a)Of Europe approved of the reign of terror;

b)Of America approved of the reign of terror;

c)Of Europe and America at first approved of the Revolution;

d)Of Europe and America never had any sympathy with the Revolutionaries.

  1. It is suggested in this passage that:

a)Revolution is never justifiable;

b)That some revolutionaries use the opportunity of civil unrest to gain power for themselves;

c)That all revolutionaries are blood-thirsty and self-seeking;

d)That all revolutionaries are sincere idealists.

  1. The French King, Louis XVI:

a)escaped to England with his family;

b)was put to death;

c)was sentenced to life imprisonment;

d)was sent into permanent exile.

Ask questions about the underlined parts of the sentences.

  1. The government took fifty percent of their earnings.

______?

  1. In the 18th there were great inequalities in the country.

______?

Find synonyms in the above text (first two paragraphs) for the following words or collocations.

8. a) compelled ______b) huge ______

9. a) was composed ______b) income ______

10. a) miserable ______b) to rebel ______

0-18:30 minutes BBC Documentary: The French Revolution

  1. Who do we see in jail at the beginning of the clip? What is wrong with his face? What is so special about him?
  1. How was the French Revolution the “crossroads” of the modern world?
  1. Why is the French Revolution considered the most important event in Western History? What 3 things did it get rid of?
  1. What is the Versailles?
  1. What kind of person was Louis XVI? Why wasn’t he a good leader?
  1. Where was Marie Antoinette from?
  1. Which two European countries became allies instead of enemies with the marriage of King Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette?
  1. Why was France low on money?
  1. What were the 3 social classes?
  1. What was the Age of Enlightenment (Age of Reason)? How did beliefs about knowledge change?
  1. Why did France send money and troops to America?
  1. What did Marie Antoinette like to do? What nickname was she given?
  1. What is the “job” of a queen? Why was Marie Antoinette desperate?
  1. What do you think? Is hierarchy natural? Are some people “born” better than others?