The+French+Revolution

**1. This program opens with a discussion of Louis XVI’s inexperience as leader. How do you think Louis XVI’s qualities as a leader led to the French Revolution?**
Louis did not know how to lead the people correctly, and the people knew this. Louis had never had to lead anything before in his life, so he wasn't really sure on how it was done. The people were tired of being lead by an unexperienced leader, so they started the revolution, hoping to get their freedom from the king.

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The ideas and writings from the Enlightenment inspired the French to go against their king. The Americans overthrowing the British also encouraged the French to fight for their freedom. The common people were angry about having to work.======

3. What was the “Enlightenment”? Who were some of its major thinkers and writers?
The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement of the 18th century, characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine. Issac Newton, John Locke, Voltaire, Charles-Louis of Secondat, and Jean-Jacques Rosseau were some of the most influential writers and thinkers of the Enlightenment. People didn't like Marie in the first place because she wasn't even from France, she was from Austria. Once she was married to the king, she could not produce an heir to the throne.It wasn't her fault, the king was the one with the problems, but everyone automatically blamed it on her. She was also going through all the money by spending it on clothes and jewels. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is a document the defines the individual and collective rights of the nobility, clergy, and commoners. The Enlightenment principles that are in the Constitution influenced the Declaration. The Third Estate was one of the three estates that made up the country of France. The Third Estate was made up of the people that didn't qualify to be in the first two estates. It was made up of peasants. These were the ones that had to pay taxes because in the kind's mind they did nothing helpful for him. I think that they meant that it changed everything. It went against all of these concepts that had been going on for years. There were no longer any privileges or kings. Their whole way of life changed and they completely changed the way things were going to be done from then on. I think that maybe at first he didn't want to upset them anymore than he already had. Then he remembered that he was the king and he was the one that was in charge. The idea that they would come together and go against him wasn't believable because it had not been done before. Maximilien Robespierre was a good leader of the French until it got to him. There was a point that he got to where it seemed like he thought that he was like god int he sense that all the French wanted to listen and follow his ideas. The more powerful he became the less popular he became. The women of the French Revolution were the ones that provided the food, such as bread,to their family. Whenever the prices of bread went up, the women would riot about that. Most of these women were the ones that worked in the fish market so they were big, strong women. They mostly blamed Marie, so they rioted the palace with intentions of killing her. I think the initial goals became distorted because now Robespierre was too busy sending people to the guillotine when they spoke one wrong word about the Revolution. People were going to the guillotine so fast that Robespierre was afraid that the other political leaders would turn on him and sentence him to the guillotine. The liberation of the economy from royal control, the order of weight and measures, and the advancement of a uniform civil law code. All taken into account, the French Revolution probably put back the economy, rather than put it ahead. Starting the Revolution was a legacy in its self. Countries saw that the French did it, and now think "why can we?" Nationalism was also another legacy. After the Revolution, nationalist groups were forming. Also the thought that all the citizens were equal, instead of having a royal subject rule.
 * 4. Why did the French people have such negative feelings toward Marie Antoinette?**
 * 5. What was the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”? How does it relate to the U.S. Constitution?**
 * 6. What was the Third Estate? Which groups in French society did it include?**
 * 7. One of the historians interviewed in this program calls the French Revolution “the crossroads of the modern world.” What do you think this means? Do you agree with this claim?**
 * 8. At first, it seemed that King Louis XVI would cooperate with some of the demands of the Third Estate. Why do you think he ultimately reacted so violently against them?**
 * 9. What kind of leader was Robespierre? Do you think he did a good job of representing the wishes of the French people?**
 * 10.What was the role of women in the French Revolution? Can you think of some examples of their contribution to the Revolution from this program?**
 * 11.Why do you think the initial goals of the Revolution became so distorted during the “Reign of Terror”? Why do you think Robespierre had so much fear of political traitors?**
 * 12.What do you think were the most important long-term effects of the French Revolution? What were its legacies?**

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At the seat of the French monarchy in **__1770__**, an alliance between **__France__** and **__Austria__** was created as King Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette. The king had inherited a financial crisis as France had sent millions of dollars and resources overseas to support the **__war__**. Poverty and malnourishment devastated the nation as the population in France continued to increase. Unrest was brewing as King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General to be held in May of **__1789__**. Meanwhile, a brilliant orator who will later become a leader of the French Revolution named **__Maximilien Robespierre__** sharpened his debating and political skills.======

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There were three major social groups in France, referred to as “estates.” The three estates were the nobility, the clergy, and the common people known as the **__peasants__**. This estate comprised over 95% of the French population. A political and philosophical awakening spearheaded by thinkers such as Voltaire and Rousseau inspired the members of the Third Estate. This transformation, known as _, created rising expectations among the French people at the same time that malnourishment and harsh taxes turned them against an inept crown. Politically inspired, the Third Estate demanded popular representation, forming a political body known as the **__assembly__**. They demanded that France become a Constitutional Monarchy in which the Third Estate would be more fairly represented politically.======

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After declaring their wishes to reorganize the French government in the “Tennis Court Oaths,” the Third Estate was met with violent repression. Though he recognized the need to compromise politically, Louis XVI soon started a campaign to re-establish power and put an end to the Revolution. The king’s repression incensed the French people, and hundreds of protestors stormed the **__Bastille fortress__** on July 14, **__1790__**. Later that summer, the National Assembly outlined a basic human rights platform in a document written by the Marquis de Lafayette entitled **__the French Declaration of the Rights of Man__**. Furious at the monarchy, a group of Parisian women marched to Versailles and demanded that the king and queen return to Paris.======

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The Revolution continued over the next few years, as the king ordered repressive measures against protestors and as factions emerged among the Third Estate. In 1791, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee Paris but were recaptured and, in **__1793__**, Louis XVI was executed by the **__guillotine__.** Robespierre, who had been a major leader in the Revolution, responded to the chaos in France by handing over power to his **__colleagues__** with the goal of returning order. This attempt spiraled out of control as thousands of people suspected to be traitors of the Revolution were executed by guillotine. This chapter of the Revolution is known as the **__Reign of Terror__**======