Question

05.06 French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Assessment

In this lesson, you learned about the changes that occurred in and because of France from 1789 to 1815. Three different eras were discussed: The French Revolutionary Era (1789–1799), The Napoleonic Era (1799–1815), and the Bourbon Restoration (after 1815).

Consider this: in many ways, a historian's work is like that of a detective. Historians carefully try to put together the pieces of history by looking at primary and secondary sources. This is similar to the way detectives look at evidence when trying to solve a case. In this assessment, you will have an opportunity to work like a true historian. You will study evidence and develop a logical conclusion based on the sources presented to you.

In this assessment, you will analyze the sources based on the era, and you will also use information you have learned in this lesson to support your responses.

You will be analyzing sources during and after the French Revolutionary Era. You will use the documents to evaluate how the different eras during the late 18th and early 19th centuries shaped the identity and character of the people of France. You will need to answer each analysis question in a short paragraph of complete sentences. Select the template to review the documents. You will first analyze each of them with two separate questions and then you will consider the big picture of the 26 extraordinary years of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Era with a reflection question.

If you would like a fuller treatment of analyzing sources, you can review these three stages of source analysis.

Answer 1

Louis XVI's decision to call for a meeting in May 1789 was a crucial moment in the French Revolution.

How to explain

The way the General Secretary was chosen became a significant issue. The three estates could either vote separately, like before, or together as one body.

The third estate wanted equal influence, as they had more representatives, but if they voted separately, the clergy and nobility could block important decisions.

Many believed the nobles' excessive power hindered reforms. They argued that commoners did essential work while nobles held lucrative positions unfairly. To achieve true reform, they felt the General Estates needed to change this imbalance.