The West in the World, 4th Edition (Sherman)

Chapter 16: Overturning the Political and Social Order

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Why were the social orders of France discontented with the monarchy?



2. How did the French taxation system contribute to the financial crisis which crippled the monarchy?



3. Why did French nobles refuse to give in to the king's appeals for financial reform?



4. How had the French middle class changed during the eighteenth century? As a result, how did they feel about their position in the French political and social order?



5. In what specific ways did the end of France's long period of prosperity trigger unrest?



6. How did the Third Estate resolve the deadlock over voting procedure in the Estates General? In which estate's favor was the issue resolved?



7. How did the French people—both the Parisian populace and the peasantry—help to turn the course of events toward a more radical outcome?



8. In what ways did women participate in bringing down the French old regime?

9. What types of reforms were enacted once the central government had become a constitutional monarchy?



10. How did the Western states react to the French Revolution? Why was there such a wide range of reactions?

11. After 1791, which groups in French society were still dissatisfied by the governmental reforms? What more did they want?



12. Which groups in France initially saw war as a "solution"? Were their expectations fulfilled?



13. After the execution of King Louis XVI, what internal and external threats challenged the Republic?



14. How did the sans-culottes push the revolutionary leaders to take more radical actions?



15. What was the purpose of the Reign of Terror?



16. In what ways did radical revolutionary leaders attempt to assault institutions connected to the old regime?



17. How did the Republic's leaders try to use revolutionary symbols to increase support and patriotism for the regime and its ideals?



18. What other peoples were inspired by the French revolution to attempt to achieve independence?



19. Describe the changes that took place in government and everyday life after the bourgeoisie took over and implemented the "White" terror.

20. What steps did Napoleon take to advance his career? Consider the trajectory of his career that culminated in the coup d'état that overthrew the Directory.



21. How did Napoleon end the democratization France had enjoyed under the Republic?



22. Why do you think Napoleon needed to engage in military conquest, even after being crowned emperor?



23. How did Napoleon's military and economic strategy toward Great Britain differ from that toward the European continent?



24. Describe how Napoleon's military conquests changed both the map of and the political balance of power in Europe—that is, describe the "new European order."



25. What reforms and Enlightenment ideals did Napoleon bring to European governments that came under direct or indirect French control? What influence did the Napoleonic Code have on these governments?



26. In what ways did Napoleon's conquest in Europe affect Latin America?



27. What three major weaknesses together contributed to diluting Napoleon's power between 1808 and 1812?



28. What overseas actions did Great Britain take in response to Napoleon's military actions in Europe?



29. How did Napoleonic rule provoke a new national spirit among subject peoples, such as the Spanish.



30. How did the invasion of Russia debilitate Napoleon's fighting forces?