Chapter 6. “From the Revolution to Napoleon”

Chapter 6. “From the Revolution to Napoleon”

1. Try to identify the two forces (or tendencies) struggling for power in France.
2. What does the Marxist interpretation of the Revolution say?
3. What does the “revisionist” interpretation say?
4. Explain, very briefly, the interpretation of the Revolution expressed by the historian Jacques Godechot. (page 95)
5. What is the main difference between the French Revolution and the American and English Revolutions?
6. Try to synthesize the main problems that the monarchy was facing before the Revolution. 
7. Explain what Godechot is saying when he talks about “a series of revolutions not entirely specific to France”. 
8. How was the Constitutional Assembly composed? (1789-1791)
9. What was the role of the newspapers at the time? Why can one talk about the existence of a “public opinion” already at this moment?
10. What are the “political clubs”? What are their main tendencies?
11. Explain the roles of Lafayette and Mirabeau. 
12. What was the nature of the secret communications between Mirabeau and Barnave with the King and Marie-Antoinette? 
13. Define, in basic terms, the Jacobin club. 
14. Describe the differences between Robespierre and Danton.
15. About the Constituent Assembly and the “Declaration”: Why do they mention a “Supreme being”? 
16. Now, who gives the power to the King?
17. Explain the separation of the three powers. 
18. Why does the “subject” become a “citizen”?
19. Why does the Constitutional Assembly originate a “Constitutional Monarchy”?
20. Which role assigns the Revolution to women?
21. Explain the tactical error of the Revolution in its relation with the Church. 
22. Why did the lack of credibility of the King ended up ruining the revolutionary process?
23. Explain the passage from the Constituent Assembly to the Legislative Assembly, in October 1791. 
24. Why did the Revolution suddenly become an “international and domestic” phenomenon?
25. What was the “preventive war”?
26. What is the main consequence of the military victory at Valmy?
27. When was the King executed?
28. At this point, other countries want to invade France. Why?
29. What is “Terror”?
30. Why does the author say that the Terror was, in the short term, successful? 
31. When was Robespierre executed?
32. How does the Terror end? 
33. What is the structure of the five-man Directoire?
34. How did Napoleon come to power?
35. Mention the main reforms accomplished by his regime (page 110).
36. Why did he fall? When?