McKay Ch 21 ~ Discussion Qs
The Revolution in Politics
1. The ideas of liberty and equality were the central ideas of classical liberalism. Define these
ideas. Are they the same as democracy?
2. According to Locke, what is the function of government?
3. Did the Americans or the British have the better argument with regard to the taxation problem?
4. Why is the Declaration of Independence sometimes called the world’s greatest political
editorial?
5. What role did the European powers play in the American victory? Did they gain anything?
6. What was the major issue in the debate between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?
7. Did the American Revolution have any effect on France?
8. Describe the three estates in France. Who paid taxes? Who held the wealth and power?
9. With the calling of the Estates-General, “the nobility of France expected that history would
repeat itself.” Did it? What actually did happen?
10. What were the reforms of the National Assembly? Do they display the application of
liberalism to society?
11. What were the causes and outcomes of the peasants’ revolt of 1789?
12. Why were France and Europe overcome with feelings of feat and mistrust?
13. Why did the Revolution turn into war in 1792
14. Who were the sans-culottes? Why were they important to radical leaders such as Robespierre?
What role did the common people play in the Revolution?
15. Why did the Committee of Public Safety need to institute a Reign of Terror?
16. Describe the Grand Empire of Napoleon in terms of its three parts. Was napoleon a liberator or
a tyrant?
17. What caused Napoleon’s downfall? Was it inevitable?
Terms:
Liberalism checks and balances natural rights
republican popular sovereignty tithe
Stamp Act Battle of Trafalgar Bill of Rights
Loyalists Constitutional Convention of 1787 Jacobins
Girondists Mountain Reign of Terror
National Assembly Bastille Declaration of the Rights of Women
Sans-culottes Girondists Lord Nelson
Edmund Burke Marie Antoinette Marquis de Lafayette
Thomas Jefferson Robespierre Locke