Urban Revolts 1789

Question 1

Storming of the Bastille

Answer 1

14 July 1789

Question 2

William Doyle - Symbolism of the storming

Answer 2

‘the taking of the Bastille meant the king was no longer the king’

Question 3

Rising food prices

Answer 3

A four pound loaf of bread cost 9 sous in 1778, but by 1789 had increased to 14 sous

Workers were now spending 70-90% of their income on food, which had only been 50% before

Question 4

Peter McPhee - Harvest crises

Answer 4

‘Twenty-two of the years between 1765 and 1789 were marked by food riots’

Question 5

King dismisses Necker

Answer 5

11 July 1789

Question 6

Significance of the Bastille

Answer 6

1) A symbol of royal despotism
2) Armed the workers with 20,000 rifles
3) Execution of governor de Launay

Question 7

Bourgeoise institutions created by the national assembly

Answer 7

1) Paris Commune -
2) National Guard - 48000 armed militia sympathetic for the National Assembly and led by Lafayette. The National Guard was also created to stabilise the revolution and control the urban workers (in a sense)

Question 8

Louis calls for 20,000 troops into Paris, which included German and Austrian mercenaries

Answer 8

26 June 1789