GK Quiz on French Revolution: How Much Do You Know About the Country’s Major Upheaval Event?

The French Revolution was a fierce period that reshaped Europe and ignited the flames of liberty. This significant event continues to fascinate historians and revolutionaries alike. From storming the Bastille to the reign of terror, it was a whirlwind of change and ideology. But how much do you really know about this pivotal moment in history? Test your knowledge with this fun and challenging GK MCQ quiz!

1. The French Revolution began in:

(a) 1789

(b) 1776

(c) 1792

(d) 1804

Answer: a) 

Explanation: The National Archives mentions: “The French Revolution began in 1789 and lasted until 1794. King Louis XVI needed more money, but had failed to raise more taxes when he had called a meeting of the Estates General. This instead turned into a protest about conditions in France.”

2. The storming of the Bastille, a symbol of oppression, took place on:

(a) September 22, 1792

(b) August 10, 1792

(c) November 9, 1799

(d) July 14, 1789

Answer: d) 

Explanation: The storming of the Bastille took place on July 14, 1789 in Paris, France. This event is a pivotal moment in history and is celebrated as Bastille Day, a national holiday in France.

3. Which famous slogan of the revolution called for liberty, equality, and fraternity?

(a) Vive la Bastille!

(b) Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

(c) Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!

(d) La Marseillaise!

Answer: b) 

Explanation: The French Diplomatie mentions: “A legacy of the Age of Enlightenment, the motto "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" first appeared during the French Revolution.” 

4. Who was the iconic leader of the Jacobin faction during the Reign of Terror?

(a) Maximilien Robespierre

(b) Marie Antoinette

(c) Napoleon Bonaparte

(d) Marquis de Lafayette

Answer: a) 

Explanation: The iconic leader of the Jacobin faction during the Reign of Terror was Maximilien Robespierre. He wasn't officially the sole leader, but his influence and control over the Committee of Public Safety during that period solidified his image as the dominant figure.

5. The French Revolution ended with the rise of:

(a) Louis XVI

(b) The Directory

(c) Napoleon Bonaparte

(d) Robespierre

Answer: c) 

Explanation: The French Revolution is considered to have ended with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The Royal Museums Greenwich mentions: “On 9 November 1799, as frustration with their leadership reaches a fever pitch, Bonaparte stages a coup d’état, abolishing the Directory and appointing himself France’s ‘first consul’. This marks the end of the French Revolution and the start of the Napoleonic era.”

6. The Estates-General, a key player in the early stages of the revolution, was divided into how many classes?

(a) 2

(b) 3

(c) 4

(d) 5

Answer: b) 

Explanation: The Estates-General was divided into three classes:

• First Estate: The clergy, including bishops, priests, and monks.
• Second Estate: The nobility, including dukes, marquises, and counts.
• Third Estate: The commoners, including everyone else, from peasants and artisans to lawyers and merchants.

7. Which philosophical movement heavily influenced the ideals of the revolution?

(a) Romanticism

(b) Renaissance

(c) Stoicism

(d) Enlightenment

Answer: d) 

Explanation: According to the Students of History, “Both the American and French Revolutions were greatly influenced by ideas that came from the Enlightenment period. There were several key ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers that had the biggest impact.”

8. What was the name of the famous revolutionary song that became the national anthem of France?

a) La Marseillaise

b) Chanson de Paris

c) Chant de la liberté

d) Vive la France

Answer: a) 

Explanation: The famous revolutionary song that became the national anthem of France is called La Marseillaise. It was composed in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle as a call to arms during the French Revolution.

9. Before the tumultuous events of the French Revolution, what kind of political system held the reins of power in France?

a) Parliamentary democracy 

b) Republic 

c) Feudal system 

d) Absolute monarchy 

Answer: d) 

Explanation: While France saw some evolution in its political system over time, before the French Revolution, the dominant system was one of absolute monarchy. This meant that the king held supreme power, with no limitations or checks and balances from other institutions. 

10. Whose philosophical ideas, among the Enlightenment thinkers, played a key role in inspiring the French people to revolt?

(a) John Locke

(b) Adam Smith

(c) Jean-Jacques Rousseau

(d) Voltaire

Answer: a) 

Explanation: John Locke’s ideas on individual rights and limited government influenced both the American and French Revolutions.