Cambridge ApproachTo the French Revolutionwww.cie.org.uk

June 2007

•Why did Louis XVI’s policies from 1789 fail to prevent his execution in 1793?•The key issue is the assessment of Louis XVI’s policies as a reason for his execution. (Analysis and Evaluation)•Repeated in 2011

November 2007

•Why was Napoleon more successful than earlier French leaders in maintaining power?•The key issue is Napoleon’s success in maintaining power within France when compared with other revolutionary leaders.

June 2008

•How far did Napoleon Bonaparte ensure liberty and equality in his domestic government of France?•The key issue is the nature of Napoleon’s government of France. Evaluation of positive aspects vs. negative aspects of his rule.

November 2008

•Why did the French ancien régime collapse in 1789?•The key issue is the end of the ancien régime at a specific point. •Evaluation of the causes – ranking them.

June 2009

•Why was Napoleon Bonaparte able to become Emperor of France?•The key issue is the creation of the Empire by Napoleon Bonaparte. Ranking of the reasons.

November 2009

• ‘The economic difficulties of France in 1789 were more serious than the political problems.’ How far do you agree with this judgement?•The key issues are the problems of France in 1789 – an evaluation of the seriousness, ranking.

Nov 2009

•How far, and why, did the aims of the revolutionaries in France change during the period from 1789 to the execution of Louis XVI in 1793?•The key issue is the changing aims of the French revolutionaries. How much change?

June 2010

•How far was France a police state under Napoleon Bonaparte from 1799 to 1814?•The key issue is in the phrase ‘police state’. The question asks ‘How far..?’ and candidates should examine both the extent and limits of the claim.

June 2010

• ‘The most important problem of the French ancien régime was poor quality leadership.’ How far do you agree with this judgement?• The key issue is the problems of the ancien

régime. Candidates need to address the stated claim about the lack of leadership by kings but can argue that other factors were more important.

November 2010

•Why did the rulers of France from 1789 to 1799 fail to hold on to power?• The key issue is the reasons for the

changes in government from 1789 to 1799. Examiners will look for an awareness of three main developments: the monarchy of Louis XVI, the radical rule of Robespierre and the Jacobins and the comparatively conservative Directory.

November 2010

•Why did the summoning of the Estates General in 1789 not solve the problems of the ancien régime?

• This question enables candidates to explain the background to the 1789 crisis in France and discuss reasons for the Estates General’s failure to solve the problems of the ancien régime.

June 2011

•Why was Louis XVI executed in 1793?•The key issue is the reasons for Louis XVI’s execution. The question asks ‘Why?’ and candidates should provide a series of reasons.

June 2011

•How far do you agree that, from 1799 to 1815, Napoleon achieved more in domestic than in foreign affairs?•The key issue is the assessment of Napoleon.

November 2011

• ‘His main aim was to keep himself in power.’ How far do you agree with this view of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1799 to 1815?• The relevant period begins with Napoleon’s

appointment as First Consul in 1799. Candidates might well agree with the claim in the question but the answers in the highest band will consider alternatives, even if they are decided to be less important.

November 2011

•Explain the rise and fall of the Jacobins in France during the period from 1789 to 1794.

•The Jacobins developed as a group soon after the outbreak of the French Revolution.

November 2011

•Why were attempts to reform the ancien régime in France to 1789 unsuccessful?

• The end point of this question is clear but the beginning date is more open. Candidates can focus on the reign of Louis XVI from 1774 but can equally begin in 1715 with the accession of Louis XV.

June 2012

•Was Robespierre more a success or a failure than a revolutionary leader?•Evaluation of Robespierre

June 2012

•How far did the people of France gain liberty and equality during the period from 1789 to 1815?

•The key issue is the extent to which the French gained liberty and equality from 1789 to 1815.

June 2012

•Did Napoleon Bonaparte do more to fulfill or to betray the ideals of the French Revolution?

• The ideals of the revolution can be summarized quickly in terms of liberty, equality and fraternity.

June 2013

•Why did Robespierre and the Jacobins gain and then lose power in France?• Evaluation of the Reign of Terror and

its impact on society

Last year’s question on F.RJune 2014.• How far had the French Revolutionaries of 1789

achieved their aims by the time of Louis XVI’s execution in 1793?• Evaluation of the success of those favoring Constitutional

Monarchy form of government.

June 2014 – Format of the test has been changed.• France,1789–1804 • (a) Why was Louis XVI executed in

1793? [10] • (b) How complete was Napoleon’s

power over France by 1804? [20]

JUNE 2015 – SAMPLE!!

• France, 1789–1804 • (a) Explain the aims of the

revolutionaries in France in 1789. [10]

• (b) How important was Louis XVI, personally, for the rise of Robespierre and the Jacobins? (20)

To interact with these 23 prompts:• I want you to categorize the prompts. Use five categories.• Decide which categories you should use and then re-write the

question under the heading of the category.• Include the month and the year that the questions was used.• Any prompt about Maximillien Robespierre or the Jacobins

should go with “Revolutionaries.” The November 2010 prompt about “rulers” can also be included with Revolutionaries.