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Quizzes > History > Modern History

Take the Enlightenment & French Revolution Quiz Now!

Test your Enlightenment knowledge and French Revolution trivia skills!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration featuring Enlightenment philosophers and French Revolution imagery on dark blue background.

Welcome to our free Enlightenment quiz online: your gateway to the Age of Reason! This history quiz Enlightenment era challenges you to recall the groundbreaking ideas of Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau, explore the storming of the Bastille, the Reign of Terror, and the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Packed with engaging Enlightenment and Revolution trivia, you'll sharpen your expertise while uncovering pivotal events. Whether you're brushing up on world history or seeking a brain-busting challenge, dive into our revolution and enlightenment quiz or test yourself on key uprisings with the French Revolution quiz . Ready to prove your mastery? Start now!

Who wrote "Candide"?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Denis Diderot
Voltaire
Montesquieu
Voltaire authored the satirical novella Candide in 1759, critiquing optimism and societal norms through comedic adventures. The work became one of the Enlightenment's most famous criticisms of dogma and authority. Voltaire's sharp wit and advocacy for civil liberties underpin much of his writing. Learn more
Which English philosopher argued for natural rights of life, liberty and property?
Thomas Hobbes
John Stuart Mill
David Hume
John Locke
John Locke's Two Treatises of Government introduced the concepts of life, liberty, and property as natural rights inherent to individuals. His theories profoundly influenced Enlightenment thought and later democratic documents. Locke argued that government must protect these rights or lose legitimacy. Learn more
What was the primary aim of the Estates-General when it convened in 1789?
To address France's financial crisis
To expand France's colonial empire
To unify the monarchy and nobility
To enact the Napoleonic Code
In 1789, Louis XVI called the Estates-General primarily to resolve France's dire financial crisis spurred by debt from wars and royal spending. Each estate - clergy, nobility, and commoners - met to suggest reforms, but voting disputes quickly led to broader political conflict. This gathering set the stage for revolutionary events later that year. Learn more
The storming of which fortress prison marked the start of the French Revolution?
The Bastille
The Louvre
Palace of Versailles
Notre-Dame
On July 14, 1789, Parisian crowds stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison symbolizing monarchy oppression. This act of defiance galvanized revolutionary fervor and is commemorated annually as France's national holiday. The event demonstrated popular power and the collapse of royal authority in the capital. Learn more
Which philosopher is known for the concept of separation of powers?
Voltaire
John Locke
Montesquieu
Rousseau
Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws (1748) articulated the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers to prevent tyranny. This framework influenced constitutional design in France, the United States, and beyond. His analysis of political systems remains foundational in modern political theory. Learn more
What was the gathering where Third Estate delegates declared themselves a National Assembly?
Storming of the Bastille
Congress of Vienna
Estates-General
Tennis Court Oath
After being locked out of the Estates-General meeting hall, Third Estate deputies gathered in an indoor tennis court and vowed not to separate until France adopted a constitution. This pledge became known as the Tennis Court Oath on June 20, 1789. It marked the first clear challenge to the king's authority. Learn more
Which Enlightenment thinker wrote 'The Social Contract'?
Thomas Hobbes
Denis Diderot
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
John Locke
Rousseau's The Social Contract (1762) argued that legitimate political authority rests on a collective agreement among free individuals. He introduced the idea of general will as the basis for laws. His work deeply influenced revolutionary and democratic movements. Learn more
What was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
A code of laws under Napoleon
A royal decree taxing the clergy
A fundamental document of the French Revolution
A treaty ending war with Austria
Adopted in August 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen outlined individual rights and principles of popular sovereignty. It became a cornerstone of revolutionary ideology promoting liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression. Its ideals influenced later human rights charters worldwide. Learn more
Who gained power in France through the Coup of 18 Brumaire?
King Louis XVI
Marquis de Lafayette
Napoleon Bonaparte
Maximilien Robespierre
On November 9, 1799 (18 Brumaire Year VIII), Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory in a coup d'état. He established the Consulate, marking the end of the Revolution and his rise to power. This consolidation paved the way for his eventual coronation as Emperor. Learn more
What did the Reign of Terror primarily aim to eliminate?
Only religious dissenters
General poverty
Counter-revolutionaries
English monarchists
Between 1793 and 1794, revolutionary leaders executed perceived enemies to safeguard the Revolution. The Reign of Terror, overseen by the Committee of Public Safety, targeted counter-revolutionaries, royalists and radicals deemed threats to the republic. Thousands died by guillotine in this period. Learn more
Which French Revolutionary body executed King Louis XVI?
Estates-General
Legislative Assembly
National Convention
Constituent Assembly
The National Convention, convened in 1792, abolished the monarchy and tried King Louis XVI for treason. On January 21, 1793, it voted for his execution by guillotine. This act symbolized the Revolution's break from the ancien régime. Learn more
What economic crisis contributed to the French Revolution?
Excess gold reserves
Massive government debt from wars and royal spending
Profits from American trade
Industrial overproduction
By the late 1780s, France faced huge debts accrued from involvement in the American Revolution and lavish royal expenditures. Attempts at tax reform failed due to noble resistance, deepening the fiscal crisis. This financial burden spurred calls for political change. Learn more
Which policy dismantled Catholic Church influence during the Revolution?
Edict of Nantes
Concordat of 1801
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Dechristianization
Between 1793 and 1794, revolutionary authorities enacted Dechristianization measures, closing churches, renaming religious imagery and persecuting clergy. The policy aimed to eradicate Catholic influence and replace it with revolutionary cults. It deeply divided French society. Learn more
What was the primary function of the Committee of Public Safety?
To protect the Revolution and organize wartime efforts
To negotiate the Treaty of Versailles
To manage colonial affairs
To draft the Napoleonic Code
Established in 1793, the Committee of Public Safety centralized executive power to defend the republic. It supervised the war effort and internal security, leading the Reign of Terror. Maximilien Robespierre became its leading figure. Learn more
What was the significance of the Tennis Court Oath?
They called for immediate abolition of all taxes
Delegates pledged loyalty to the king
Delegates vowed not to separate until a constitution was established
They declared war on Austria
The Tennis Court Oath marked the first organized stand against royal authority by promising a new constitution. It demonstrated the Third Estate's unity and determination to reform France politically. It galvanized broader revolutionary momentum. Learn more
Which Enlightenment publication compiled knowledge into a multi-volume work?
Encyclopédie
The Spirit of the Laws
Two Treatises of Government
Leviathan
Edited by Diderot and d'Alembert between 1751 and 1772, the Encyclopédie aimed to gather all human knowledge and promote Enlightenment ideals. Its volumes covered science, arts, and crafts, challenging tradition and authority. It influenced intellectual and political change across Europe. Learn more
What was the Thermidorian Reaction?
The Bourbon Restoration
The fall of Robespierre and end of the Reign of Terror
The start of the Reign of Terror
Napoleon's coup d'état
On 9 Thermidor Year II (July 27, 1794), members of the National Convention arrested and executed Robespierre, ending the Reign of Terror. This reaction led to more moderate governance and the eventual rise of the Directory. It marked a decisive shift away from radical revolution. Learn more
Which group in the National Convention was known as the most radical?
Girondins
Feuillants
The Mountain
The Moderates
The Mountain, seated on the highest benches of the Convention, supported strong revolutionary measures and led the purge of Girondins in 1793. They backed radical social and political reforms under leaders like Robespierre. Their influence peaked during the Reign of Terror. Learn more
What legal code did Napoleon establish that reflected Enlightenment principles?
The Napoleonic Code
Code of Hammurabi
Edict of Nantes
Justinian Code
Promulgated in 1804, the Napoleonic Code standardized French law by enshrining civil equality, property rights and secular authority. It abolished feudal privileges and became a model for legal systems worldwide. Its clarity and emphasis on individual rights reflect Enlightenment ideals. Learn more
Which Enlightenment salon hostess hosted meetings for Rousseau and Voltaire?
Madame Geoffrin
Madame de Maintenon
Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Staël
Marie-Thérèse Geoffrin's Paris salon in the mid-18th century was a hub for Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau. She provided patronage and a social space for intellectual exchange. Her gatherings helped shape the movement's ideas and influence. Learn more
How did Enlightenment thought influence the American Revolution?
By supporting the establishment of a monarchy
By providing military strategies
By creating new colonial taxes
By promoting ideas of natural rights and government by consent
Enlightenment ideas from Locke, Montesquieu and others inspired American colonists to challenge British rule. Concepts like natural rights, social contract and separation of powers shaped founding documents. These principles formed the ideological backbone of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Learn more
What was the role of the Directory in post-Reign of Terror France?
The restored Bourbon monarchy
A five-member executive government from 1795 to 1799
Napoleon's imperial cabinet
A radical revolutionary committee
After the Thermidorian Reaction, the Directory governed France from 1795 until Napoleon's coup in 1799. It sought stability through moderate policies but faced corruption, economic troubles and military challenges. Its weaknesses paved the way for Bonaparte's rise. Learn more
What was an assignat?
A political pamphlet
A rank in the revolutionary army
A tribunal for treason trials
A revolutionary paper currency backed by confiscated church lands
Issued in 1789, assignats were government bonds converted into paper money, backed by nationalized church property. They aimed to address fiscal shortages but led to inflation and financial instability. Their misuse undermined public confidence in revolutionary finances. Learn more
Which Enlightenment thinker critiqued empiricism in his "An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding"?
Voltaire
John Locke
David Hume
Montesquieu
David Hume's 1748 Enquiry challenged the certainty of knowledge derived solely from sensory experience. He introduced skepticism about causation and the limits of human understanding. Hume's work influenced both philosophy and later Enlightenment critiques. Learn more
How did economic factors like the taille and gabelle contribute to the revolutionary climate?
They were abolished, causing a revenue shortfall
They funded only the Catholic Church
They burdened the Third Estate with heavy taxes while nobles and clergy were largely exempt
They imposed equal taxation on all three estates
The taille (land tax) and gabelle (salt tax) were levied primarily on commoners, while nobles and clergy enjoyed exemptions. This fiscal inequality fueled resentment and demands for reform. Such regressive taxation was a key grievance leading to the Revolution. Learn more
Which Enlightenment philosopher's ideas most directly influenced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Montesquieu
Voltaire
John Locke
Locke's theories of natural rights and government by consent laid the groundwork for the Declaration's principles of liberty and equality. His emphasis on property rights and social contract underpins many articles of the 1789 document. While Rousseau and Montesquieu also influenced it, Locke's ideas are most directly echoed. Learn more
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Enlightenment Principles -

    Gain clarity on core ideas like reason, individual rights, and secularism that defined the Enlightenment era.

  2. Identify Influential Thinkers -

    Match key philosophers - Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke - to their major contributions in Enlightenment and Revolution trivia.

  3. Recall French Revolution Milestones -

    Remember pivotal events, from the Estates-General meeting to Napoleon's rise, to excel in the French Revolution quiz.

  4. Analyze Cause-and-Effect Links -

    Explore how Enlightenment concepts spurred revolutionary action and transformed European societies.

  5. Evaluate Revolutionary Significance -

    Assess the impact of Enlightenment ideas on modern democratic institutions and civil rights.

  6. Apply Knowledge in Interactive Quiz -

    Test your insights with our free Enlightenment quiz online and track your score against challenging questions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Core Enlightenment Principles -

    According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Enlightenment was driven by reason, individualism, and the scientific method, championed in salons and coffeehouses across Europe. Think of Diderot's Encyclopédie as your go-to reference; its 28 volumes compiled progressive ideas and are often tested in an Enlightenment quiz. Keep in mind how these principles challenged traditional authority.

  2. John Locke's Natural Rights -

    As outlined by Oxford University's History Faculty, Locke's concept of life, liberty, and property laid the groundwork for modern democracy and surfaces in many Enlightenment and Revolution trivia questions. Use the acronym "LLP" to recall his natural rights triad. This social contract theory influenced both the American Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution quiz topics.

  3. Montesquieu's Separation of Powers -

    According to Encyclopædia Britannica, Montesquieu argued that government should be divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny - a concept you'll see pop up in history quiz Enlightenment era sections. Visualize a three-section pie chart: each slice representing one branch. This structure was later adopted in the U.S. Constitution and inspired revolutionary reforms in France.

  4. Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) -

    Documented by the French National Archives, the Bastille's fall marked the start of the French Revolution quiz's dramatic events, symbolizing the end of absolute monarchy. Use the date mnemonic "14/7 in '89" (14 July 1789) to lock in this pivotal event. Recognize how this uprising led to the revolutionary cascade tested in many French Revolution quizzes.

  5. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen -

    As per records from the French National Constituent Assembly, this August 1789 declaration proclaimed liberty, equality, and fraternity as universal rights, a staple question in Enlightenment and Revolution trivia. Focus on Article 1: "Men are born and remain free and equal," using the shortcut "LEF" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity). This document influenced future human-rights charters worldwide.

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