Histoire, géographie et culture
24 questions explained
Qui était Napoléon Ier ?
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Our answer: Le fondateur et chef du 1er Empire
Napoleon I was the founder and head of the First Empire. He concentrated political, military and administrative power. He should not be confused with his nephew Napoleon III.
Dans quelle République est-on aujourd'hui ?
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Our answer: La Vème République
Since 1958, France has been in the Fifth Republic. The 1958 Constitution is still in force today. The Fourth Republic ended in 1958, and the First and Third Republics belong to much earlier periods.
Qu'est-ce que la Shoah ?
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Our answer: Le génocide des Juifs organisé par l'Allemagne nazie
The Shoah is the genocide of the Jews organised by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. About 6 million Jews were murdered.
Quel pays ou région du monde a été colonisé par la France ?
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Our answer: L'Algérie
Algeria was conquered by the French army in 1830 and became part of the French colonial empire. Switzerland, Japan and Norway were not colonised by France.
Qui a rendu l’école gratuite, laïque et obligatoire ?
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Our answer: Jules Ferry
The laws of Jules Ferry made public school free in 1881, then secular and compulsory in 1882, under the Third Republic.
Quand a eu lieu la Seconde Guerre mondiale ?
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Our answer: De 1939 à 1945
The Second World War took place from 1939 to 1945. It began on 1 September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. The years 1914-1918 are those of the First World War, not the Second.
Quand a eu lieu la Première Guerre mondiale ?
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Our answer: De 1914 à 1918
The First World War took place from 1914 to 1918. It was declared in August 1914, and 11 November 1918 marks the armistice. The years 1939-1945 are those of the Second World War.
En quelle année a été créée la Communauté Économique Européenne (CEE) ?
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Our answer: 1957
The EEC was created in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome to form a common market. In 1992 the Maastricht Treaty created the European Union, which replaced it.
Le 11 novembre est un jour férié. À quoi correspond cette date ?
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Our answer: À la commémoration de l'armistice de 1918
11 November marks the 1918 armistice, the end of the First World War. All Saints' Day is on 1 November and the Assumption is on 15 August.
En quelle année l'esclavage a-t-il été aboli définitivement en France ?
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Our answer: 1848
Slavery was definitively abolished in 1848. It was first abolished in 1794, but Napoleon restored it in 1802. In 1815 only the slave trade was abolished, not slavery itself.
Qui était le roi de France au moment de la Révolution française ?
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Our answer: Louis XVI
The king during the Revolution was Louis XVI. He fled abroad and was overthrown on 10 August 1792. Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis-Philippe reigned later, after the Revolution.
Que célèbre-t-on le 14 juillet ?
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Our answer: La fête nationale française, qui célèbre la République française
14 July is the French national day. It celebrates the French Republic, with fireworks, public dances and a military parade. It is not the date marking the end of a war.
Pourquoi l’année 1958 est importante pour la France ?
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Our answer: Parce que la Constitution de la Vème République a été adoptée
In 1958 the Constitution of 4 October founded the Fifth Republic, which is France's current regime. Social Security was created under the Fourth Republic, before 1958. Slavery was definitively abolished in 1848.
Quelle île est un département d'outre-mer français ?
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Our answer: La Réunion
La Réunion is an island that is both a department and a region of French overseas France. Cuba, Madagascar and Sicily are islands, but they are not French overseas departments.
Combien y a-t-il de régions en France métropolitaine ?
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Our answer: 13
France has 18 regions in total. Of these, 13 are in metropolitan France and 5 are overseas. The figure 18 includes the overseas regions, so it does not answer the question about metropolitan France.
Qui était Molière ?
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Our answer: Un comédien, auteur et metteur en scène de théâtre
Molière was an actor, author and theatre director in the 17th century. He wrote comedies such as Tartuffe and L'Avare. Fables are the work of Jean de La Fontaine, not Molière.
Quel était le surnom de Louis XIV ?
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Our answer: Le Roi-Soleil
Louis XIV was nicknamed the Sun King (le Roi-Soleil). He was an important figure of the Ancien Régime and embodied absolute monarchy.
Quel roi de France a été exécuté pendant la Révolution française ?
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Our answer: Louis XVI
Louis XVI was executed in 1793 during the Terror. Louis XVIII reigned after the Revolution, Louis-Philippe abdicated in 1848, and Louis XIV reigned before the Revolution.
En quelle année Napoléon Ier est-il devenu empereur ?
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Our answer: 1804
Napoleon I was named emperor on 18 May 1804, which is when the First Empire began. 1815 is the year his reign ended. 1852 is the year Napoleon III became emperor, not Napoleon I.
De quand date l'appel à la résistance du général de Gaulle ?
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Our answer: Du 18 juin 1940
General de Gaulle made his appeal from London on 18 June 1940, urging the French to keep fighting. 8 May 1945 is the end of the war in Europe, not the date of the appeal.
Pourquoi la Shoah est-elle étudiée à l'école ?
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Our answer: Pour comprendre les conséquences de la haine, du racisme et de l'antisémitisme
The Shoah is taught to help pupils understand the consequences of hatred, racism and antisemitism, and to uphold the duty of remembrance. It is not taught as a celebration or for military technique.
Quel pays a été colonisé par la France ?
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Our answer: L'Algérie
Algeria was conquered by the French army in 1830 and became part of the French colonial empire. Portugal and Spain were other colonial powers, not countries colonised by France. Switzerland was not colonised by France.
Quelle est la première étape de la construction européenne en 1951 ?
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Our answer: La création de la CECA, Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier
In 1951 the Treaty of Paris created the ECSC. Six countries thereby shared coal and steel. This was the first step of European integration. The euro and the other options came much later.
Durant le mandat de quel président la peine de mort a-t-elle été abolie ?
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Our answer: François Mitterrand
The death penalty was fully abolished in 1981, when François Mitterrand was president. Robert Badinter, who backed the abolition, was his Justice Minister, not the president.