French Revolution

Revolution

A major change

French Revolution

A major change in government that began in 1789; it brought an end to the absolute monarchy and a start to a representative government

Old Regime

A combination of the absolute monarchy and feudalism in France; it included the three estates

Estates

The social classes in France

First Estate

They consisted of the Roman Catholic Clergy; they received special privileges and paid no direct taxes

Second Estate

They consisted of the Nobles; they received special privileges and paid no direct taxes to the king

Third Estate

They consisted of the bourgeoisie, the san-culottes and the peasants; they paid high taxes and had no special privileges

Bourgeoisie

They were the urban middle-class; they were the merchants/artisans and were well-educated and often wealthy

San-Culottes

They were the urban poor; they were the cooks/servants who were paid low wages and were often out of work. It became the name of a group of radical extremists who supported the revolution and behead many of the 1st and 2nd estate.

Peasants

They were the rural poor; they were the farmers who paid about half of their income in taxes to the nobles, the church and other agents of the king

Estates-General

The legislative branch of the French government prior to the French Revolution; it could meet only with permission from the king (May 5th, 1789)

Vote by Order

When each estate received one vote; this was favored by the First and Second Estates

Vote by Head

When each representative received one vote; this was favored by the Third Estate

National Assembly

This was legislative branch of the government; it proclaimed an end to the absolute monarchy and the start of a representative government

Tennis Court Oath

A promise made by the members of the National Assembly to stay together until they had written a constitution for France; this was the first deliberate act of the revolution (treason)

Louis XVI

He was the king of France at the start of the revolution; he was weak and indecisive

Marie Antoinette

She was the queen of France at the start of the reevolution; she was from Austria and spent too much money on herself

Versailles

A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

July 14th, 1789

This is the date that represents the symbolic start of the French Revolution; Parisians stormed the Bastille

Bastille

A medieval fort and prison in Paris used to store gun powder

Fall of the Bastille

Hundreds of hungry people stormed the prison in search of gunpowder to save Paris and the National Assembly; this was the symbolic start of the revolution

Liberty, Fraternity, Equality

This was the slogan (battlecry) of the French Revolution

Legislative Assembly

This was the legislative branch of government that was elected in to power and voted to start a war with Austria; it was forced to step down from power

Austria

Hoping to spread their revolutionary ideas, France voted to declare war on this country

National Convention

This was the legislative branch of government that deposed the king of his title, declared France a republic and publically executed the king and queen

Robespierre

The radical leader during the French Revolution responsible for the Reign of Terror; he wanted to create a Republic of Virtue

Reign of Terror

The excessively violent period of time during the French Revolution under the rule of Robespierre

Republic of Virtue

Robespierre's attempt to erase all traces of the monarchy, nobility and the Catholic Church

Guillotine

A machine used to behead people; it was suppose to make death quick and painless

Committe of Public Safety

A group of 12 men who decided who was an enemy of the state; those who were, were executed

Directory

A group of 5 men who were given control of France following the Reign of Terror; Napoleon was one of the 5 men

National Assembly

This was the legislative branch of the government; it ended feudalism, serfdom, taxes to the church and the special privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

This was the document written by the National Assembly that identified the natural rights of the French citizens as well as their other liberties