FRENCH REVOLUTION

CIVICS A CHE

Louis XVI

The last King of France before the French Revolution, known for his execution by guillotine in 1793.

Marie Antoinette

The last Queen of France, known for her extravagant lifestyle and execution during the French Revolution.

Maximilien Robespierre

A French revolutionary leader known for his role in the Reign of Terror and his advocacy for the rights of the common people.

Georges Danton

A leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution, known for his oratory skills and role in the Committee of Public Safety.

Jean-Paul Marat

A radical journalist and politician during the French Revolution, known for his fiery writings and his assassination.

Charlotte Corday

A figure in the French Revolution known for assassinating Jean-Paul Marat, believing it would save France from tyranny.

Napoleon Bonaparte

A French military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and became Emperor of the French.

Scientific Revolution

A period of significant advancements in scientific thought and experimentation during the 16th and 17th centuries, leading to the development of modern science.

Age of Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, influencing revolutionary ideas.

Causes of the French Revolution

Factors including social inequality, economic hardship, political discontent, and the influence of Enlightenment ideas that led to the uprising against the monarchy.

Absolute Monarchy

A form of government where the monarch holds supreme authority, and their powers are not limited by laws or a constitution.

Old Regime

The political and social system in France before the French Revolution, characterized by feudalism and the division of society into three estates.

The Three Estates

The social classes in France before the Revolution: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners).

Bourgeoisie

The middle class in France, part of the Third Estate, who were often wealthy and educated but lacked political power.

Estates General

An assembly representing the three estates of France, convened to address issues such as taxation and governance.

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by members of the Third Estate in 1789 to not disband until a new constitution was established for France.

National Assembly

The revolutionary assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate, which claimed to represent the people of France.

Jacobins

A radical political group during the French Revolution that advocated for republicanism and the use of violence to achieve political goals.

Girondins

A moderate political faction during the French Revolution that opposed the Jacobins and sought to maintain a constitutional government.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A fundamental document of the French Revolution that outlines individual and collective rights, emphasizing liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Émigré

A person who has left their country, particularly those who fled France during the Revolution to escape political turmoil.

Sans-Culottes

Working-class militants in revolutionary France who played a significant role in the radical phase of the Revolution.

The Storming of the Bastille

An event on July 14, 1789, when revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, symbolizing the uprising against tyranny.

The March on Versailles

A significant event in October 1789 when women marched to Versailles to demand bread and the return of the royal family to Paris.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution (1793-1794) characterized by extreme political repression and mass executions of perceived enemies.

September Massacres

A series of killings in September 1792 where revolutionaries executed prisoners suspected of being counter-revolutionaries.

Directory

The government of France from 1795 to 1799, characterized by a five-member committee that ruled after the National Convention.

Committee of Public Safety

A political body during the French Revolution that played a crucial role in the government and was responsible for the Reign of Terror.

Guillotine

A device used for carrying out executions by beheading, symbolizing the revolutionary justice system.

Coup d'état

A sudden overthrow of a government, often executed by a small group, as seen in Napoleon's rise to power.

Napoleonic Code

A civil code established by Napoleon in 1804 that reformed the French legal system and influenced legal systems worldwide.

Scorched Earth

A military strategy of destroying resources that could be used by the enemy, notably used by the Russians against Napoleon.

Battle of Waterloo

The decisive battle in 1815 where Napoleon was defeated, leading to his final exile.

Exile of Napoleon

The forced removal of Napoleon Bonaparte from power, occurring twice: first to Elba and then to Saint Helena.

Influence of the American Revolution on France

The success of the American Revolution provided a model and inspiration for the French populace to challenge their own monarchy.

Financial Crisis

Both revolutions were fueled by economic distress; France's financial issues were exacerbated by its support for the American Revolution.

(1) Declaration of Independence

This event occurred in the United States, predating the French Revolution events.

(2) Estates General meets

King Louis XVI convened this assembly to address the French financial crisis.

(3) Tennis Court Oath

Members of the Third Estate, having declared themselves the National Assembly, vowed not to disband until a new constitution was formed.

(4) Storming of the Bastille

Parisian commoners stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal authority, marking a major turning point of the Revolution.

(5) Declaration of the Rights of Man

The National Constituent Assembly issued this foundational document outlining human and civil rights.

(6) March on Versailles

A crowd of Parisian women marched on the Palace of Versailles to protest the scarcity and high price of bread, forcing the royal family to move to Paris.

(7) Louis XVI is beheaded

King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in the Place de la Révolution.

(8) Reign of Terror

This period of extreme violence featured mass executions of 'enemies of the revolution'.

(9) Robespierre is beheaded

Maximilien Robespierre, a key figure in the Reign of Terror, was himself arrested and executed, effectively ending the period.

(10) Napoleon is crowned emperor

Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French, marking the end of the revolutionary period and the start of the Napoleonic era.

Financial Crisis

The economic turmoil in France during the late 1780s, characterized by debt and food shortages, which contributed to the revolution.

Louis XVI

The King of France whose inability to manage the financial crisis and political unrest led to the outbreak of the revolution.

Revolutionary Ideas

The Enlightenment philosophies that emphasized liberty, equality, and fraternity, influencing the revolutionary movement.

Why was France in such a financial crisis by 1789?

France faced a financial crisis due to excessive spending by the monarchy, costly wars, and a tax system that burdened the poor while exempting the wealthy.

Who was nicknamed Madam Deficit?

Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, was nicknamed Madam Deficit due to her extravagant spending and the financial strain it placed on the country.

Why did the other monarchies in Europe go to war with France during the revolution?

Other monarchies feared the spread of revolutionary ideas and the potential for uprisings in their own countries, leading them to declare war on France to restore the monarchy.

Why were the women of France marching to Versailles?

The women marched to Versailles to protest food shortages and high prices, demanding bread and to bring the royal family back to Paris.

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

The Tennis Court Oath was a pledge made by members of the Third Estate in 1789 to not disband until a new constitution was established for France.

What's the difference between the Jacobins and Girondins?

The Jacobins were radical revolutionaries advocating for a centralized government and social equality, while the Girondins were more moderate and favored a decentralized government.

What were the king and queen trying to escape from?

King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were trying to escape from the revolutionary fervor and the threat of arrest by the revolutionary government.

Who killed Jean-Paul Marat and why?

Charlotte Corday killed Jean-Paul Marat because she believed his radical ideas and incitement of violence were contributing to the chaos of the revolution.

How is the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Declaration of Independence similar?

Both documents emphasize individual rights, liberty, and the principles of equality, asserting that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed.

Name the different types of government France had from the start to the end of the revolution.

France transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, then to a republic, followed by the Directory, and finally to the Consulate under Napoleon.

Who was the first president of the Committee of Public Safety and what was the role of the committee?

Georges Danton was the first president of the Committee of Public Safety, which was established to protect the revolution from internal and external threats.

Why did a doctor invent the guillotine for executions?

Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin proposed the guillotine as a more humane and efficient method of execution during the revolution.

How did Napoleon rise to power?

Napoleon rose to power through military success, political maneuvering, and by capitalizing on the instability of the post-revolutionary government.

What are Napoleon's codes?

Napoleon's codes, particularly the Napoleonic Code, established a uniform legal system in France, emphasizing civil rights and the secular nature of law.

Why was Napoleon exiled (twice) and not executed like so many others?

Napoleon was exiled instead of executed due to his status as a former emperor and the desire of European powers to avoid martyring him, believing exile would be a more effective solution.

Social Control

The use of public executions to maintain order and assert authority over the populace.

Cesare Beccaria

Wrote An Essay on Crimes and Punishments, influenced prison and judicial reform, opposed cruel punishment, believed in free will, rationality, and human rights within a social contract, viewed government as a tool to benefit everyone.

Denis Diderot

Translated Grecian History, believed human rights are birthrights, promoted equality in war and society, creator of the Encyclopedia, influenced the French Revolution.

Thomas Paine

Wrote Common Sense, encouraged American independence, believed all men are equal, promoted 'consent to be governed,' described as generous but dogmatic.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Advocated for women's rights and equality, supported a republic representing all citizens, believed women should have roles in government, wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

John Locke

Natural rights (life, liberty, property), government derives authority from consent of the governed, right to revolution, blank slate theory, wrote Two Treatises on Government,government is a contract between rulers and the people.

Montesquieu

Wrote The Spirit of the Laws, admired English government, promoted separation of powers, believed in liberty, free society, and a small, divided republic.

Thomas Hobbes

Wrote Leviathan, believed humans are naturally selfish and violent, supported absolute monarchy for peace and order, social contract theory.

Voltaire

Advocated freedom of speech, religion, and fair trial, supported enlightened despotism, promoted separation of church and state, famous quote: 'I do not have to agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.'

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Believed in the social contract, influenced the French Revolution,believed in the equality of all men and the importance of a direct democracy.

Adam Smith

Father of capitalism and modern economic theory, wrote The Wealth of Nations.