French Revolution Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the stages, estates, key figures, and events of the French Revolution through the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Initial Phase

The first stage of the French Revolution characterized by an Absolute Monarchy under Louis XVI.

Moderate Phase

The second stage of the revolution where the National Assembly passed a new Constitution and established a Constitutional Monarchy.

Radical Phase

The third stage of the revolution known as the Republic of Virtue, involving extreme change and violence.

Reactionary Phase

The final stage of the revolution featuring a five-man executive group called the Directory.

Absolutism

A system where Bourbon kings claimed the right to rule as the will of God and taxed people without formal consent during the $1600s$ and $1700s$.

The First Estate

The social class in the Old Regime composed of the Clergy.

The Second Estate

The social class in the Old Regime composed of the Nobility.

The Third Estate

The social class in the Old Regime composed of the Bourgeoisie and Peasants who bore the burden of heavy taxation.

Estates General

A meeting called by Louis XVI on May 5, $1789$, that served as the trigger event for the revolution; they had not met since $1614$.

Tennis Court Oath

A promise made by the 3rd Estate to rename themselves the National Assembly and create a constitution to limit the power of the king.

Storming the Bastille

Occurred on July 14, $1789$, and is recognized as the first act of violence of the revolution.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A document providing for equality under the law, property rights, and the removal of special Church privileges.

Constitution of 1791

A government framework that established a limited monarchy, reform of suffrage, and individual voting rather than voting by estates.

Great Fear

A period in the Summer of $1789$ characterized by peasant rebellions and panic over rumors that foreign troops were coming to put down the revolution.

Women's March on Versailles

An event in October $1789$ where thousands of Parisian women marched to the palace to demand bread and force the king to accept new decrees.

Girondins

A conservative political group that favored a constitutional monarchy and little to no change.

Sans-culottes

A moderate political group that wanted to move away from the monarchy.

Jacobins

A radical political group led by Robespierre that sought extreme change.

Committee of Public Safety

A radical body created to defend the Republic of Virtue, famously led by Maximilien Robespierre.

Law of Suspects

A decree that allowed for the conviction of individuals with very little evidence during the Reign of Terror.

Reign of Terror

A period where up to $40,000$ people, including many ordinary citizens, were killed by the guillotine.

The Directory

A committee of five acting as the executive branch under the Constitution of $1795$.

Coup d’etat

A sudden overthrow of the government, such as the one carried out by Napoleon Bonaparte in $1799$.

Consulate

The government established in France in $1799$ after the Directory was toppled; Napoleon was named first consul.

Napoleonic Code (Civil Code)

Introduced in $1804$, it preserved principles like equality before the law, the right to choose a profession, and religious toleration.

Nationalism

The unique cultural identity of a people based on common language, religion, and national symbols.

Continental System

Napoleon's economic plan aimed at weakening Great Britain, which ultimately failed.

Congress of Vienna

A meeting where Europe attempted to restore the balance of power after the conquests of Napoleon.