The French Revolution and the Rise of Napoleon

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the stages of the French Revolution, key figures, legislative milestones, the Reign of Terror, and the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Initial Phase of the French Revolution

The starting stage characterized by an Absolute Monarchy under Louis XVI.

Moderate Phase of the French Revolution

The stage characterized by a Constitutional Monarchy where the National Assembly passes a new Constitution.

Radical Phase of the French Revolution

The stage known as the Republic of Virtue.

Reactionary Phase of the French Revolution

The stage governed by a 5 man group called the Directory.

Absolutism

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

Three Estates

The social structure of the Old Regime consisting of the First Estate (Clergy), Second Estate (Nobility), and Third Estate (Bourgeoisie & Peasants).

Louis XVI

The French monarch who ascended to the throne in $1774$, supported the American Revolution, and was eventually executed during the Radical Phase.

Estates General

A meeting called by Louis XVI on May $5$, $1789$, which served as a trigger event for the revolution because 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 king.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A document established by the National Assembly that promoted equality under the law, property rights, and the removal of special Church privileges.

Constitution of 1791

A framework that established a limited monarchy, separation of power, and reformed suffrage so that each person gets a vote rather than voting by estates.

Storming the Bastille

Occurring on July $14$, $1789$, this was considered the first act of violence of the revolution.

The Great Fear

A vast panic in the Summer of $1789$ where peasants reacted to rumors of foreign troops by destroying records of their obligations to lords.

Women's March on Versailles

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

Girondins

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

Sans-culottes

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

Jacobins

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

Marat

A radical figure who wrote the newspaper called L’ami du Peuple (Friend of the People).

Charlotte Corday

The woman who assassinated Marat.

Committee of Public Safety

A group that set aside the $1793$ Constitution to defend the Republic of Virtue and manage the French army.

Law of Suspects

A law that required very little evidence to convict individuals of being against the Revolution.

Reign of Terror

A period led by Maximilien Robespierre where up to $40,000$ people were killed by the guillotine.

The Directory

An executive committee of five chosen by the Council of Elders under the Constitution of $1795$ that lasted until $1799$.

Coup d’etat

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

Consulate

The government established after the overthrow of the Directory in $1799$ where Napoleon, as first consul, held absolute power.

Napoleonic Code (Civil Code)

Introduced in $1804$, it preserved revolutionary ideals such as equality before the law, religious toleration, and the abolition of serfdom.

Nationalism

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

Continental System

A failure for Napoleon that was aimed at Great Britain and contributed to his eventual downfall.

Louis XVIII

The brother of the executed Louis XVI who was restored to the monarchy after Napoleon was sent into exile on the island of Elba.

Congress of Vienna

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