Study Guide: Enlightenment and Revolutions (Video Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on Enlightenment and Revolutions.

Invasion of Russia (Napoleon, 1812)

Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia; Russians used scorched-earth tactics, burning crops and retreating, which led to a disastrous campaign for Napoleon and his army.

Fall of Napoleon

Napoleon’s downfall following the Russian campaign, culminating in his defeat at Waterloo and exile to Saint Helena.

Haitian Revolution

Slave revolt in Saint-Domingue against French rule (1791–1804) that led to Haitian independence.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution and former enslaved person who organized and led insurgent forces.

Mexican Revolution (independence)

War of independence against Spain that ultimately led to Mexico’s independence in the early 19th century.

Father Miguel Hidalgo

Mexican priest who sparked the independence movement with the Grito de Dolores.

Simón Bolívar

South American revolutionary leader who liberated northern parts of South America from colonial rule.

José de San Martín

South American liberator who led campaigns to free Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into separate branches to prevent tyranny and provide checks and balances.

Economic Freedom

Idea that economies should operate under a free market with limited government interference.

Religious Freedom

Idea that individuals should be free to worship (or not) and that multiple religions should be tolerated.

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker who argued for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract.

Voltaire

Enlightenment philosopher advocating free speech and religious tolerance.

Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker who argued for separation of powers within government.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Advocate for women’s education and equality as part of Enlightenment debates.

Impact of the Enlightenment on Revolutions

Philosophical ideas contributed to revolutionary movements, expanded rights, and promoted rethink of government.

Printing Press

Invention that facilitated the rapid spread of ideas during the Enlightenment and revolutions.

Pre-Revolution France: Estates, Debt, Famine

France faced an unequal Estates system, mounting debt, and widespread famine prior to the Revolution.

First Estate

Clergy; part of the Estates-General with privileges and representation separate from the Third Estate.

Second Estate

Nobility; privileged class in the Estates-General with distinct rights.

Third Estate

Commoners, peasants, and the bourgeoise; majority of the population, taxed and underrepresented.

National Assembly

Representative body formed by the Third Estate to draft a constitution for France.

Bastille

Fortress/prison stormed on July 14, 1789; symbol of royal tyranny and the revolution.

Tennis Court Oath

pledge by members of the Third Estate to refuse to disband until a new constitution was established.

Women's March on Versailles

Protests by women demanding bread; led to the king's relocation to Paris and influence over the revolutionary government.

Reign of Terror

Period of political repression and mass executions during the French Revolution.

Rise of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte rose from military success to coup, establishing the Napoleonic regime.

Continental System

Napoleon’s blockade aimed at defeating Britain by cutting off European trade with Britain.

Black Death (Black Plague)

Devastating plague that reduced Europe’s population in the 14th century.

Renaissance

Cultural and intellectual revival starting in Italy (roughly 14th–17th centuries) that celebrated human achievement and learning.

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

German monk who posted the 95 Theses, sparking reforms and the break from the Catholic Church.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Astronomer who proposed a heliocentric model with the Sun at the center of the universe.

Galileo Galilei

Astronomer who improved the telescope and supported heliocentrism under challenging Church scrutiny.

Johannes Kepler

Astronomer who formulated laws of planetary motion (elliptical orbits).

Francis Bacon

Philosopher who promoted the scientific method and empirical investigation.

Isaac Newton

Physicist who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation; contributed to calculus.

Four Main Ideas of the Enlightenment

Key ideas: knowledge, natural rights, and reason (as listed in notes; the fourth idea is not specified in the notes).

Social Contract

Ethical/political theory that government authority arises from the consent of the governed.