Key Events and Figures of the French Revolution

1st Estate

the clergy, makes up 1% of the population

2nd Estate

the nobility, makes up 2% of the population

3rd Estate

bourgeoisie, makes up 97% of the population

Bourgeoisie

urban middle class, includes merchants and professionals

National Assembly

assembly formed by the third estate

Louis XV

inherited debt from Louis XIV

Louis XVI

was captured and put to death

Marie Antoinette

the queen of France, also the most hated woman in France due to her political decisions. Married Louis XVI

Departments

the division of France's administrative structure by dividing the country into 83 equal districts

Storming of the Bastille

when French citizens attacked the Bastille in search of gun powder

Great Fear

when there were many threats of the nobility attacking

Conservatives

against the revolution

Moderates

no extreme views of the revolution

Radicals

supported the revolution

Emigres

plotted to overthrow the revolution

Declaration of the Rights of Man

liberty, equality, and fraternity

Olympe de Gouges

wrote the declaration of the rights of woman which advocated for women's rights

Conscription

the military draft

Coup d'etat

seizing power by force

Reign of Terror

executing anyone who was suspected of being counter revolutionary

The Directory

had two houses. Was weak and only lasted 4 years.

National Convention

delegates divided into three main groups

Marat

a doctor from France

Danton

a Jacobin, a republican who favored domination by Paris

Robespierre

a Jacobin

Josephine de Beauharnais

Leader of French society in 1796. Married to Napoleon Bonaparte

Plebiscite

yes or no vote

Nationalism

love of one's country

Scorched earth policy

burning and destroying crops, livestock and shelter

Continental System

Napoleon ordered a blockade of Great Britain. No one in Europe could trade outside of Europe

Napoleonic Code

Scholars organized all of French law into this system

Horatio Nelson

defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet off the coast of Spain

Duke of Wellington

defeated Napoleon at Waterloo

Joseph

Napoleon's brother who was put on the throne of Spain

Grand Army

Napoleon's army of 600,000 that marched into Russia and were badly defeated

Battle of Leipzig

Allies defeated Napoleon and he was forced to step down and retire to the island of Elba

Elba

Napoleon retired to this island and eventually escaped

Waterloo

where was napoleon defeated

St. Helena

Napoleon was arrested and sent to island where he died

Indemnity

a payment for damages caused by war

Reactionaries

people who not only opposed change but would also like to actually undo certain changes

Liberalism

extended the ideas of the French and American revolutions

Congress of Vienna

European powers wanted to restore order

Talleyrand

represented France at the congress of Vienna

Prince Metternich

influenced European politics believed in Absolutism

Treaty of Adrianople (1829)

Greece won its independence and nationalism was sweeping over France