The French Revolution and the Empire (1789-1815)

Vocabulary and key term flashcards covering the French Revolution and the First Empire (1789–1815) based strictly on course notes.

Révolution (Revolution)

A sudden change of political regime brought about by an uprising of all or part of the population, as opposed to a revolt or riot which does not result in a regime change.

Nation

A group of people who share a collective consciousness of being united by a common history, language, and culture.

État-nation (Nation-state)

A state that comprises only one single nation.

Louis XVI

King of France whose reign spanned from $1774$ to $1792$ and who was ultimately tried for treason and executed under the Republic.

Napoléon Bonaparte

French political leader who governed during the Consulate and Empire from $1799$ to $1815$, reigning as Emperor from $1804$ to $1815$.

États généraux (Estates-General)

An assembly convened by King Louis XVI on May $5$, $1789$, comprising $1000$ + representatives ($1\,139$ total elected deputies) from the three orders to resolve the crown's financial crisis.

Souveraineté nationale (National sovereignty)

The political principle according to which supreme political authority belongs to the nation, which is composed of its citizens.

Constitution

A legal text that formally defines and organizes the distribution of powers within a political regime.

Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)

The assembly proclaimed on June $17$, $1789$, by deputies of the Third Estate—who represented $96\%$ of the population—declaring themselves the true possessors of national sovereignty.

Serment du Jeu de paume (Tennis Court Oath)

The solemn oath taken on June $20$, $1789$, by deputies promising not to disband until they had drafted a constitution for France.

Garde nationale (National Guard)

A citizens' militia formed in Paris during the uprising of July $14$, $1789$, to defend the Revolution and maintain public order.

La Grande Peur (The Great Fear)

A wave of rural unrest in late July and early August $1789$ during which peasants attacked noble châteaux and destroyed feudal tax records.

Abolition des privilèges (Abolition of Privileges)

The historic vote taken by deputies on the night of August $4$, $1789$, ending nobility and clergy privileges and bringing an end to the society of orders.

Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen

Foundational text voted on August $26$, $1789$, affirming natural and imprescriptible rights like freedom and equality, proclaiming national sovereignty, and guaranteeing freedom of expression.

Constitution civile du clergé (Civil Constitution of the Clergy)

A July $1791$ law that reorganized the Church, required clergy members to take an oath of loyalty, and turned them into state-salaried public servants.

Clubs

Political associations during the Revolutionary period where members gathered to debate and share common political opinions.

Monarchie constitutionnelle (Constitutional Monarchy)

A regime structure established in September $1791$ in which royal power is limited by a constitution and shared with an elected assembly.

Monarchie absolue (Absolute Monarchy)

A political regime in which royal power is concentration in the monarch and subject to minimal external checks or legal limitation.

Suffrage censitaire (Census Suffrage)

A voting system restricting electoral rights exclusively to citizens paying a specific tax threshold called the cens.

Droit de veto (Veto Right)

The constitutional power granted to Louis XVI under the $1791$ Constitution allowing him to temporarily suspend or block laws passed by the Assembly.

Fête de la Fédération (Festival of the Federation)

A ceremony held on the Champ de Mars on July $14$, $1790$, commemorating the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille to demonstrate national unity.

Suffrage universel masculin (Universal Male Suffrage)

A system granting voting rights to all adult male citizens, first implemented for electing the National Convention in $1792$.

Convention

The elected governing assembly under the First Republic that proclaimed the abolition of the monarchy on September $21$, $1792$.

Girondins

A moderate political faction within the National Convention, represented by figures such as Brissot and Roland.

Montagnards

A radical group of deputies in the National Convention led by figures like Robespierre and Danton, closely aligned with the sans-culottes.

Guerre de Vendée (War of the Vendée)

A major civil uprising against the Republican government beginning in spring $1793$ in western France, largely triggered by mass army conscription (levée en masse).

Loi des suspects (Law of Suspects)

A decree passed in September $1793$ that enabled the immediate arrest and rapid trial of anyone deemed an enemy of the Revolution.

La Terreur (The Terror)

The period between June $1793$ and July $1794$ under Montagnard control, characterized by the suspension of liberties and execution of thousands by the Revolutionary Tribunal.

Comité de salut public (Committee of Public Safety)

A executive body of deputies, prominently featuring Robespierre, created to direct war efforts and stabilize the internal economy during the Terror.

Directoire (Directory)

The conservative republican regime established in October $1795$ governed under a restrictive census suffrage system until $1799$.