Unit 3 (Sem 1) French Revolution

Third Estate

Anyone who wasn't nobility or clergy; made up 97% of the population; peasants, workers, bourgeoisie

Louis XVI

King of France at the time of the French Revolution; eventually executed

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France at the time of the French Revolution; eventually executed

Maximilien Robespierre

leader of the Committee of Public Safety; dominated France in the Reign of Terror; eventually executed

Reign of Terror

This was the period in France where Robespierre ruled and used revolutionary terror. He tried "traitors" and they were all judged severely; thousands were executed.

Guillotine

A machine for beheading people, used as a means of execution during the French Revolution.

political spectrum

a way of showing a range of different political views

liberal

A political viewpoint favorable to progress or reform/change; on the left side of the political spectrum

conservative

A political viewpoint disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones; status quo; on the right side of the political spectrum

causes of the French Revolution

complaints of the 3rd estate: poverty, unfair laws, unfair taxation, king's unwillingness to change, lavish spending of king & queen; worked hard while other estates did very little; were 97% of the population but had no political power; were inspired by the American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas

bourgeoisie

middle class (doctors, lawyers, business owners)

First Estate

clergy (priests, bishops, etc., of the Catholic Church)

Second Estate

nobles (owned land/manors)

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