French Revolution Part 1 Key Terms

enlightened bourgeoisie

Marriages between nobles and wealthy, educated commoners. This served both social groups/ interests, and it created a mixed-caste elite. The Enlightenment promoted equality, which included the equality between social classes. Distinctions between land aristocracy and city merchants faded when nobles put money into trade, and bureaucrats and merchants purchased land estates and noble titles.

Estates General

A legislative body in prerevolutionary France made up of representatives of the three classes, or estates. It was called into session in 1789 for the first time since 1614.

Abbe’ Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes

member of the first estate, wrote What is the Third Estate? on the side of the 3rd estate, argued that nobility was a tiny, overprivileged minority and that the third estate constituted a true strength of French nation.

What is the Third Estate?

Written by Abbe’ Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes, his most famous pamphlet, argued that nobility was a tiny overprivileged minority and the third estate was the true strength of the French Nation.

National Assembly

The first French revolutionary legislature, made up primarily of representatives of the third estate and a few from the nobility and clergy, in session from 1789-1791.

Tennis Court Oath

Delegates of the National assembly moved to a large indoor tennis court for “repairs” (they actually were locked out by Louis XVI), there they swore the famous oath where the pledged to not disband until they were recognized as a national assembly and had written a new constitution.

Bastille

July 14, 1789, several hundred people stormed this royal prison to get weapons for the defense of Paris, because of the violence Louis pulled the troops out of Paris and the reinstated the finance minister. (people were scared of Swiss troops and homeless)

Great Fear

The fear of noble reprisals against peasant uprisings that seized the French countryside and led to further revolt.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

August 27, 1789, Assembly issued this document, written by Marquis de Lafayette with the help of Thomas Jefferson, it was a call of the liberal revolutionary ideal that guaranteed equality before the law, representative government for a sovereign people, and individual freedom. Spread quickly through France, Europe, and eventually the whole world.

Olympe de Gouges

Woman, self-taught writer, woman of the people, wrote Declaration of the Rights of Woman, protested the evils of slavery as well as the injustices done to women.

Declaration of the Rights of Woman

Written by Olympe de Gouges, echoed famous predecessor “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the citizen” , proclaimed woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights, ideas were not very accepted even by leaders of the revolution.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

July 1790, helped establish a national church where priests were chosen by voters. NA then forced catholic clergy to take oath of loyalty to new govt, not all priests swore.

Edmund Burke

British statesman, conservative leader, 1790 published Reflections on the revolution in France, discussed principles of liberty and rights and the importance of inherited traditions and privileges for social stability. Troubled by outcome of the revolution.

…on the Revolutions in France

Written by Edmund Burke, discussed principles of liberty and rights and the importance of inherited traditions and privileges for social stability.

Mary Wollstonecraft

London, advocate for equal rights of women, wrote Vindication of the Rights of Man and A vindication of the Rights of Woman. Advocate for coeducation believing it to make women better wives and mothers, good citizens, and economically independent.

A Vindication of the Rights of Man

Mary Wollstonecraft’s blistering attack and rebuttal to Burke’s Reflections of the Revolution in France.

…Rights of Woman

Mary Wollstonecraft’s masterpiece, discussed to topics of equal rights for women, education of women, considered very radical for the time, became a founding text of later feminist movements.

Declaration of Pillnitz

Austria and Prussia issued this after the arrest of a crowned monarch, said they were willing to intervene in France to restore Louis XVI’s rule if necessary.