The French Revolution

Old Regime

The political and social system in France before the French Revolution, characterized by absolute monarchy, feudal privileges, and inequality among social classes.The political and social system in France before the French Revolution, characterized by absolute monarchy, feudal privileges, and inequality among social classes.

Estates

The three social classes in France: the First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (everyone else, including peasants and the bourgeoisie)

Louis XVI

King of France during the French Revolution; his weak leadership and financial mismanagement contributed to the revolution. He was executed in 1793

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI; disliked by the public for her extravagance and foreign background. She was executed during the revolution.

Estates-General

A representative assembly of the three estates, called by Louis XVI in 1789 to address France’s financial crisis.

National Assembly

A legislative body formed by the Third Estate in 1789 to represent the people of France and create a constitution.

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by members of the National Assembly to not disband until France had a written constitution.

Great Fear

A wave of panic and peasant revolts in 1789, caused by rumors that nobles were trying to destroy crops.

Legislative Assembly

The governing body of France from 1791 to 1792, responsible for creating laws after the constitution was written.

Émigrés

Nobles and others who fled France during the revolution to escape violence and loss of privileges.

Sans-culottes

Radical working-class revolutionaries who supported equality and opposed the monarchy; they wore long pants instead of aristocratic knee breeches.

Jacobin Club

A radical political organization that supported the execution of the king and strong revolutionary policies.

Guillotine

A machine used to execute people by beheading; seen as a symbol of the French Revolution.

Maximilien Robespierre

A leading Jacobin and key figure during the Reign of Terror; believed violence was necessary to protect the revolution.

Reign of Terror

A period from 1793–1794 when the revolutionary government executed thousands of people suspected of opposing the revolution.