French Revolution and Napoleon

Flashcards covering key concepts and events related to the French Revolution and Napoleon's rise to power.

What were the three estates in France before the French Revolution?

The First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (common people) each had different privileges and tax responsibilities.

What was the main cause of resentment in the Third Estate?

The Third Estate paid most taxes while having little to no political power and privileges compared to the First and Second Estates.

What was the National Assembly?

A revolutionary government formed by the Third Estate when they broke away from the Estates-General to write a new constitution.

What did the Legislative Assembly do?

It was a lawmaking body that limited the king's power and was divided into radicals, moderates, and conservatives.

Who was Maximilien Robespierre?

A leading Jacobin radical who controlled France during the Reign of Terror and believed violence was necessary to protect the revolution.

What was Napoleon Bonaparte's role after the French Revolution?

He rose to power as a general, led a coup in 1799, and became emperor in 1804, bringing stability but ruling as an authoritarian.

What is a coup de tat?

A sudden and forceful overthrow of a government, which Napoleon used in 1799 to establish control over France.

What was the Continental System?

Napoleon's economic policy to weaken Great Britain by banning European trade with it, which ultimately failed.

What was the Napoleonic Code?

A unified system of laws that organized French law, promoting order and equality before the law but restricting freedoms, especially for women.

Where was Napoleon exiled after his first defeat?

He was exiled to Elba after his first defeat but escaped in 1815.

What happened to Napoleon after the Battle of Waterloo?

He was exiled to St. Helena where he lived under guard until his death in 1821.