Key Concepts of Enlightenment and French Revolution

Bourgeoisie

The middle class, including merchants, industrialist, and professional people.

Estate

One of the three classes into which French society was divided before the revolution: the clergy (First Estate), the nobles (Second Estate) and the townspeople (Third Estate).

Coup d'etat

A sudden overthrow of the government.

Consulate

Government established in France after the overthrow of the Directory in 1799, with Napoleon as first consul in control of the entire government.

Nationalism

The unique cultural identity of a people based on common language, religion, and national symbols.

Conservatism

A political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favoring obedience to political authority and organized religion.

Liberalism

A political philosophy originally based largely on Enlightenment principles, holding that people should be as free as possible from government restraint and that civil liberties-the basic rights of all people should be protected.

Geocentric

Earth-centered; a system of planetary motion in which the sun, moon, and other planets revolve around the Earth.

Heliocentric

Sun-centered; the system of the universe in which the Earth and planets revolve around the sun.

Rationalism

A system of thought expounded by Rene Descartes based on the belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge.

Empiricism

The theory that says knowledge is achieved through observation.

Scientific Method

A systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence that was crucial to the evolution of science in the modern world.

Philosophe

French for 'philosopher'; applied to all intellectuals during the Enlightenment.

Separation of powers

A form of government in which the executive, legislative and judicial branches limit and control each other through a system of checks and balances.

Deism

An eighteenth-century religious philosophy based on reason and natural law.

Laissez-faire

The concept that the state should not impose government regulations but should leave the economy alone.

Social Contract

The concept that an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will and all individuals should be forced to abide by it since it represents what is best for the entire community.

Salons

The elegant urban drawing rooms where, in the eighteenth century writers, artists, aristocrats, government officials, and wealthy middle-class people gathered to discuss the ideas of the philosophes.

Popular sovereignty

The right to govern through the consent of the people.

Federal System

A form of government in which power is shared between the national and state governments.

Taille

An annual direct tax, usually on land or property, that provided a regular source of income for the French monarchy.