Revolutions Notes - For History Quiz

Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity

The motto of the French Revolution, emphasizing the core values it sought to achieve.

Philosophes

French thinkers of the Enlightenment who advocated for reason and reform in society.

The Ancient Regime

The political and social system in France prior to the French Revolution, characterized by feudalism and absolute monarchy.

Estates General

A legislative assembly in France representing the three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

The Third Estate

98% of the French population, including peasants and the bourgeoisie, who paid high taxes.

Tennis Court Oath

A vow taken by members of the Third Estate in 1789 to not disband until a new constitution was established.

The Great Fear

A period of panic and civil unrest in France during the summer of 1789 following the storming of the Bastille.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

A 1790 law that subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government.

Limited Monarchy

A system of government established by the Constitution of 1791, where the king’s powers are restricted.

Declaration of Pillnitz

A declaration issued by Prussia and Austria in 1791 promising to intervene in France if the monarchy was threatened.

National Convention

The assembly elected in 1792 to create a republic in France after the monarchy was abolished.

The Terror

A period during the French Revolution marked by mass executions and political purges, led by Robespierre.

Committee of Public Safety

A political body during the French Revolution that took control during the Reign of Terror.

Republic of Virtue

A concept during the French Revolution denoting the idea of a society that acted in accordance with the principles of virtue.

Thermidorian Reaction

The political shift following the fall of Robespierre in July 1794, leading to a more conservative government.

Napoleon Bonaparte

A French general who became Emperor of the French, known for his military and political reforms.

Coup d’etat of 18 Brumaire

The event in 1799 when Napoleon overthrew the Directory and took control of France.

Continental System

A foreign policy of Napoleon aimed at weakening Britain through trade restrictions.

Battle of Nations (Leipzig)

A major battle in 1813 where Napoleon was defeated by the coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Britain.

Bourbon Restoration

The return of the Bourbon monarchy to France after Napoleon’s abdication.

Congress of Vienna

A conference held in 1814-1815 to restore order and stability to Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.

Natural rights

Fundamental rights that all individuals possess, including life, liberty, and property, as stated by Enlightenment thinkers.

Haitian Revolution

The successful slave rebellion in the French colony of St. Dominique, leading to Haiti's independence.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

An ex-slave who led the Haitian Revolution against French rule.

El Grito de Dólares

A call to arms issued by Miguel Hidalgo in 1810, leading the Mexican War of Independence.

Simon Bolivar

A key leader in South America who liberated multiple countries from Spanish rule and sought to unify them.

Agustin Iturbide

A military leader who declared Mexico's independence and became its first emperor.

Dom Pedro

The prince who declared Brazil's independence in a bloodless revolution in 1822.

Mercantilism

An economic policy that promotes government regulation of a nation’s economy for augmenting state power.

Cash Crops

Crops grown for commercial value rather than for use by the grower, often leading to food shortages.

Rigid Class Structure

A societal hierarchy that limits social mobility and maintains privileged positions for certain groups.

Colonial Rule

A system of governance in which a central authority controls a colony and its people.

Revolution

A significant change in political power or organizational structures, often occurring through uprising.

Napoleonic Wars

A series of conflicts involving Napoleon's French Empire and various European coalitions from 1803 to 1815.

Guerrilla Warfare

A form of irregular warfare where small groups use tactics like ambushes and raids.

Scorched-Earth Policy

A military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through their territory.

Bloodless Revolution

A significant change in governance achieved without conventional warfare or bloodshed.

Legitimacy

The principle of restoring rightful rulers to their thrones as part of the post-Napoleonic order.

Balance of Power

A political concept where nations work to prevent any one nation from becoming too powerful.

Liberty Tree

A symbol of freedom and resistance against oppression during the French Revolution.

Marianne

A national symbol of France representing liberty and reason during the French Revolution.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

A fundamental document of the French Revolution that outlines individual rights and the principles of popular sovereignty.