French Revolution and Reign of Terror

Estates General

France's traditional national assembly with representatives of the three estates, or classes, in French society: the clergy, nobility, and commoners. The calling of the Estates General in 1789 led to the French Revolution.

1st Estate

the clergy of the church; 1% of population; owned 10% of the land; paid no taxes

3rd Estate

Commoners of Old Regime France; paid most of the taxes and had the least amount of property

2nd Estate

"The Nobles"---Make up 2% of population, but owns 25% of land. Paid no taxes, held highest offices in government. Controlled the most wealth.

Louis XVI (16th)

King of France who was overthrown with the French Revolution (killed by the guillotine) Wife was Marie Antoinette

famine

a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death

Inflation

a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

debt

something, typically money, that is owed or due

National Assembly

French Revolutionary assembly (1789-1791). Called first as the Estates General, the three estates came together and demanded radical change. It passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

French Revolution document that outlined what the National Assembly considered to be the natural rights of all people and the rights that they possessed as citizens

Jacobins

Radical republicans during the French Revolution. They were led by Maximilien Robespierre from 1793 to 1794.

Girondins

A moderate republican faction active in the French Revolution from 1791 to 1793. The Girondin Party favored a policy of extending the French Revolution beyond France's borders.

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

Robespierre

A French political leader of the eighteenth century. A Jacobin, he was one of the most radical leaders of the French Revolution. He was in charge of the government during the Reign of Terror, when thousands of persons were executed without trial. After a public reaction against his extreme policies, he was executed without trial.

Jean-Paul Marat

A journalist and scientist, as well as an associate Jacobin; Marat (1743-93) helped launch the Reign of Terror and complied death lists, being an advocate of violent measures. He was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, immortalized in the David painting The Death of Marat.

George Danton

Radical Jacobin who made a speech to the National Assembly urging France to crush all domestic and foreign enemies

Later executed by Robespierre, a former close friend, because of his view that the Terror had gone far enough

conservative

holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

liberal

open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.

Versailles

A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Natural Rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Great Fear

The panic and insecurity that struck French peasants in the summer of 1789 and led to their widespread destruction of manor houses and archives.

Guillotine

device used during the Reign of Terror to execute thousands by beheading

Reign of Terror

This was the period in France where Robespierre ruled and used revolutionary terror to solidify the home front. He tried rebels and they were all judged severely and most were executed.

Bastille Prison

The political prison and armory stormed on July 14, 1789, by Parisian city workers alarmed by the king's concentration of troops at Versailles, establishing popular participation in the Revolution

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789, in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution

Ancien Regime (Old Regime)

the system that existed in France before the French Revolution)

Estates

The social classes in France

Bourgeoisie

French middle class, including merchants, industrialists, and professional people

National Assembly of France

Governing body of France that succeeded the Estates-General in 1789 during the French Revolution. It was composed of, and defined by, the delegates of the Third Estate.

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France (as wife of Louis XVI), originally from Austria and who was unpopular because of her extravagance and opposition to reform contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy; she was guillotined along with her husband (1755-1793)

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Revolution

Radical change and embrace of a new system

Marat

French revolutionary leader (born in Switzerland) who was a leader in overthrowing the Girondists and was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday (1743-1793)

Jacobins

Radical republicans during the French Revolution. They were led by Maximilien Robespierre from 1793 to 1794.

Girondins

A moderate republican faction active in the French Revolution from 1791 to 1793. The Girondin Party favored a policy of extending the French Revolution beyond France's borders.

Robspierre

lead revolution, Committee of Public Safety, blamed for Reign of terror, excecuted at the end

Reign of Terror

This was the period in France where Robespierre ruled and used revolutionary terror to solidify the home front. He tried rebels and they were all judged severely and most were executed.

Gillotine

A machine for beheading people, used as a means of execution during the French Revolution.