French and Russian Revolutions Key Terms and Statistics

Vocabulary flashcards featuring key dates, statistics, historical quotes, and events of the French and Russian Revolutions.

Fundamental laws (France)

Edicts issued in May 1788.

Dismissal of Necker

Occurred on July 11 1789, after which > 25,000 Troops were called to Paris.

The Great Fear (Lefebvre)

Historian Lefebvre stated: “The Great Fear allowed the peasants to realize their strength.”

Englightenment (Fenwick)

Fenwick stated: “Englightenment offered a glimpse of new society without the inequalities of the old.”

3rd Estate

The social order that made up 99% of the population in France.

Storming of the Bastille

Revolutionary event where workers took 30,000 rifles.

August Decrees

Decrees passed August 4-11 1789.

Louis’s execution

Execution that took place on January 21 1793.

The Assembly (Adcock)

Adcock noted: “The Assembly represented the nation, from which all authority flowed.”

Coexistence of the King (Adcock)

Adcock stated: “The king could not safely coexist with the revolution.”

October Days

Event where 30,000 marched to Versailles.

September Massacres

Event in which the SC killed around 1,200 prisoners.

Reign of Terror (Arrests)

Phase of the revolution during which 300,000 people were arrested.

Russo-Japanese War

Conflict that lasted from Feb 1904-Sep 1905.

Bloody Sunday

Event on Jan 9 1905 that triggered > 400,000 strikes.

October Manifesto

Document issued on Oct 17 1905.

Fundamental laws (Russia)

Laws enacted on Apr 23 1906.

June Offensive

Military offensive launched on Jun 18 1917.

Kornilov Affair

Crisis that occurred in Aug 1917.

Tsar Nicholas II (Figes)

Figes noted: “Nicholas was the source of all problems.”

Dual Authority (Kerensky)

Kerensky stated: “The soviet had power without authority, and the pro-government authority without power.”

Russian Empire Geography and Demographics

Spanned 11 time zones and contained over 60 ethnic groups.

Feb Revolution

Uprising in which 250,000 soldiers of the Petrograd Garrison mutinied.

July Days

Demonstrations ending with 1000 bolsheviks arrested.

Creation of SOVNARKOM

Took place in November 1917.

Constituent Assembly

Elected body formed on Nov 12 1917.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Peace treaty signed on Mar 3 1918.

Kronstadt Rebellion

Revolt from Feb-Mar 1921 where > 5,000 rebels were killed.

NEP

New Economic Policy introduced in March 1921.

Civil War (Pipes)

Pipes observed: “Civil war wasn’t a popularity contest.”

Bolshevik Rule (Figes)

Figes stated: “Bolsheviks forced to turn increasingly to terror.”

Soviet Education Program

Initiative that established 30,000 new schools and 33,000 new libraries.

Terror (Russian Civil War)

State campaign resulting in 50,000 to 500,000 deaths.

1921 Famine

Severe humanitarian disaster resulting in 7 Million deaths.