French Revolution study guide

Maximilien Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre

set out to build a “republic of virtue” by wiping out every trace of France’s past. Robespierre governed France virtually as a dictator, and the period of his rule became known as the Reign of Terror. Helped lead the French Revolution

Jean-Paul Marat

Edited a newspaper called L’Ami du Peuple (Friend of the People). In his fiery editorials, Marat called for the death of all those who continued to support the king. Was confined to a bathtub for long hours due to a skin condition. Was killed in his bathtub and became a deityG

Georges Danton

A lawyer. was among the club’s most talented and passionate speakers. He also was known for his devotion to the rights of Paris’s poor people. 1794, challenged Robespierre, and his friends and the Jacobins persecuted him and he was executed. Said that his head would be “Well worth seeing”

Louis XVI

King of France before the revolution, not a good king, demoted heavily, revolted against, and eventually executed.

Marie Antoinette

Louis’ wife. Moved from Austria and became queen. Suffered the same fate as Louis. Nicknamed “Madame Deficit”

Napoleon

Soldier that took over the remains of France after the revolution, became emperor. Other countries didn’t like his absolute rule and he was exiled and died of stomach disease

Prince Klemons von Metternich of Austria

Foreign Minister of Austria. Distrusted the democratic ideals of the French Revolution. Wanted to Balance Power. Wanted to restore the nobility

Czar Alexander I of Russia

Defeated Napoleons Army alongside King Fredrick William III of Prussia in January 1814 and paraded through the French Capital.

King Frederick William III of Prussia

Worked with Czar Alexander to defeat Napoleon’s army and take another step towards taking Napoleon off the throne.

Emperor Francis I of Austria

Signed an agreement called the Holy Alliance.

Admiral Horatio Nelson

British Admiral who defeated Napoleon in a naval battle

Estates General

French Government until 1789

Old Regime

Government system that separated the people into 3 estates

Third Estate

The common-people, they made up 97% of the population

Second Estate

Rich Nobles, 2% of the population

First Estate

Roman Catholic church, owned 10% of land (man screw these guys)

National Assembly

The third estate delegates that formed a new government and passed laws and reforms

Tennis Court Oath

National Assembly delegates who were locked out of their meeting room, broke into an indoor tennis court, and swore and oath to stay there until a new constitution had been drafted.

Émigrés

Nobles who had fled France, hoped to undo the Revolution and restore the Old Regime.

Sans-culottes

Parisian workers and small shopkeepers wanted the Revolution to bring even greater changes to France.

Guillotine

Execution Device used during the French Revolution

National Convention

The government that replaced the National Assembly during the French Revolution

Blockade

A forcible closing of ports

Scorched-earth policy

Burning grain fields and slaughtering livestock so as to leave nothing for the enemy to eat.

Plebiscite

Vote of the people

Continental System

Thing (Idk what it was)to prevent all trade and communication between Great Britain and other European nations

Congress of Vienna

A series of meetings in Vienna

Bourgeoisie

The middle class

Declaration of Rights of Man

A statement of revolutionary ideals

Reign of Terror

A section of Robespierre’s rule (lots of people died) (it also might have been all of his rule either or but be fr you know what the reign of terror is)

Committee of Public Safety

A department that’s chief task if was to protect the revolution (Killed a lot of people)

Another word for brotherhood

fraternity

Elba

A tiny island off the Italian coast where Napoleon was banished

St. Helena

Another island where Napoleon was exiled

Battle of Waterloo

A battle where Napoleon was defeated by the armies of the seventh coalition

Bastille day

July 14th, the day that the bastille was attacked by poor people. became a national holiday

Battle of Trafalgar

The one major battle that Napoleon lost, caused french fleet to be destroyed. That defeat was more important than all of his land victories