The French Revolution Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary and concepts related to the French Revolution.

Old Regime

The social and political system in France before the Revolution, characterized by three estates.

First Estate

The clergy; enjoyed wealth and privilege, owned land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes.

Second Estate

The nobility; owned land but had little money, feared losing their traditional privileges, especially tax exemption.

Third Estate

The bourgeoisie and peasants; resented privileges of the first and second estates and were burdened by taxes.

What led to Frances Debt?

Deficit Spending: Spending more money than the government takes in; contributed to France's economic trouble.

Estates General

An assembly of representatives from all three estates in France.

Tennis Court Oath

An oath taken by members of the Third Estate to create a new constitution.

Bastille

A medieval fortress used as a prison that was stormed by Parisians, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution.

Great Fear

A period of panic and riot by peasants amid rumours of an aristocratic conspiracy by the king and the privileged.

Paris Commune

A radical group that replaced the royalist government of Paris.

Factions

Small groups that compete for power.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A document that limited the French monarchy and declared all citizens equal before the law.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

National Convention

A political body that replaced the National Assembly.

The Jacobins

A political organization that controlled the Convention and seized lands of nobles.

Committee of Public Safety

Created by the Convention to deal with threats to France, responsible for the Reign of Terror.

Reign of Terror

A period of violence during the French Revolution led by Robespierre.

Directory

A five-man body established by the Constitution of 1795.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride and devotion to one's country.