French Revolution Vocabulary and Summary

Revolution

A sudden, radical, or complete change.

Mass Frustration

A large group of upset individuals.

Dissident Elites

People with wealth, power, and an education

Coup d'état

A sudden and often illegal seizure of power from a government, typically carried out by a small group, such as military leaders or political factions.

Regime

A system of government or leadership, often authoritarian.

Moderate

A person with political views that are not extreme, typically supporting compromise.

Radical

A person who advocates for significant or extreme political or social change.

Conservative

A person who supports traditional values and resists major change in society or government.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in 18th-century Europe emphasizing reason, individualism, and questioning authority.

Feudalism

A medieval system in which nobles controlled land in exchange for military service and peasants worked the land for protection.

Rebellion

An organized resistance or uprising against a government or authority.

Social Contract

A philosophical concept where people agree to form a society and accept rules in exchange for protection and order.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights that all people are believed to have, such as life, liberty, and property.

Treason

The act of betraying one's country, often by attempting to overthrow the government

Oppression

The unfair and cruel treatment of a group, often by a government or ruling power.

Self-Determination

The right of a group of people to govern themselves and make their own decisions.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that a government's authority comes from the people, often through voting.

Tyrant

A ruler who uses power in a cruel or unjust way, often without regard for the people's rights.

Abdicate

To formally give up or renounce a position of power, authority, or responsibility, often used in the context of monarchs or leaders who resign from their throne or office.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections; often associated with movements advocating for voting rights for various groups, such as women or marginalized communities.

Militia

A military force that is raised from the civilian population to supplement a regular army in emergencies; can also refer to groups organized for military purposes, often in a local context.

Means of Production

The facilities and resources for producing goods, including land, labor, and capital; key in discussions about economic systems, particularly in relation to capitalism and socialism.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that suggests the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility; often summarized as "the greatest good for the greatest number."

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests, culture, and identity of a particular nation, often advocating for independence or self-governance.

Absolutism

A political system or doctrine where a single ruler holds absolute power, often without checks or balances from other branches of government; commonly associated with monarchies.

Propaganda

Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a particular political cause or point of view; can be disseminated through various media to influence public opinion.

Estates System

France's social hierarchy divided into the First (clergy), Second (nobility), and Third Estate (commoners).

Third Estate

The largest social class, made up of commoners, who demanded more rights and representation.

King Louis XVI

The king of France during the revolution; executed in 1793.

Marie Antoinette

The unpopular queen of France; executed during the revolution.

Storming of the Bastille

July 14, 1789, when revolutionaries attacked a prison symbolizing royal tyranny.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A document that promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity, inspired by Enlightenment ideas.

Reign of Terror

A period (1793-1794) when thousands were executed for being "enemies" of the revolution.

Maximilien Robespierre

Leader of the Reign of Terror; executed in 1794.

Guillotine

The device used for executions during the revolution.

The Jacobins

A radical political group that supported extreme revolutionary changes.

The Girondins

A moderate political group that opposed the extreme measures of the Jacobins.

The National Assembly

A government formed by the Third Estate to create reforms.

Tennis Court Oath

A vow made by the National Assembly to create a constitution for France.

Napoleon Bonaparte

A military leader who took power in 1799, ending the revolution.

Causes of the Revolution

Economic crisis, unfair taxes, Enlightenment ideas, and inequality in the Estates System.

Effects of the Revolution

End of the monarchy, rise of democracy, and spread of revolutionary ideas in Europe.

People in the First Estate

Clergy

People in the Second Estate

Nobles

People in the Third Estate

98% of the population (peasants)

Shared Motivation

Common grievances among the Third Estate, including high taxes, lack of political power, and food shortages, united people against the monarchy.

State Crises

Financial debt, poor leadership, and social unrest weakened the government, making revolution inevitable.