French and American Revolutions: Key Events, Leaders, and Treaties

French and Indian War

(1754-1763) War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won.

Fort Duquesne

French fort that was site of first major battle of French and Indian War; General Washington led unsuccessful attack on French troops and was then defeated at Fort Necessity, marking beginning of conflict.

Treaty of Paris 1763

Ended French and Indian War, changes world map, Britains get all land east of Mississippi River, Canada, control of India

Louis XVI (16th)

King of France during the French Revolution, calls the Estate General to reform tax code

First Estate

Church, paid little/no taxes

Second Estate

Nobility, paid little/no taxes

Third Estate

Peasant/Mid-class. 97% of the population (the rest of France) they paid high taxes and had no special privileges

Cahiers de Doleances

statements of local grievances drafted throughout France during the elections to the Estates-General, advocating a regular constitutional government abolishing fiscal privileges of the church and nobility

National Assembly

elected legislature

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

Bastille

fortress in Paris used as a prison; French Revolution began when Parisians stormed it in 1789

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens

Constitution that proclaimed all men are free and equal and religious freedom.

Assignate

Bonds, land sales as security

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

Guillotine

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

Committee of Public Safety

Established and led by Robespierre, fixed bread prices and nationalized some businesses. Basically secret police and also controlled the war effort. Instigated the Reign of Terror.

Maximilion Robespierre

A French lawyer, politician, and one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution, influenced by the Enlightenment

Reign of Terror

(1793-94) during the French Revolution when thousands were executed for "disloyalty"

Directory

Established after the Reign of Terror / National Convention; a five man group as the executive branch of the country; incompetent and corrupt, only lasted for 4 years.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Overthrew French Directory in 1799 and became emperor of the French in 1804. Failed to defeat Great Britain and abdicated in 1814. Returned to power briefly in 1815 but was defeated and died in exile.

Horatio Nelson

British navy commander who defeated Napoleon in Egypt (The Battles of the Nile) and Trafalgar; naval supremacy saved Britain from the invasion and shattered Napoleon's dreams of an overseas empire

First Consul

Napoleon named this after overthrowing the Directory; remained this until proclaiming himself emperor; first of three

Concordat

Catholicism official religion, but agree to lands lost and become civil servants

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution. He freed the slaves and becomes independent, led to louisiana purchase

Continental System

Economic blockade against Britain initiated by Napoleon.

Battle of Trafalgar

British defeat of Napoleon's forces at sea

Peninsular War

War that Napoleon fought in Spain

Battle of Leipzig

Defeated by Russia, Prussia, Austria, Abdicates throne, monarchy restored.

Battle of Waterloo

Final defeat by Duke of Wellington, Napoleon exiled to St. Helena.