The French Revolution and the Estates General

Vocabulary flashcards detailing key dates, figures, economic factors, symbols, and events of the French Revolution as recorded in the lecture notes.

Third Estate

The estate represented by $600$ deputies with $1$ collective vote in the Estates General, which represented the general populace and broke away after tensions arose with the first two estates.

Bread Expenditure

The escalating financial burden on the French population as food prices skyrocketed, requiring people to spend $60\%$ and eventually $80\%$ of their resources on bread.

National Assembly

The new body formed when the Estates General reconvened on June 20, 1789, whose members vowed to remain in session for as long as they were together.

Tennis Court Oath

The resolution made by the Third Estate to create a constitution, convened on King Louis's tennis courts after he shut the doors in their faces at Versailles.

National Guard

The royal army mobilized by King Louis to surround the city of Paris.

Green

The national color chosen by the Third Estate to represent themselves, distinct from the red and blue chosen by the First and Second Estates.

July 13th Weapon Hunt

The raid carried out mostly by women searching for weapons that the King had placed inside the prison.

Storming of the Bastille

The pivotal event occurring on July 14th, also marked as French Independence Day, which spread throughout the country and prompted revolts during which $1{,}000$ houses were burned.

Louis Stanislas Xavier Bourbon

A royal figure who fled to the Netherlands on July 17.

Charles Bourbon

A royal figure who was exiled to the German states following the outbreak of the revolution.

Short Pants

An attire item worn to signify support for the revolution.

Long Pants

An attire item worn to signify allegiance to the King.

Liberty Cap

A symbolic head covering worn to indicate support for the revolution.