1st Estate: The clergy in French society before the revolution, which comprised about 1% of the population and held significant privileges.
2nd Estate: The nobility in French society before the revolution, making up about 2% of the population, often owning land and enjoying special rights.
3rd Estate: The common people in French society, constituting around 97% of the population and including the bourgeoisie, workers, and peasants.
Bourgeoisie: The middle class in the 3rd Estate, consisting of educated professionals who played a significant role in the revolution.
The Old Order: The social and political system in France before the revolution, characterized by hierarchical estates.
Philosophes: Enlightenment thinkers who challenged traditional ideas and advocated for reason, science, and progress.
Financial Crisis: A significant economic problem facing France in the late 18th century, leading to widespread discontent.
Parlements: Regional courts in France that had the power to register royal edicts and often challenged the monarchy's authority.
Estates-General: The assembly representing the three estates, convened in 1789 for the first time since 1614 to address the financial crisis.
Cahiers: Lists of grievances drawn up by each estate in preparation for the Estates-General meeting.
Abbe Sieyes: A clergyman and political theorist who wrote 'What is the Third Estate?' arguing for the representation of the common people.
National Assembly: The assembly formed by the representatives of the 3rd Estate in June 1789, claiming to represent the French people.
Tennis Court Oath: A pledge made in June 1789 by members of the National Assembly not to disband until a new constitution was established.
Louis XVI: The King of France who ruled during the revolution and was ultimately executed by guillotine.
The Bastille: A fortress in Paris that was stormed on July 14, 1789, symbolizing the beginning of the revolution.
The Great Fear: A wave of panic and riots among the peasantry in 1789, driven by rumors of an aristocratic conspiracy.
Declaration of Rights of Man: A foundational document of the French Revolution, affirming individual and collective rights.
Olympe de Gouges: A playwright and political activist who advocated for women's rights and authored the 'Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen.'
Women’s March to Versailles: An event in October 1789 where women marched to Versailles to demand bread and bring the king back to Paris.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy: A law passed in 1790 that restructured the Catholic Church in France, placing it under state control.
Legislative Assembly: The governing body in France from 1791 to 1792, succeeding the National Assembly.
Jacobins: A radical political group during the revolution that established the First French Republic.
Varennes: The town where Louis XVI was captured while trying to flee to Varennes in June 1791.
The “Marseillaise”: The national anthem of France, originally a revolutionary song that became a symbol of the republic.
Sans-Culottes: Working-class men and women who played a significant role in the revolution, advocating for basic needs and rights.
Paris Commune: A radical socialist government that briefly ruled Paris in 1871.
George Danton: A leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution and a prominent Jacobin leader.
National Convention: The assembly that governed France from 1792 until the establishment of the Directory in 1795.
Girondins: A moderate political group within the National Convention that opposed the Jacobins.
The Mountain: A radical faction of the Jacobins led by Robespierre, advocating for extreme measures during the revolution.
Vendee Rebellion: A civil unrest in the Vendee region against the revolutionary government due to dissatisfaction with the policies.
Robespierre: A key leader of the revolution and the Committee of Public Safety, known for his role during the Reign of Terror.
Committee on Public Safety: A government body established during the revolution to protect the republic from foreign and domestic threats.
Reign of Terror: A period of extreme political violence during the revolution from 1793 to 1794, characterized by mass executions.
Marie Antoinette: The Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI, known for her extravagant lifestyle and eventual execution.
Republic of Virtue: A term used by Robespierre to describe the ideal society of the revolution based on virtue and civic duty.
De-Christianization: A campaign during the revolution to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church in France.
Toussaint L’Ouverture: A leader of the Haitian Revolution who helped abolish slavery in the French colony of Saint-Domingue.
Thermidorian Reaction: A period of political realignment following the fall of Robespierre in July 1794, marking the end of the Reign of Terror.
Directory: The government that ruled France from 1795 to 1799, characterized by corruption and instability.
Napoleon Bonaparte: A military leader who rose to power after the revolution and established himself as Emperor of France.
The Concordat of 1801: An agreement between Napoleon and the Catholic Church, restoring much of the Church's power in France.
The Civil Code (The Code Napoleon): A comprehensive set of laws established by Napoleon, emphasizing equality and individual rights.
Prefects: Administrators appointed by Napoleon to oversee regions in France.
The Continental System: A foreign policy established by Napoleon to weaken Britain economically by blockading trade.
Nationalism: A political ideology that emphasizes national identity and unity, gaining strength during and after the revolution.
The Quadruple Alliance: A coalition formed by Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain in the aftermath of Napoleon's rule.
Congress of Vienna: A meeting held in 1814-1815, aimed at restoring stability and order in Europe after the revolutionary wars.
Klemens von Metternich: The Austrian diplomat who played a significant role in the Congress of Vienna and European diplomacy.
Principle of Legitimacy: The principle that legitimate monarchs should be restored to power after the downfall of Napoleon.
Balance of Power: A political concept meaning that no single nation should dominate others, established during the Congress of Vienna.
Conservatism: A political ideology advocating for the preservation of traditional institutions and resistance to rapid change.
Edmund Burke: An Irish statesman who criticized the revolution and advocated for gradual reform.
The Concert of Europe: A system of alliances and meetings among European powers to maintain peace after the Congress of Vienna.
Principle of Intervention: The concept that European powers should intervene in countries experiencing revolutions to restore monarchies.
Karlsbad Decrees: A set of repressive measures enacted by the German Confederation to suppress revolutionary ideas and movements.
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