French Revolution

Louis XVI

He was the king of France at the start of the revolution; he was weak and indecisive

Austria

Hoping to spread their revolutionary ideas, France voted to declare war on this country

Fall of the Bastille

Hundreds of hungry people stormed the prison in search of gunpowder to save Paris and the National Assembly; this was the symbolic start of the revolution

Republic of Virtue

Robespierre's attempt to erase all traces of the monarchy, nobility and the Catholic Church

Marie Antoinette

She was the queen of France at the start of the reevolution; she was from Austria and spent too much money on herself

Reign of Terror

The excessively violent period of time during the French Revolution under the rule of Robespierre

Estates-General

The legislative branch of the French government prior to the French Revolution; it could meet only with permission from the king (May 5th, 1789)

Robespierre

The radical leader during the French Revolution responsible for the Reign of Terror; he wanted to create a Republic of Virtue

Estates

The social classes in France

Second Estate

They consisted of the Nobles; they received special privileges and paid no direct taxes to the king

First Estate

They consisted of the Roman Catholic Clergy; they received special privileges and paid no direct taxes

Third Estate

They consisted of the bourgeoisie, the san-culottes and the peasants; they paid high taxes and had no special privileges

Peasants

They were the rural poor; they were the farmers who paid about half of their income in taxes to the nobles, the church and other agents of the king

Bourgeoisie

They were the urban middle-class; they were the merchants/artisans and were well-educated and often wealthy

San-Culottes

They were the urban poor; they were the cooks/servants who were paid low wages and were often out of work

Revolution

A major change

Old Regime

A combination of the absolute monarchy and feudalism in France; it included the three estates

Committe of Public Safety

A group of 12 men who decided who was an enemy of the state; those who were, were executed

Directory

A group of 5 men who were given control of France following the Reign of Terror; Napoleon was one of the 5 men

Guillotine

A machine used to behead people; it was suppose to make death quick and painless

French Revolution

A major change in government that began in 1789; it brought an end to the absolute monarchy and a start to a representative government

Bastille

A medieval fort and prison in Paris used to store gun powder

Versailles

A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tennis Court Oath

A promise made by the members of the National Assembly to stay together until they had written a constitution for France; this was the first deliberate act of the revolution (treason)

Danton, George

A radical supporter and close ally of Robespierre who was eventually declared a traitor; he was executed the guillotine

Marat, Jean-Paul

A radical supporter of the French Revolution who used his newspaper to demand more blood; he was eventually murdered

Moderates

This group could live with or without the king, wanted some additional changes and supported violence only if it was justified

Radicals

This group hated the king, wanted drastic and sweeping changes and advocated the use of violence in the name of the revolution

Conservatives

This group liked the king, wanted no more changes and was opposed to violence

July 14th, 1789

This is the date that represents the symbolic start of the French Revolution; Parisians stormed the Bastille

May 5th, 1789

This is the date that the Estates-General was called to order; the 1st and 2nd estate expected to dominate the Estates-General

June 17th, 1789

This is the date that the Third Estate voted to leave the Estates-General and form a new body of government for the people of France

August 4th, 1789

This is the date the National Assembly ended the Old Regime, feudalism, church tithes and the special privileges of the First/Second Estates

National Assembly

This was legislative branch of the government; it proclaimed an end to the absolute monarchy and the start of a representative government

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

This was the document written by the National Assembly that identified the natural rights of the French citizens as well as their other liberties

National Convention

This was the legislative branch of government that deposed the king of his title, declared France a republic and publically executed the king and queen

Legislative Assembly

This was the legislative branch of government that was elected in to power and voted to start a war with Austria; it was forced to step down from power

National Assembly

This was the legislative branch of the government; it ended feudalism, serfdom, taxes to the church and the special privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates

Liberty, Fraternity, Equality

This was the slogan (battlecry) of the French Revolution

Vote by Order

When each estate received one vote; this was favored by the First and Second Estates

Vote by Head

When each representative received one vote; this was favored by the Third Estate