Western Civ Chapter 23
Sans-Culottes
in the French Revolution, a radical group made up of Parisian wage earners and shopkeepers who wanted a greater voice in government, lower prices, and an end to food shortage
Jacobin
members of the Jacobin club. Where the deputies from Brittany to the Estates-General (later the National Assembly) of 1789 met with deputies from other parts of France to concert their action.
Reign of Terror
the period, from mid 1793 to mid 1794, when Maximilien Robespierre ruled France nearly as a dictator and thousands of political figures and ordinary citizens were executed
Directory
-Self-serving political leaders -Stabilized economy by introducing metal currency -Stimulated French intellectual life -Foreign Affairs Expanded France Sister republics End of Revolutionary ideals of self-determined government Unrest with Directory People remained hostile to government Divided middle class Politicians who wanted restoration of the monarchy were gaining support Jacobins critical of Directory Coup overthrowing Directory in 1799
Causes of the French Revolution
1. International: struggle for hegemony and Empire outstrips the fiscal resources of the state 2. Political conflict: conflict between the Monarchy and the nobility over the "reform" of the tax system led to paralysis and bankruptcy. 3. The Enlightenment: impulse for reform intensifies political conflicts; reinforces traditional aristocratic constitutionalism, one variant of which was laid out in Montequieu's Spirit of the Laws; introduces new notions of good government, the most radical being popular sovereignty, as in Rousseau's Social Contract [1762]; the attack on the regime and privileged class by the Literary Underground of "Grub Street;" the broadening influence of public opinion. 4. Social antagonisms between two rising groups: the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie 5. Ineffective ruler: Louis XVI 6. Economic hardship, especially the agrarian crisis of 1788-89 generates popular discontent and disorders caused by food shortages.
Continental System
A blockade system that Napoleon set up in which the country of France blocked all trading with other European countries
Positive Reforms of Napoleon
Ended the French Revolution Significant Civil Reforms Mediocrity Ideas of Nationalism
Slogan of French Revolution
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Key Events of the French Revolution
Meeting of the Estates General- May 1789 Fall of the Bastille- July 1789 March on Versailles-October 1789 Constitutional Monarchy put in place- 1791 September Massacre- Summer 1792 DoRoM- September 1792 Trial of Louis XVI- January 1793 Reign of Terror- 1793-94 Execution of Robespierre- July 1794 Directory Created- 1795 Napoleon Rules- 1799
Louis XVI
Ruler of France Married to Marie Antoinette
Napoleon
Ruler of France who initially started as a battle leader and made his way up the ranks by faking his want for democracy until he reached dictatorship.
Storming of the Bastille
Rumors went around Paris that the king was going to use military force to knock out the National Assembly. Others believed foreign troops were coming to Paris to massacre French citizens. People gathered in order to defend the city against attack. July 14 a mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed a Paris prison, Bastille, and overtook the building.
Causes for Napoleon's Downfall
The Continental System The Peninsular War The Invasion of Russia
Guillotine
The killing machine used primarily during the French Revolution
Elba
The place in which Napoleon was sent the first time and escaped from
Thermidorian Reaction
Thermidor (July) Committee of Public Safety overthrows Robespierre People say no more bloody revolution How to end the worst of the Revolution, but keep the principals Jacobin Club ordered closed Release Reign of Terror prisoners Destroy symbols of radical revolution (like busts of Marat)
Battle of Waterloo
This battle followed the return of Napoleon from Elba where British and Prussian troops destroyed France and ended the 100 Days Reign of Napoleon
DoRoM
This document was approved by the National Assembly of France in 1789. It states the rights in which a Frenchman has
Peninsular War
This is the war that resulted from Napoleon wanted the people of Portugal to follow the Continental System. Napoleon sent in troops to Portugal and the Spanish attacked back because they were afraid of what Napoleon would do. They attacked in a guerilla fashion, where small numbers of peasants would go and attack small areas, instead of using a whole army.
Scorched-earth policy
This was a technique used by those in Russia during the time Napoleon invaded them. This is where a place that is getting attacked evacuates and burns the city to leave no living sources for the attackers.
St Helena
This was the place Napoleon was sent after his escape from Elba. He never left here.
Marie Antoinette
Wife of Louis XVI. Madame Deficit. Spender of tax money during the French Revolution.
Constitutional Monarchy
a form of government in which a king or queen acts as Head of State. The ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament, not with the Monarch.
National Assembly
a revolutionary assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate (the common people) of the Estates-General
Battle of Trafalgar
an 1805 naval battle in which Napoleon's forces were defeated by a British fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson. This loss insured British naval power for 100 years and stopped Napoleon's plans to defeat Britain
Estates General
an assembly of representatives from all three of the estates, or social classes, in France
Robespierre
became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety and he ruled essentially as a dictator His main goal was to protect the people from the enemies, but did so by trialing and executing many people
Committee of Public Safety
created in March 1793 by the National Convention and then restructured in July 1793, formed the de facto executive government in France during the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), a stage of the French Revolution.
