French Revolution ID terms
Danton
(Georges Danton) Leading figure in the early stages of the French Revolution. First President of the Committee of Public Safety. He is often considered as the chief force in the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the First French Republic. Moderating influence on the Jacobins. Guillotined by the advocates of revolutionary terror because he opposed the Reign of Terror.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791 Austrian composer Child musical prodigy One of the most talented and influential composers of all time Composed songs from the age of 5 Court musician of Austria at 17 Prolific in his effect on the period's music
The Terror
1793-1794 Rival factions: Girondins and the Jacobins Mass executions of the "enemies of the revolution" "Enemies of the revolution" ended up being anybody who did not support the revolution Committee of Public Safety turned into the "Reign of Terror," executing counter-revolutionaries by guillotine Tens of thousands of people were executed 300,000 were imprisoned Even Robespierre, the instigator of the Reign of Terror, was executed
Francois Quesnay
A French economist of the Physiocratic school. He is known for publishing the "Tableau economique" (Economic Table) in 1758, which provided the foundations of the ideas of the Physiocrats (believed that the wealth of nations was derived solely from the value of "land agriculture" or "land development"). This was perhaps the first work to attempt to describe the workings of the economy in an analytical way, and as such can be viewed as one of the first important contributions to economic thought.
De-Christianization
A conventional description of the results of a number of separate policies, conducted by various governments of France between the start of the French Revolution in 1789 and the Concordat of 1801 The goal of the campaign was the destruction of Catholic religious practice and of the religion itself. Robespierre tried to de-Christianize France. The de- Christianization of France was most powerful with the fall of Robespierre.
Enrages
A mix of radicals during the revolution. Believed that liberty for all meant more than just constitutional right Literally translated to the enraged ones. Led by former priest , Jacques Roux Primarily concerned with the problem of food shortage
Emigre
A person who had migrated out, often with a connotation of political or social self- exile. It often applies to French refugees, former members of the nobility, or anti- republicans, who were expelled by the Law of Suspects following the French Revolution. After the storming of the Bastille, King Louis XVI of France directed several of the most conservative members to his court to leave the country for fear that they might be assassinated.
The Directory
Body of five directors that held executive power in France following the National Convention and preceding the Consulate The period of this regime (commonly known as the Directory era) constitutes the second to last stage of the French Revolution It further split into two periods, the First Directory and the Second Directory, divided by the Coup of 18 Fructidor.
The Old Regime
Book written in 1856 Written by Alexis de Tocqueville Investigates the causes and forces of the revolution "Theory of Continuity" Even though the French tried to abolish the Ancien Regime, they ended up reverting back to a strong central government
Louis XVIII
Bourbon who ruled france from 1814 to 1824 except for the hundred days Was in exile during the French Revolution Brother of King Louis XVI Founded the Seventh Coalition Defeated Napoleon and was reestablished again as king The last French monarch to die while reigning Was a constitutional monarch, so had considerably less power
Congress of Vienna
Conference of ambassadors of European states held in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1814. Objective was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic War, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. The objective resulted in the redrawing of the continent's political map, establishing the boundaries of France, the Netherlands, and various Italian territories. Was the first of a series of international meetings that came to be known as the Concert of Europe, which was an attempt to forge a peaceful balance of power in Europe.
Committee of Public Safety
Created in April 1793 by the National Convention and then restricted in July of the same year, formed the de facto executive government in France during the Reign of Terror Its role was to protect the newly established republic against foreign attacks and internal rebellion. It was given broad supervisory power over the military, judicial, and legislative efforts Maximilien Robespierre was added to the Committee following the defeat at the Convention of the moderate Republicans (Girondists).
National Assembly
When the Estates-General convened under Louis XVI in 1789, the Third Estate did not believe they were being represented fairly They left the Estates-General and, through the Tennis Court Oath, made a type of constitution Were now called the National Assembly Most of them were conservative capitalists Transitional body between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly Lasted from June 17th to July 9th, 1789
Jean-Paul Marat
Physician, Political Theorist, Scientist Radical journalist of the French Revolution Created the newspaper "Friend of the People" which published many things against the monarchy Helped fuel the revolution Vigorous defender of the sans-culottes Helped link the sans-culottes with the Jacobins Was viewed as a martyr to the Jacobins after his death
The Bastille
Played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison On July 14 of 1789 it was stormed by a crowd of common people looking for gunpowder and artillery, and became an important symbol for the French Republican movement. Louis XIV used it as a prison for upper class people of society. It represented royal authority in the center of Paris.
Girondins
Political Faction in the National Convention Campaigned for the King at first Resisted the spiraling revolution Loosely affiliated individuals rather than an organized political party Equivalent of Republicans Generally wealthy, intellectual people Were deemed "unrevolutionary" by the Reign of Terror
Eighteen Brumaire
(The coup of 18 Brumaire) brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France, and ended the French Revolution The coup d'etat overthrew the Directory, replacing it with the French Consulate In the final days of the directory, Abbe Sieyes and Talleyrand planned the coup within the aid of General Napoleon Bonaparte. A group of people (the directory) were like everyones dead robspear king all dem so they tried to restore order. Led to the rise of Napolean.
Toussaint L' Ouverture
1743-1803 Leader of the Haitian Revolution Military genius and political cleverness Transformed a society of slaves into the independent black state of Haiti Shook the system of slavery throughout the New World Forced to resign by Napoleon Bonaparte's forces
Thermidorian Reaction
A revolt against the Reign of Terror Triggered by the National Convention's vote to execute Robespierre Ended the most radical phase of the French Revolution Happened on 9 Thermidor Year II (27 July 1974) Wes executed the following day The Thermidorian Regime that followed was less rigid than the Reign of Terror More individualism was allowed However, economic policies caused extreme inflation Power was turned into the hands of the Directory, an executive of five men who assumed power in 1795
Concordat 1801
Agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII Solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France and brought back most of its civil status During the French Revolution, the National Assembly had taken Church properties and issued the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, removing the authority of the Church. The Gallican Church was the official Church of France afterwards. The concordat restored some ties to the papacy, however it was largely in favor of the state- the balance of church- state relations had tilted firmly in Napoleon's favor. With this, he could win favor with the Catholics in France while also controlling Rome in a political sense.
100 Days
Also known as Hundred Days of Napoleon, or Napoleon's Hundred Days Marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on March 20th, 1815, and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII. Period saw the War of the Seventh Coalition, and includes the Waterloo Campaign and Neapolitan War. Through this, Napoleon made liberal changes to the Imperial Constitution, which led a number of former opponents to rally his cause.
John Wesley
Anglican Cleric and Christian Theologian Founded the Methodist movement Highly successful evangelist in Britain and the US Opposed Calvinism
Tennis Court Oath
Dramatic act of defiance by representatives of the Third Estate during the meeting of the Estates- General at the beginning of the French Revolution. The Third Estate, realizing that the First and Second Estates would outvote them, had formed a National Assembly. Finding themselves locked out of their usual hall in Versailles, they moved to a nearby indoor tennis court. There they took an oath never to separate until a written constitution had been established for France.
Bourbons
European royal house of French Origin Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma. Bourbon monarchs ruled Navarre and France until the 1792 overthrow of the monarchy during the French Revolution Louis XIV and Louis XVI were Bourbon Monarchs, along with Henry of Navarre.
Battle of Leipzig
Fought by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon, at Leipzig, Saxony. Napoleon's army included Polish and Italian Troops as well as German. Marked the Culmination of the autumn campaign of 1813 during the German campaign. Largest battle in Europe before World War I because it contained over 600,000 soldiers. Napoleon was defeated, and was exiled to Elba as a result. It is the bloodiest in the history of Napoleonic Wars.
Battle of Waterloo
Fought on June 18th 1815, near Waterloo in present- day Belgium The armies of the Seventh Coalition (formed by the many states that apposed Napoleon) defeated the Imperial French Army under the command of Napoleon It was the culminating battle of the Waterloo Campaign and Napoleon's last. The defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French, marking the end of his Hundred Days return from exile It ended the series of wars that had convulsed in Europe since the French Revolution. It was the ending of Napoleon Bonaparte's political and military career, and ushered a half a century of international peace in Europe
Napoleonic Code
French civil code established under Napoleon in 1804 Forbade privileges based on birth Allowed religious freedom Specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified Replaced the patchwork of feudal laws Regarded as one of the few documents that has influenced the whole world First legal document to be created with a 'pan-European' scope, and influenced the law of many European countries before and after the Napoleonic Wars
Maximilien Robespierre
French lawyer and politician One of the best known figures of the French Revolution Member of the Jacobins Contemporary of Rousseau, supported Enlightenment ideas Called "The Incorruptible" Aided in the creation of the Committee of Public Safety Executed in 1794
Napoleon Bonaparte
French military and political leader Rose to power towards the end of the French Revolution Emperor of the French from 1804-1815 Created the Napoleonic Code Led coalitions in French wars against almost every other European nation Staged a coup d'etat in 1799 and called himself First Consul Ended up being largely successful in his military aspirations, reminding other European nations that France was still a powerful country Went into exile on St. Helena
Olympe de Gouges
French playwright and political activist Feminist, absolutist Policies inspired women's rights movements across France Wrote Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen in 1791, challenging the notion of male authority. Executed by the Reign of Terror
Jacques-Louis David
Influential French painter in the Neoclassical style Created "history painting" Change in taste away from Rococo (frivolity) to the classical austerity, severity and hightened feeling Supporter of the French Revolution Friend of Robespierre A dictator of arts under the French Republic
Edmund Burke
Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher Mainly remembered for his support of the cause of the American Revolutionaries, and for his later opposition to the French Revolution Leading figure within the conservative faction of the Whig party, which he named the "Old Whigs", in opposition to the pro- French Revolution "New Whigs" He was praised by both conservatives and liberals in the 19th century His works include A Philosophical Enquiry and A Vindication of Natural Society.
St. Helena
Island and British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean Napoleon was exiled there in 1815 after he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo He later died there in 1821.
Marie Antoinette
Louis XVI's wife Austrian Hapsburg Daughter of Maria Theresa Was largely disliked by the French people Did not say "let them eat cake" Lived a very extravagant life at Versailles Executed in 1793 by the French people
Jacobins
Most famous political club in the French Revolution Implemented the famous Reign of Terror Robespierre was a Jacobin Robespierre created the Jacobins as a faction in the National Convention Were supported by the Parisian mob Controlled the Committee for Public Safety Were against the monarchy
Grand Army
Napoleon's Army 1805 Supposed to defeat Russia and Austria Grew significantly Took Moscow and burned it, but ran out of supplies and had to retreated Army was decimated, along with Napolean's image 554,500 men
Women's March on Versailles
Poor women from Paris were fed up with the high prices of bread Marched the 15 miles to Versailles and gathered outside the castle Wanted to kill the king and queen This where Marie Antoinette was falsely believed to have said "Let them eat cake" Massacred the guards Broke into the castle and forced the king and queen to move to Paris This meant that the king and queen were basically prisoners of the Parisian people King and queen were forced to comply with the people's wishes
Sans-culottes
Radical left-wing partisans of the lower classes Urban workers Made up the bulk of the revolutionary army during the Revolution Provided critical support for the far-left factions of the revolutionary govts
Politiques
Rulers who had the concern of their state's people above all else Elizabeth I, Henry IV of France, etc Often created political reforms to benefit the people The people liked them back Republic of Letters The long distance intellectual community in the late 17th and 18th century in Europe and America. Fostered communication among the intellectuals of the Enlightenment (philosophes). Emerged in the 17th century as a self- proclaimed community of scholars and literary figures that stretched across national boundaries but respected differences in language and culture.
Third Estate
The commoners, bourgeoisie, and poor that made up the rest of the Estates-General (after the first and second estates) Represented an overwhelming majority of the French people Had a much more unfair say in the Estates-General than the first and second estates First and second estates could actually completely outvote the third, even though the third should've had a much higher amount of representatives Broke off from the Estates-General and formed the National Assembly during the Tennis Court Oath Toussaint L' Ouverture 1743-1803 Leader of the Haitian Revolution Military genius and political cleverness Transformed a society of slaves into the independent black state of Haiti Shook the system of slavery throughout the New World Forced to resign by Napoleon Bonaparte's forces
Republic of Letters
The long distance intellectual community in the late 17th and 18th century in Europe and America. Fostered communication among the intellectuals of the Enlightenment (philosophes). Emerged in the 17th century as a self- proclaimed community of scholars and literary figures that stretched across national boundaries but respected differences in language and culture.
Bourgeoisie
The middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values of conventional attitudes Before the French revolution, the bourgeoisie identified the rich men and women who were members of the urban and rural Third Estate The French Revolution could be considered a revolution of the bourgeois.
Hundred Days
The period between Napoleon's return and the reestablishment of Louis XVIII Returned while the Congress of Vienna was sitting Ended the Napoleonic Wars Began the second exile of Napoleon I Began the second Bourbon Restoration Began the Concert of Europe
The National Assembly
Transitional body between the estates- general and the National Constituent Assembly. It had been called on May 5, 1789 to deal with France's financial crisis, but promptly fell to disagreement over its own structure. Its members had been elected to represents the estates of the realm. In August of 1789, the National Assembly drafted and instituted the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen". Carried out the Tennis Court Oath.
Levee en masse
Translates from French as "Mass uprising" Mass conscription during the French Revolution Happened under the Ancien Regime, National Assembly abolished the militia Was later used again for the wars in Austria and Russia Not popular with the public, desertion and evasion were high
Seven Year's War
World War that took place between 1754 and 1763. It was the last major conflict before the French Revolution and involved most of the great powers of the time . War was driven by the antagonism between Great Britain and the Bourbon Dynasty (In France), resulting from overlapping interests in their colonial and trade emprires. It was also led by conflicts between the Hohenzollern Dynasty and the Hapsburgs. Known as French- Indian War in North America
