French Revolution Flashcards
Louis XVI
Absolute monarch of France
Marie Antoninette
Queen of France, Louis XVI’s wife, from Austria
Divine right
the belief that the power to rule came from God
Third Estate
majority of population, 97%, bourgeoisie (middle class) and peasants, highly taxed, no rights in government, little land
Bourgeiosie
middle class of Third Estate, led revolution, read Enlightenment ideas
National Assembly
government formed by the Third Estate
Tennis Court Oath
oath taken by Third Estate to write a Constitution
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
document written by Third Estate demanding more rights, influenced by Enlightenment (especially Locke)
Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizen
document advocating for women’s rights during French Revolution
Robespierre
radical of the Jacobin party in France, led the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
a time period when Robespierre led the Committee of Public Safety, thousands killed for being accused of going against revolution
Directory
5 men ruling France after the Reign of Terror, weak, corrupt, ineffective
Jacobins
political party that led the Reign of Terror, led by Robespierre
Causes of French Revolution
Inequality with taxes/land towards Third Estate, no rights for lower classes, abuses of the monarchy, deficit spending, bad harvests, spread of Enlightenment ideas
Napoleon Bonaparte
military commander who overthrew the Directory, Emperor or France
