The French Revolution Flashcards
(26 cards)
What years did the French Revolution occur?
1789–1799
Why is the French Revolution considered a turning point for European nationalism?
It shifted loyalty from monarchs to the people and created Europe’s first republic.
What was the motto of the French Revolution?
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood)
Who was Louis XVI?
King of France during the revolution; executed by guillotine in 1793.
Who was Marie Antoinette?
Queen of France; executed by guillotine in October 1793.
What was the Estates-General?
A representative body of France’s three estates called by Louis XVI in 1789.
What was the National Assembly?
The representative body formed by the Third Estate after leaving the Estates-General.
What was the Declaration of the Rights of Man?
A 1789 document that abolished noble and clergy privileges and established citizen rights.
What was the Bastille and why is it important?
A royal prison stormed on July 14, 1789; symbolized the fall of royal tyranny.
What was the Reign of Terror?
1793–1794 period where over 17,000 people were executed for opposing the revolution.
What were the three estates in pre-revolutionary France?
First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), Third Estate (commoners)
What percentage of the population was the Third Estate?
About 96%
Why was the Third Estate unhappy?
They paid high taxes and had no special privileges unlike the clergy and nobility.
What was the Tennis Court Oath?
An oath taken by the National Assembly in 1789 to write a new constitution for France.
What happened during the Women’s March on Versailles?
An angry mob forced the royal family to move from Versailles to Paris.
What was the Flight to Varennes?
Attempt by Louis XVI and his family to flee to Austria; they were caught and returned to Paris.
What was the Legislative Assembly?
The governing body created in 1791 that limited the king’s power.
Who were the Jacobins and Girondins?
Jacobins wanted a republic and to kill the king; Girondins favored a constitutional monarchy.
What caused France to declare war on Austria and Prussia?
Fear of foreign invasion and monarchs wanting to reinstate Louis XVI.
What was the National Convention?
1793 government that abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.
What was the Committee of Public Safety?
A 9-member group led by Robespierre to protect the revolution from enemies.
Why was Louis XVI executed?
He was found guilty of treason for trying to aid France’s enemies.
What happened to Robespierre?
He was executed in 1794, ending the Reign of Terror.
What was the Directory?
A 5-member executive body created in 1795 to bring order after the Reign of Terror.
