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ch.20
vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Old Order | the political and social system in place in France before the Revolution. |
King Louis XVI | King of France; his unpopular policies helped trigger the French Revolution. Deposed by the National Convention, he was executed by guillotine. |
Marie-Antoinette | Queen of France, wife of Kings Louis XVI; she was queen during the French Revolution and disliked by many French citizens. She was found guilty of treason and guillotined. |
First Estate | in pre-Revolution France, the clergy. |
Second Estate | in pre-Revolution France, the nobles. |
Third estate | in pre-Revolution France, the bourgeoisie, artisans, workers, and peasants. |
bourgeoisie | the urban middle class; merchants, professionals, and manufacturers |
declaration Rights of Man and of the Citizen | a document that laid out the basic principles of the French Revolution--liberty, equality, and fraternity |
Radical | a person with extreme views |
Maximilien Robespierre | Leading figure of the French Revolution; he was known for his intense dedication to the Revolution. He became increasingly radical and led the National Convention during its most bloodthirsty time |
guillotine | a device used during the French Revolution for beheading people |
counterrevolution | a revolution against a government established by a revolution |
Reign of Terror | a period during the French Revolution in which the Robespierre-led government executed thousands of political figures and ordinary citizens |
Napoleon Bonaparte | general; Emperor of France; he seized power in a coup d´état in 1799; he led French armies in conquering much of Europe, placing his relatives in positions of power. Defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled on the island of Elba. |
Admiral Horatio Nelson | British admiral; he defeated Napoleon´s navy in Egypt and again at the Battle of Trafalgar |
coup d'etat | ¨stroke of state¨; the sudden overthrow of a government by force |
plebiscite | the procedure used to submit the constitution of a new government to the people for a yes-or-no vote |
Continental System | the system of commercial blockades of Britain and continental Europe set in place by Napoleon with the intent of destroying Britain´s economy |
nationalism | sense of pride and devotion to one´s nation |
Czar Alexander I | Czar of Russia from 1801 to 1825; after the defeat of Napoleon´s army in 1812, he became one of the most powerful leaders in Europe, supporting the suppression of all revolutionary movements in Russia and Europe |
Hundred Days | period that marks the time between napoleon´s return to Paris from Elba (March 20), his final defeat at Waterloo (June 18), and the restoration of King Louis XVIII (June 28) |
Duke of Wellington | British soldier and statesman; he led the British troops against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo |
Prince Klemens von Metternich | Austrian statesman and diplomat; he was the Austrian representative at the Congress of Vienna |
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand | French statesman and diplomat; he was one of the negotiators at the Congress of Vienna. He represented France on behalf of Louis XVIII |
indemnity | compensation that is paid to a nation for the damage inflicted upon it in a war |
reactionary | an extremist who not only opposes change but also wants to undo certain changes |
sans culottes | ¨without breeches¨; a radical group of shopkeepers and wage earners during the French Revolution who wanted a larger voice in government and an end to food shortages |