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French Revolution
Vocabulary for French Revolution
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bastille | An old fortress and prison in Paris; it symbolized the Old Regime of France. Its destruction is considered the start of the French Revolution. |
| Blockade | The use of troops or ships to prevent commercial traffic or trade from entering a region. |
| Clergy | Church officials - priests, bishops, etc. |
| Congress of Vienna | Peace conference following the Napoleonic Wars where the delegates attempted to establish long-lasting peace and security. |
| Conservatism | A tendency to preserve or restore what is established or traditional - limit change. |
| Coup d'Etat | An overthrow of the government - usually by the military. |
| Continental System | Napoleon Bonaparte's economic policy which called for his allies to boycott (not buy) trade with England. |
| Declaration of the Rights of Man | Document passed by the National Assembly in 1789 outlining the ideals or beliefs of the French Revolution and the civil rights of all men. |
| Delegate | An elected/selected member of a meeting or parliament. |
| Estates | Social classes in France. |
| Estates General | The French Parliament. |
| Girondists | Political group that pushed for a republic run by the educated (upper & middle classes) - Moderates. |
| Guerillas | Members of a fighting force that make surprise attacks on enemy troops occupying their country. |
| Guillotine | A machine used to behead people in France. |
| Jacobins | Radical political group that pushed for a republic run by the masses (middle class and lower class). |
| Liberalism | Favorable to political or religious reform; interest in democratic governments and in freedoms for the individual. |
| Louis XVI | King of France (1754-1793) when French Revolution broke out; Guillotined. |
| Maximillien Robespierre | Radical leader of the Jacobins and Reign of Terror. |
| Napoleon Bonaparte | French general who became emperor and expanded France to most of Europe. |
| Napoleonic Code | a comprehensive and uniform system of laws established for France by Napoleon. |
| Nationalism | pride in one's nation, or to a group of people with whom they share a common culture or history. |
| Old Regime | The political & social system that existed in France before the French Revolution. |
| Reign of Terror | Most radical period of the French Revolution when Maximilien Robespierre ruled France and thousands of people were executed. |
| Radical | political group that wants rapid political change; willing to employ violent methods. |
| Scorched-Earth Policy | army tactic used by the Russian army against Napoleon's armies; policy of retreat & destruction. |
| Tennis Court Oath | pledge made by the third estate to continue to meet until they created a new constitution for France. |
| The Great Fear | Period of panic and riot by peasants amid rumors of an "aristocratic conspiracy" by the king and the privilege to over the Third Estate. |
| Marie Antoinette | Queen of France (as wife of Louis XVI) who was unpopular her extravagance and opposition to reform contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy; she was guillotined along with her husband (1755-1793) |
| Bourgeoisie | Middle Class. |