chp 23 test Flashcards
old regime
the political and social system that existed in france before the french revolution; system of feudalism
estates
the three social classes in france before the french revolution
the first estates consisting of the clergy, the second estate consisting of the nobility, and the third estate consisting of the rest of the population
louis XVI
weak king who came to french throne in 1774, before napoleon
marie antoinette
wife of louis XVI and unpopular queen of france
estates-general
an assembly of representatives from all three estates in france where each estate had one vote
national assembly
french congress established by representatives of the third estate to enact laws and reforms in the name of the french people
tennis court oath
a pledge made france’s national assembly (third estate representatives) in which they vowed to continue meet until they drew up a new constitution
great fear
a wave of panic that spread through the french country side after the storming of the bastille in 1791
legislative assembly
an assembly that replaced the national assembly; a french congress with the power to create laws and approve declarations war
established by the constitution of 1791
émigrés
nobles and others who left france during the the peasant uprisings of the french revolution and hoped to come back to restore the old system
sans-culottes
a radical group in the french revolution made up of parisian wage-earners and small shopkeepers who wanted a greater voice in the government, lower prices, and an end to food shortages
jacobin
a member of the jacobin club, a radical political organization
most people who were involved in the governmental changes in september 1792 were members of this
guillotine
a machine for beheading people, used as a means of execution during the french revolution/reign of terror
maximilien robespierre
jacobin/revolutionary leader who tried to wipe out every trace of france’s past monarchy and nobility
reign of terror
period of robespierre’s rule in which many were executed by the guillotine
napoleon bonaparte
military leader who seized power in france
coup d’état
a sudden takeover of a government/political power in a nation
plebiscites
direct vote by the people in which they they have the opportunity to approve or reject a proposal in a country
lycée
a government-run public school in france
created by napoleon; allows people to get into government by merit instead of nobility
concord at
a formal agreement
especially between the pope and a government, dealing with the control of Church affairs
napoleonic code
a comprehensive and uniform set of law established for france by napoleon that eliminated many injustices
battle of trafalgar
a naval battle in which Napoleon’s french forces were defeated by a british fleet under the command of horatio nelson
blockade
a forced closing of ports; the use of troops or ships to prevent a commercial traffic from entering or leaving a city of region
continental system
napoleon’s policy of preventing rrade and communication between great britain and other european nations
it was intended to destroy great britain’s economy
guerrilla
a spanish peasant fighter/member of a loosely organized fighting force that made surprise attack on enemy troops occupying their country
peninsular war
a war in which napoleon fought spain; spanish rebels, with the aid of british forces, fought to drive out napoleon’s french troops out of spain
scorched-earth policy
the practice/a policy of burning crops and killing livestock so that the enemy cannot live off the land/fun anything to eat
waterloo
the battle in belgium that was napoleon’s final defeat
hundred days
the brief period when napoleon made his last bid for power, which ended at waterloo; (deposing the french king and again becoming emperor of france)
congress of vienna
a series of meetings in vienna during which the european leaders sought to establish long-lasting peace and security after the defeat of napoleon; they were held to restore order to europe
klemens con matternich
the austrian prince who was the key leader at the congress of vienna
balance of power
a political condition in which no one country becomes powerful enough to pose a threat to others
legitimacy
the bringing back to power of kings that napoleon had driven out; the hereditary right of a monarch to rule
Holy alliance
a league of european nations formed by russia, austria, and prussia after the congress of vienna
concert of europe
a series of alliances among european nations devised by prince klemens bin matternich to help prevent the outbreak of revolutions
