French Revolution & Napoleon Flashcards
King Louis XVI
King of France during the French Revolution. Characterized by his poor leadership qualities and ineffectiveness in dealing with the issues surrounding the revolution. Was executed by the guillotine.
Marie Antoinette
Queen of France, wife of Louis XVI. From Austria, marriage is a political alliance. Hated by the people of France. Executed by guillotine.
Guillotine
Official means of execution adopted during the French Revolution. Meant to make death quick and painless for all. Equality in death for the people of France.
Women’s March on Versailles
Angry Parisian women, angry at the price of bread, stormed to the Palace of Versailles, butchered guards, took the King & Queen hostage back to Paris.
Ancien Regime (Old Regime)
The traditional system in France of society divided into a hierarchy. Feudalism (3 Estates system)
1st Estate
The Clergy (church workers). About 1% of population. Didn’t pay taxes, were quite wealthy and powerful.
2nd Estate
The Nobility (Aristocracy). About 3% of population. Very wealthy, powerful, didn’t pay taxes, had many privileges.
3rd Estate
Those not Clergy or Nobility. Made up of the peasants and bourgeoisie. About 97% of population. Little power and paid high taxes.
Divine Right of Kings
Belief that the King gets his power from God, and rules on God’s behalf. Challenging the King then meant challenging God.
The Enlightenment
An intellectual revolution. A time of radical new ideas that challenged many of the long-held beliefs in France. Believed all men should be equal.
Motto of the French Revolution
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Economic Causes of the Revolution
Poor tax collecting system, lavish lifestyle of the Royals, price of bread, financing the American Revolution
Social Causes of the Revolution
New ideas (Enlightenment), social order (3 estates system), growing middle class (bourgeoisie)
Storming of the Bastille
Peasant stormed the Bastille prison (a royal prison) looking for gunpowder and kill the guards. Seen as an attack on the King. Marks the beginning of the Revolution.
Absolutism
When the ruler has absolute (total) power. The ruler cannot be challenged.
Egalitarianism
A belief sparked by the Enlightenment that all people are equal and should have equal rights and opportunities
The Reign of Terror
The period of the Revolution in which many people were executed on suspicion of being against the revolution. A time of great fear in France. Led by Robespierre.
Maximillien Robespierre
Rises to power during the French Revolution. Orders many to their deaths. Becomes dictator and King Louis.
Napoleon Bonaparte
French Emperor. Rises through the ranks of the French army, carries out a coup d’etat to overthrow the French government and seize power. Conquers much of Europe and reforms the political and economic systems within France.
Napoleonic Code
The banking and legal reforms carried out by Napoleon. Considered very effective.
Continental System
Napoleon’s strategy for defeating Britain. Blocks all trade to or from Britain with the continent of Europe. Fails when Russia withdraws from it.
Elba
A Mediterranean island that Napoleon is exiled to after defeat. He escapes and takes over power once again, only to be defeated and exiled a second time.
St. Helena
A remote island in the Atlantic that Napoleon is exiled to after defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. He will die here.
Why did Napoleon’s forces lose to Russia?
They were not equipped for the Russian winter. Many soldiers froze to death. Napoleon’s army was left weakened, an opportunity for his European enemies.
Scorched Earth Policy
A military strategy of burning or destroying buildings, crops, or other resources that might be of use to an invading enemy force. Used by the Russians on Napoleon’s invading army.
