French Revolution Vocab

Question 1

Thermidorian Reaction

Answer 1

The violent backlash in France against the rule of Robspierre that began with his arrest and execution in July 1794, or 9 Thermidor in the French revolutionary calendar. Most of the instruments of Terror were dismantled, Jacobins were purged from public office, and Jacobin supporters were harassed or even murdered.

Question 2

Constitution of the New Year

Answer 2

The French Constitution that was established during the Thermidorian reaction during the French Revolution.

Question 3

Directory

Answer 3

Lasted from 1795-99. First formally constituted French Republic. Narrow social base. Depended on military conquest. Power in 5 Directors assisted by Council of 500 plus 250 on Council of Ancients. Chaotic provincial administration(revolt in Vendee and defeats by second coalition).

Question 4

Admiral Horatio Nelson

Answer 4

Royal Navy tactician and leader, (1758-1805) was the greatest and most innovative naval leader of his time, and is best known for his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in which he lost his life. He repeatedly foundered Napoleon’s plans for naval victory in Egypt, the New World, and invasion of England.

Question 5

The Battle of the Nile

Answer 5

Also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay and fought on the night of August 1-2, 1798, Nelson and the British fleet defeated the French fleet in Egypt, preventing Napoleon from further victory in the Middle East.

Question 6

Rosetta Stone

Answer 6

Found by one of Napoleon’s officers during the Egyptian campaign. Allowed people to decipher hieroglyphics.

Question 7

Napoleon Bonaparte

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Josephine de Beauharnais

Answer 8

Napoleon’s first wife. After failing to give birth to an heir, Napoleon divorced her in favor of the younger Archduchess Marie Louise.

Question 9

Consulate

Answer 9

Form of government which followed the directory -established by Napoleon-ended when Napoleon was crowned emperor.

Question 10

Concordat of 1801

Answer 10

This is the agreement between Pope Pius VII and Napoleon that healed the religious division in France by giving the French Catholics free practice of their religion and Napoleon political power

Question 11

Legion of Honor

Answer 11

A French medal, originally issued by Napoleon , it was the first modern military order of merit and was meant to help replace knighthood and feudal institutions.

Question 12

Napoleonic Code

Answer 12

This was the civil code put out by Napoleon that granted equality of all male citizens before the law and granted absolute security of wealth and private property. Napoleon also secured this by creating the Bank of France which loyally served the interests of both the state and the financial oligarchy

Question 13

Third Coalition

Answer 13

Emerging in 1805, it was yet another alliance against Napoleon that consisted of Britain, Austria, Russia, Naples, and Sweden. Britain saw naval victory against France at Trafalgar, but that was counterbalanced by Napoleon’s gigantic victory over Austria and Prussia at Austerlitz.

Question 14

Treaty of Amiens

Answer 14

Great Britain and France were officially at peace b/c of this treaty, but Napoleon only saw it as a temporary measure as he sought for means to limit British influence.

Question 15

Battle of Trafalgar

Answer 15

an 1805 naval battle in which Napoleon’s forces were defeated by a British fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson

Question 16

Battle of Austerlitz

Answer 16

battle that took place in the heart of Europe, Napoleon defeated a combined force of Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary making him the master of Europe, Napoleon has Pratzen Heights - higher ground, Napoleon faked a retreat and so old military leaders on the other side said do not fall for it but Alexander wanted to get him so they attack and Napoleon troops defeat them and the leaders are forced to surrender

Question 17

Battle of Jena

Answer 17

To punish Prussia for joining the Third Coalition, Napoleon engaged in this battle. He obliterated the Prussian army and occupied their capital city of Berlin.

Question 18

Confederation of the Rhine

Answer 18

Napoleon formed this in 1807 from a league of about 20 German princes. Each was sovereign and the confederation included the kingdoms of Saxony, Bavaria, Wurtemburg and Westphalia. Westphalia was made up of Hanover and bits of Prussia. Napoleon put his youngest brother, Jerome, on the throne.

Question 19

Treaty of Tilsit

Answer 19

(1807) Agreement between Napoleon and Czar Alexander I in which Russia became an ally of France and Napoleon took over the lands of Prussia west of the Elbe as well as the Polish provinces.

Question 20

Berlin Decree

Answer 20

issued by Napoleon, forbidding the importations of British goods into any part of Europe, allied with or depended on himself, this established the Continental System.

Question 21

Milan Decree

Answer 21

Napoleon’s second attempt to prevent trading with Britian extended it to all of Europe

Question 22

Continental System

Answer 22

the system of commercial blockades of Britain and continental Europe set in place by Napoleon with the intent of destroying Britain’s economy

Question 23

Orders in Council

Answer 23

British response to Continental System; declare that any trade in Europe had to go through England

Question 24

Francisco Goya

Answer 24

A Spanish painter and printmaker, (1746-1828) worked for the Spanish Crown, and was a member of the Romanticist movement. He painted Third of May, 1808 in commemoration of the massacres of the Spanish people during the French occupation of Iberia.

Question 25

Duke of Wellington

Answer 25

British soldier and statesman; he led the British troops against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo

Question 26

Jose de San Martin

Answer 26

For Spain against Napolean; helped liberate Argentina, Chile, Peru

Question 27

Simon Bolivar

Answer 27

The most important military leader in the struggle for independence in South America. Born in Venezuela, he led military forces there and in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Question 28

Battle of Borodino

Answer 28

the bloodiest battle of the Napoleonic era, fought in Borodino outside of Moscow; both sides had terrible losses, but the Russian army was not defeated; Napoleon gained nothing substantial and when Moscow was burned, the French forces were left completely cut off. Napoleon regarded this battle as a loss.

Question 29

Fourth Coalition

Answer 29

Comprised of Prussia, Russia, Britain, Saxony, and Sweden, they fought against Napoleon (#170) from 1806-7. The war featured several major victories for the French, who conquered almost all of Prussia and Poland; the war ended with the Treaties of Tilsit (#181).

Question 30

Elba

Answer 30

The tiny island that Napoleon was granted after his abdication. Off the coast of Italy.

Question 31

Congress Of Vienna

Answer 31

Meeting of representatives of European monarchs called to reestablish the old order after the defeat of Napoleon I.

Question 32

Klemens Von Metternich

Answer 32

The Foreign Minister of Austria; he had the most influence at the Congress of Vienna.

Question 33

Lord Castlereagh

Answer 33

The British representative at the Congress of Vienna, he represented the UK at the Congress and helped create the security system for Europe that would last until 1848.

Question 34

Alexander I

Answer 34

Tsar of Russia from 1801 to 1825, would successfully defeat Napoleon (#170) in the later parts of the Napoleonic Wars and managed to secure many lands in Eastern Europe for Russia at the Congress of Vienna (#192), at which he was Russia’s representative.. The first part of his reign was concerned with liberal reforms; strangely, the second part was involved in abolishing those.

Question 35

Prince Talleyrand

Answer 35

French representative at the Congress of Vienna.

Question 36

Louis XVIII

Answer 36

(1814-1824) Restored Bourbon throne after the Revoltion. He accepted Napoleon’s Civil Code (principle of equality before the law), honored the property rights of those who had purchased confiscated land and establish a bicameral (two-house) legislature consisting of the Chamber of Peers (chosen by king) and the Chamber of Deputies (chosen by an electorate).

Question 37

Hundred Days

Answer 37

The brief period during 1815 when Napoleon made his last bid for power, deposing the French King and again becoming Emperor of France

Question 38

St. Helena

Answer 38

Where Napoleon was exiled for good, he died there

Question 39

Waterloo

Answer 39

the battle on 18 June 1815 in which Napoleon met his final defeat, Located in Belgium, the place where the British army and the prussian army forces attacked the french. Napoleon’s final defeat against the British and Prussians

Question 40

Old Order

Answer 40

Ancien Regime The political and social system in place in France before the Revolution

Question 41

Louis XVI

Answer 41

(1754-1793) King of France from 1774 to 1792; he was unpopular for taxes that he imparted on his people, was king at the beginning of the French Revolution, was deposed by the National Convention and guillotined.

Question 42

Marie Antoinette

Answer 42

(1755-1793) Queen of France, wife of King Louis XVI; she was queen during the French Revolution and dislike by many French citizens. She was found guilty of treason and guillotined

Question 43

Bourgeoisie

Answer 43

The urban middle class; merchants, professionals, and manufacturers

Question 44

Sanculottes

Answer 44

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

Question 45

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Answer 45

A document that laid out the basic principles of the French Revolution—liberty, equality, and fraternity

Question 46

Radical

Answer 46

A person with extreme views

Question 47

Estates

Answer 47

broad hierarchic division or classes in society that one is born into that distinguishes nobility, clergy and commoners.

Question 48

Maximilien Robespierre

Answer 48

(1758-1794) 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 blood-thirsty time.

Question 49

Plebiscite

Answer 49

The procedure used to submit the constitution of a new government to the people for a yes-or-no vote

Question 50

Bastille

Answer 50

A Prison that was stormed by french activist. July 5th