French Revolution Vocabulary

Question 1

Palace of Versailles

Answer 1

The palace which became a symbol of royal corruption.

Question 2

Louis XVI (16)

Answer 2

King at the time of French Revolution. Well known for abusing his power and living an extravagant lifestyle, paid for by the French people.

Question 3

Marie Antoinette

Answer 3

Queen at the time of the French Revolution and originally from Austria. People associated her with the monarchy being wasteful and out of touch.

Question 4

Estate System

Answer 4

The social system at the time of the Revolution. Consisted of the First Estate (the clergy, or Catholic religious leaders), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (everyone else).

Question 5

Bourgeoisie

Answer 5

Part of the third estate. Upper and middle class (people who were doctors, lawyers, bankers). They were wealthy, but did NOT like that they had to pay high taxes and had little political power.

Question 6

Estates General

Answer 6

French Parliament with representatives from all three estates. At the time of the Revolution, they hadn’t met in over 100 years!

Question 7

Tennis Court Oath

Answer 7

National Assembly met in the Tennis Courts at Versailles. They promised not to leave until a new constitution was written!

Question 8

National Assembly

Answer 8

Group of delegates at the Estates General, mostly from the Third Estate. Their goal was to write a new constitution for France!

Question 9

Storming of the Bastille

Answer 9

July 14, 1789. A mob storms a castle that’s used as a prison and weapons storage. Only seven people are in the prison – but it shows that everyday people are with the National Assembly, and is a big symbol!

Question 10

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Answer 10

The new constitution published by the National Assembly. Created a limited, Constitutional monarchy and included a lot of ideas from the Enlightenment!

Question 11

National Convention

Answer 11

A new revolutionary body, led by radical revolutionaries (Jacobins). They abolished the monarchy, declared France a republic, established universal suffrage (everyone can vote) – and put Louis XVI on trial!

Question 12

Robbespierre

Answer 12

Radical leader of the National Convention. Wanted to create a country based on Enlightened ideals, but also believed in killing anyone opposed to him. Eventually died by the guillotine.

Question 13

Jacobins

Answer 13

A radical revolutionary party, led by Robbespierre. They dominated the National Convention.

Question 14

Reign of Terror

Answer 14

Most radical period during the National Convention. Anyone thought to be an “enemy of the revolution” was arrested by the Committee on Public Safety and executed. Around 30,000 people died during this period.

Question 15

“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Answer 15

“Liberty, equality, brotherhood!” Slogan of the French revolution. It eventually became the motto of the Republic of France and Haiti.

Question 16

Directory

Answer 16

Five-member government that is in charge of France between the Revolution and Napoleon. Moderate but not very powerful!

Question 17

Napoleon Bonaparte

Answer 17

Well-liked and successful general who overthrows the Directory in 1799. Declares himself emperor of France. Is leader for major changes, including the Creation of the Napoleonic Code and the establishment of the Grand Empire.

Question 18

Coup d’etat

Answer 18

When the military overthrows the government. Napoleon’s coup in 1799 is one of the first examples where this term was used.

Question 19

Napoleonic Code

Answer 19

Before Napoleon, France had no clear law code. Napoleon ordered the law to be written clearly, in a way that anyone could understand it. This became the model for laws in the rest of Europe.

Question 20

Invasion of Russia

Answer 20

Napoleon’s attempt to expand his empire. Fails because winter.

Question 21

Battle of Waterloo

Answer 21

Napoleon’s final battle in 1815. He loses to everyone else in Europe, and then is banished to an island of St. Helena.