Key words ages 7-8 Flashcards
American Revolution
the struggle for independence by British colonists in America
13 colonies
British colonies along the east coast of North America
Militias
civilian armies established to defend against Native Americans and other colonists
Patriots
colonists who used methods of direct action to oppose the taxation acts
The boston tea party
ships carrying tea were attacked and the tea was dumped into the harbour as an act of protest against the taxation acts
Continental congress
a convention of delegates from all the Thirteen Colonies
Declaration of independence
a document declaring the Thirteen Colonies independent
USA
a country consisting of the former American British colonies
Federation
a country that consists of states, each with their own government, which are ruled on a national level by a federal government
The constitution
the supreme law describing the relationship between the citizens and the
government and the way the government works
The bill of rights
the first ten amendments to the constitution which describe individual rights of citizens and limit the power of the government
Ancien Régime
a period of time in which the French king had absolute power
3rd estate
every French citizen who did not possess a noble title or was not a clergyman
Bourgeoisie
professional and wealthy people in the third estate, such as doctors, lawyers and bankers
Priveleges
special rights that some people / groups have while others don’t.
Estates-general
a meeting in which representatives of the three estates together discussed important matters
Revolution
a change from one – often political – system to another, in a relatively short period of time
National assembly
in 1789, a meeting was established by disappointed members of the third estate; several members of the lower nobility and clergy also joined
Tennis court oath
a pledge of the third estate and it’s sympathisers not to break-up the National Assembly until a new constitution for France had been written
The great fear
a revolt from peasants against their landlords on the countryside
Decleration of the Rights of man and of the citizen
in 1789, a declaration was written by the National Assembly, stating that everyone is born free and is equal in the eyes of the law
March on Versailles
in October 1789, thousands of angry people went to the Palace of Versailles for a violent confrontation with the Royal court.
Reign of terror
a period of violence in French Revolution marked by mass executions using the guillotine
Jacobines
a political group that dominated the National Assembly and started the Reign of Terror; Robespierre was one of them
