the american and french revolutions Flashcards
king George III
The king of Britain during the American Revolutionary War. He was known for insisting on royal privilege.
Taxtion without representation
A slogan of the Revolutionary War and the years before. The colonists were not allowed to choose representatives to parliament in London, which passed the laws under which they were taxed.
the stamp act
an act regulating stamp duty (a tax on the legal recognition of documents).
George Washington
The first president of the United States, and the commanding general of the victorious American army in the Revolutionary War.
redcoats
a British soldier
continental army
The Continental Army was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America.
seven year war
A war fought in the middle of the eighteenth century between the German kingdom of Prussia, supported by Britain, and an alliance that included Austria, France, and Russia.
loyalists
a person who remains loyal to the established ruler or government, especially in the face of a revolt.
patriots
a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson was principal author of the Declaration of Independence and served as president from 1801 to 1809, between John Adams and James Madison.
declaration of independence
The Declaration of Independence is defined as the formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain.
the three estates
The Three Estates refer to the three divisions of European society in the Middle Ages: the nobles (first estate), the clergy (second estate), and the commoners (third estate).
Louis xv
Louis XV. 1710-1774. King of France (1715-1774) who led France into the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), during which France lost its colony in Canada.
Marie Antoinette
French queen, wife of Louis XVI. A daughter of Maria Theresa, she married the future Louis XVI of France in 1770.
Versailles
palace of the French kings; peace treaty between the Allies and Germany 1919.
national assembly
the elected legislature in France during the first part of the French Revolution, 1789–91.
estates general
the legislative body in France until 1789, representing the three estates of the realm (i.e., the clergy, the nobility, and the commons).
declaration of rights of man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (French: Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen), passed by France’s National Constituent Assembly in August 1789, is a fundamental document of the French Revolution and in the history of human and civil rights.
constitution of 1791
Constitution of 1791, French constitution created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution. It retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting.
emigres
a person who has left their own country in order to settle in another, usually for political reasons
radicals
a person who advocates thorough or complete political or social reform; a member of a political party or part of a party pursuing such aims.
moderates
a person who holds moderate views, especially in politics.
conservatives
a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.
reign of terror
a period of remorseless repression or bloodshed, in particular Reign of Terror, the period of the Terror during the French Revolution.
