Unit 2 Flashcards
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Statement of fundamental political rights adopted by the French National Assembly at the beginning of the French Revolution. Proclaimed the importance of liberty, equality, and brotherhood
Economic Causes of the French Revolution
French Treasury was bankrupt (Wars and aid to America)
Only the lower class paid taxes, King lived a lavish lifestyle, Famine of 1788-1789
Political Causes of the French Revolution
French people did not enjoy freedom of speech
French people enjoyed little freedom of religion
French citizens enjoyed little due process rights (you are guilty until you prove your innocence)
Tennis Court Oath
vow by members of the 3rd estate to continue to meet until a new constitution was written
Sans-culottes
Reference to Parisian workers who wore common people without fine clothes.They supported the Jacobins
The Committee of Public Safety
During the National Convention government, this powerful group, led by Robespierre, was setup to defeat all enemies of the revolution both foreign and domestic
National Convention reforms (1792-95)
it abolished slavery in France and French colonies
it planned a national system of public education
it abolished debt imprisonment
it implemented the metric system
coup d’etat of the French government
start of Napoleons rule
bourgeoisie
the wealthy educated middle class
Waterloo
Site of Napoleon’s final battle before his exile from Europe
Girondins
A moderate faction active in the French Revolution from 1791 to 1793. They worked to abolish the Monarchy
Jacobins
A radical faction active in the French Revolution. Jacobins embraced violence to achieve their goals
Robespierre
He commanded almost dictatorial powers on the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror
Napoleon’s Code Civil
They were the first national set of laws in France.
They swept away privilege and title of French Nobility.
They dealt with law of persons, property, and acquisition and legalized freedom of religion. They DID NOT provide people with greater political freedoms
Napoleon’s defeat in Russia
Russian Army retreated hundreds of miles as they burnt and destroyed their countryside and villages. This diminished his ability to find needed supplies
Estates General of 1789
France needed to change its tax system due to debt so this Parliament of three French estates was called by Louis XVI. It hadn’t been called in over 150 years. Third Estate breaks away and establishes the National Assembly of France .
Reign of Terror (1793-1794)
Ten-month period of brutal repression when some 40,000 individuals were executed as enemies of the French Revolution.
Fate of Louis XVI
execution by guillotine
intellectual cause of the French Revolution
educated middle class insistence on acquiring the individual rights and freedoms expressed by French Enlightenment philosophers
Marie Antoinette
French Queen executed during the French Revolution
King Louis XVI caught fleeing France
He was placed under house arrest in Paris.
Then he wrote to foreign monarchs requesting aid and foreign troops began to form at the borders of France
Napoleon becomes Emperor of France?
he crowned himself/proclaimed himself Emperor. (the Pope was left out)
Members of French Estates
First- Church/Clergy
Second- Nobility
Third- Bourgeoisie and Peasants
Georges Danton
He was a dangerous revolutionary that tried to mend fences between the Jacobins and the Girondists. He was executed as the Jacobins turned on him
Congress of Vienna (What)
Meeting of representatives of European monarchs called to reestablish the old order after the defeat of Napoleon. Historians considered attending diplomats as reactionaries. It was guided by the principles of Conservatism, Legitimacy, and Compensation and it ignored the principles of Liberalism and Nationalism
Jean-Paul Marat
A journalist and Jacobin; His death launched the Reign of Terror. Known to constantly soak due to a skin condition, he was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, He was immortalized in the David painting The Death of Marat.
Liberalism
Idea that individuals had certain innate rights and liberties
Conservatism
Favors keeping the traditional order.
Nationalism
A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country. Main force ignored by delegates at the Congress of Vienna. It was inadvertently spread by Napoleon
Continental System
Napoleon’s policy of preventing trade between Great Britain and continental Europe, intended to destroy Great Britain’s economy.
National Convention of 1792-1795
Abolished the monarchy and established a republic. Gave power to the Committee of Public Safety
The Directory
Established after the Reign of Terror /Robespierre; More moderate middle class leaders taking control, with a five man group as the executive branch of the country; incompetent and corrupt, only lasted for 4 years.
Congress of Vienna (Results)
Mixed: There was not another widespread European war for almost 100 years which could suggest that the Congress effectively established peace and order in Europe but there were major Nationalist rebellions in Europe only 15 years after the Congress
Napoleon’s early life and rise to power
Born on the island of Corsica, his family was actually of Italian descent. He advanced in the French Army after attending military school. He first gained attention as he suppressed a royalist uprising by firing on a mob killing thousands. As a reward he was made head of France’s army in Italy
Guillotine
Nicknamed the “national razor”,this method of execution where a person’s head was chopped off was used daily during the Reign of Terror. Rich victims would pay bribes to have its blades sharpened to ensure an instant death
Napoleon’s achievements
created a National Bank
implemented a series of Public Works
established an Uniform Tax Code
established a system of Public Education
Guerilla War
literally, ‘little war- Hit and run tactics used against Napoleon as it provided constant distraction and
sapped the armies strength
Estates-General voting system
Each estate had 1 vote, though the 1st and 2nd estate always won against the 3rd
the Bastille
Stormed as the mob was looking for weapons and gunpowder, it was a symbol of the OLD REGIME. It’s storming began the French Revolution
Battle of Austerlitz (1805)
The battle where Napoleon defeats Austria and the Holy Roman Empire is dissolved
Peninsular War (1808-1813)
Napoleon’s long-drawn-out war with Spain. He was never able to subdue the nation
Scorched Earth Tactics
Russians burn their own land and buildings so that their opponents don’t get anything. This saved the Russians
Prince Klemens von Metternich
Host of the Congress of Vienna and Austria’s representative
Lord Castlereagh
British representative at the Congress of Vienna.
Alexander II
Russian representative at the Congress of Vienna
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
French representative at the Congress of Vienna
Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign
Defeated, he ran back to France trying to arrive before his loss was known to the people of Paris
The National Assembly
a French Congress established by representatives of the Third Estate on June 17, 1789, to enact laws and reforms in the name of the French people
Moscow
Captured by Napoleon, the Russian capital was burned down by Russian citizens
Russia
Napoleon entered this country with 450,000 troops and left with 40,000 troops
