Key Vocab
French parliamentary assembly that voted by estate, not by population. Hadn't met since 1614.
Estates-General
Called the Estates-General in 1789. Disliked for heavy taxes, extravagant spending, and costly wars. Executed 1793.
King Louis XVI — King of France
Louis XVI provides military & financial aid. Motive: revenge against Britain. Result: France goes into debt.
France helps American colonists
France went bankrupt helping America. Bad harvests made bread unaffordable. Nobles were exempt from taxes, so the burden fell on the Third Estate.
Economic
The most radical revolutionary faction; opposed the king, clergy, and nobility.
The Jacobins
Body formed by the Third Estate; vowed to write a new constitution for France.
National Assembly
Known for being out of touch with the people. Rumored to have said "Let them eat cake." Executed October 1793.
Marie Antoinette — Queen of France
Third Estate delegates find Versailles doors locked. They move to a nearby tennis court and vow to write a new constitution.
Tennis Court Oath
Louis XVI was weak and indecisive. Marie Antoinette was wildly unpopular. The Estates-General voting system guaranteed the Third Estate could never win.
Political
Executive council that ruled France from 1795 to 1799 before Napoleon's coup.
The Directory
June 20, 1789 — delegates vowed not to disband until France had a new constitution.
Tennis Court Oath
Led the Reign of Terror; used public executions to eliminate opposition. Eventually executed in 1794.
Maximilien Robespierre — Leader of the Jacobins
An angry mob attacks this prison/fortress — a symbol of royal tyranny. Now celebrated as Bastille Day in France.
Storming of the Bastille
The Third Estate (98% of France) had no real power despite paying all the taxes. The 1st and 2nd Estates lived in privilege and controlled the government.
Social
Device used to execute prisoners; symbol of the Reign of Terror.
Guillotine
1789 document stating all men are born free and equal in rights.
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Overthrew the Directory in 1799 (Coup of 18 Brumaire). Established the Consulate and later became Emperor.
Napoleon Bonaparte — Military hero → First Consul
National Assembly declares liberty, equality, and fraternity. Abolishes feudal distinctions.
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Enlightenment thinkers spread ideas about reason, equality, and the right to overthrow unjust governments. The American Revolution proved it was possible.
Intellectual
New government system created after overthrowing the Directory in 1799.
Consulate
1793–1794 period of mass executions led by Robespierre to crush opposition.
Reign of Terror
Created the Encyclopedia — a massive collection of articles on every topic of knowledge. Skeptical of organized religion.
Denis Diderot — Enlightenment writer
Thousands march over bread prices. They force Louis XVI and family to return to Paris — ending the king’s independence.
Women’s March on Versailles
France helps American colonists
Economic
The motto of the French Revolution — means?
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" in English.