French Revolution
Great Fear
Wave of panic and unrest that swept through the French countryside in 1789, when peasants attacked noble properties and burned documents recording their debts, driven by fear of reprisals from the nobility.
Ancien Régime
Social, political, and economic system before the French Revolution, characterized by absolute monarchy, the estate-based society, and the privileges of the nobility and clergy.
Who was crowned the King of the Kingdom in the newly unified Italy?
In 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed under Victor Emmanuel II (full unification in 1871 with the incorporation of Rome).
What is liberalism?
Political ideology that defends individual freedom, equality before the law, and limits government power through constitutions and civil rights. Liberalism opposes absolutism and promotes a system in which citizens have rights and participate in government through elected representatives.
Enlightened Despotism
Form of government in which monarchs adopted Enlightenment ideas to implement reforms in their territories, without giving up their absolute power.
Jacobins
Radical political group during the French Revolution, led by figures such as Robespierre, which supported deep reforms, republicanism, and the use of extreme measures to protect the revolution.
Estate-Based Society
Social structure of the Ancien Régime, organized into estates (clergy, nobility, and Third Estate), where each person’s rights and obligations depended on their membership in one of these groups.
Who was crowned emperor of the newly united Germany in 1871?
Wilhelm I of Prussia
What is a nation?
A community of people sharing a common identity based on culture, language, history, and often religion. A nation is a cultural entity and does not always coincide with a country’s borders.
What was the Law of Suspects during the Reign of Terror?
When revolutionary courts imprisoned or executed people suspected of opposing the Convention
Estates General
Assembly of representatives from the three estates of French society (clergy, nobility, and Third Estate) called by the king in exceptional situations. In 1789, its convening was the trigger of the French Revolution.
Enlightenment
18th-century intellectual movement that defended reason, liberty, and equality, and questioned traditional institutions, profoundly influencing revolutionary thought.
Who were two key figures in the Italian unification? (Not the monarch)
- Giuseppe Garibaldi (military)
-Camillo di Cavour (politician)
What is absolutism?
A system of government, power is concentrated in a single person, usually a monarch, who has total authority and is not subject to laws or limits. The king justifies his power as divine and controls all aspects of the state.
Popular/People Sovereignty
The principle that power resides directly in the people, meaning each citizen. According to this principle, the popular will is the ultimate source of authority and legitimacy, and government must directly reflect the citizens’ wishes.
National Assembly
Institution created in 1789 by representatives of the Third Estate after breaking away from the Estates General, proclaiming itself the only legitimate representation of the French people.
Bill of Rights
English document of 1689 that limited the power of the monarch and guaranteed citizens’ rights, serving as inspiration for constitutions and liberal movements in Europe.
Who were the key figures in German unification?
- Otto von Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia, led the unification.
- King William I of Prussia was crowned emperor of the new empire.
What year was the Springtime of the People?
1848
What is a state?
A political and legal entity with the power to govern a defined TERRITORY, with its own borders and laws. The state exercises sovereignty over its territory and population and may include multiple nations or parts of them.
Sans-culottes
Name given to members of the working classes of Paris who supported the Revolution and promoted radical reforms. They rejected aristocratic clothing, symbolizing their identification with the common people.
Encyclopedia
Work edited by Diderot and D’Alembert that compiled and spread knowledge from various fields. It symbolized Enlightenment thinking and was key to spreading ideas of social and political change.
What were the key wars led by Prussia to unify Germany?
Three key wars led by Prussia: against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870-71).
National Sovereignty
The idea that power resides in the nation as a whole, seen as an abstract entity that transcends individuals. The nation delegates power to elected representatives who make decisions on its behalf.
Census Suffrage
The right to vote restricted to citizens who meet certain requirements, such as owning property or having a certain level of income. Common in the 19th century, it limited decision-making power to wealthier classes, excluding the majority of the population.