French Revolution Flashcards
What was the French Revolution?
1789-1799. Time when monarchy (King Louis XVI) was overthrown and the Roman Catholic Church was radically restructured.
The National Assembly of France (1789-1791)
Representatives of the Third Estates who declared themselves a part of this assembly .
Three important poltiical clubs that came forward during the French Revolution
- Jacobins (radical urban)
- Girondins (moderate rural)
- Sans-culottes (working-class, extremely radical)
What was the “Reign of Terror” (1793-1794)?
most notorious event of the French Revolution; government campaign against its internal enemies and counterrevolutionaries. Basically attack against anyone against the revolution.
What were the causes of the French Revolution?
- Enlightenment (People could control their fate)
- Poor\middle class bore the entire burden of taxation while rich lived in luxury
After win of revolution by Bonaparte in 1799, what was put into place?
Constitution that concentrated supreme power in hands of Napoleon–so NOT democracy
Why is Bonaparte controversial?
Believed to be a tyrant and abandoned ideals of Revolution
What led to Napoleon’s downfall?
His inability to conquer England, economic distress caused by the Continental System (boycott of British goods), Peninsular War w/ Spain, the German War of Liberation, and Invasion of Russia.
What marked the ACTUAL defeat of Napoleon?
Battle of Waterloo
What was the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?
Convened in 1815 by the 4 European powers which had defeated Napoleon.
Who were the Girdondins?
Moderate rural political club
Who were the Jacobins?
Radical urban political club
Who were the sans-culottes?
Extremely radical working-class political club
What was the goal of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?
Wanted to establish a new balance of power in Europe to prevent imperialism within Europe, such as the Napoleonic empire, and maintain the peace between the great powers.
