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Accession of Louis XVI
Louis XVI was considered a weak king who lost control of the people through poor leadership. He tried to tax the wealthy but they refused which lead to taxation of the peasants. This in turn lead to the French Revolution. -
American Declaration of Independence
After continuous turmoil with Britain, the colonies decided to split professionally with signed documents. This document is known as the Declaration of Independence. -
Meeting of Estates General
A meeting of all three estates so advice could be given to the king. The third estate eventually formed into the National Assembly which started the French Revolution. It failed in the end which expressed how weak Louis was. -
Tennis Court Oath
An assembly at a tennis court which declared a new government be put in place. It was lead by the 3rd estate's representatives who stated "not to separate and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established" -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Drafted by Abbé Sieyès, Marquis de Lafayette, and Thomas Jefferson; the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is a people's rights document set by the National Constituent Assembly. It was influenced by Enlightened thinking and philosophers as it wanted people to be equally protected under the law. -
Women’s March on Versailles
What started as a local protest on bread quickly escalated to a much larger revolt through revolutionaries who had deeper intentions of reform. The women acquired weapons and raided the Palace of Versailles where the kings and his family lived, the people asserted their dominance over the throne. -
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National Assembly
An assembly formed by the 3rd estate with the other two estates attending. As time went on, more separation based ideas were being spread. The king denied meeting there which lead to the Tennis Court Oath. -
Storming of the Bastille
A fortress and jail located in Paris that was stormed not to free the inmates inside but to show a sense of rebellion. -
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War of the 2nd Coalition
The 2nd war waged on France by other European powers against the French Revolution. It's purpose was to restore Louis XVI monarchy in France as they did not want to see their people start revolutions. It ultimately failed. -
Jacobins vs. Girondins
Both were political groups during the French Revolution, the Jacobins wanted a republic while Girondins agreed with the constitutional monarchy. They started out together sharing ideas but eventually split due to differing views. The Girondins were eventually wiped out with the Jacobins advancing. -
Declaration of Pillnitz
Prussia and Austria (basically all of Europe) threatened to wage war on France if Louis XVI didn't go back to the throne. The cause of this was Europe's monarchies didn't want to see a revolution in their on state. France declared war on Austria in 1792 -
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
A book about female rights written by Mary Wollstonecraft. Described women as playing a very important role in society as teachers and should have the same rights as men.She was inspired from a report written to the National Assembly stating women should only receive a domestic education. -
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Sans-culottes
Extreme militaristic group during the French Revolution composed of working people in cities. Their philosophy was equality through democracy. The group despised the Bourgeoisie; nonetheless the Sans-culottes lost influence when the Bourgeoisie regained power. -
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September Massacres
Numerous killings throughout Paris during the French Revolution. The attack was led by Sansculottes, Guardsmen, Marseillais, Gendarmes, Fédérés and Cordeliers who killled more than 1,000 prisoners under 20 hours. -
Creation of the Republic
The first republic in French history symbolized by fall of the monarchy, the National Convention, and Reign of Terror. It lasted until 1804 when Napoleon established the First Empire. -
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Committee of Public Safety
A branch of France's new republic during the Reign of Terror formed by the National Convention. It's job was to ensure the safety of France from other European powers. As time went on, the committee lost it's importance and was eventually abolished. -
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Reign of Terror/Robespierre
A stage of the French Revolution where multiple massacres took place due to the intensity of the Revolution and the abusiveness of Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety. It ended with the fall of Maximilien Robespierre. -
Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI was executed by a guillotine as the National Convention found his guilty through a unanimous vote due to his weak leadership of France. -
Marie Antoinette executed
Marie Antoinette achieved the populations hate when she tried to flee to Varennes and her participation in War of the First Coalition. Marie was put on trial, found guilty, and executed by the Revolutionary Tribunal. -
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Thermidorian Reaction
A period in the French Revolution after the fall of Maximilien Robespierre to the inauguration of the French Dictionary where the Reign of Terror ended, the Committee of Public Safety fell, and radical socialist ideas became conservative. -
Robespierre executed
Robespierre spoke to the National Convention of "internal enemies, conspirators, and calumniators, within the Convention and the governing Committees". The government was afraid Robespierre was going to conduct another mass killing when on the next day, Jean-Lambert Tallien convinced the Convention of his guilt. He was executed later that day. -
Coup d’etat
Coup d’etat is a definition describing the overthrowing of a government. In context of the French Revolution, Napoleon overthrew the Directory and established his rule. -
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Concordat of 1801
The agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII attempted to restore the relations between Catholics and reformers. It re-established Catholicism into France and all Clergy returned to their positions. -
Napoleonic Code
A civil code drafted by the French Consulate replaced the old feudal laws. It put emphasis on clearly written laws and reform that influenced other countries most notably in the Middle East. -
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Confederation of the Rhine
Confederation of the Rhine was the official government of France's subordinate states during the First Empire. The states consisted of gain territory from Austria and Russia, 16 German states. These states gave France an advantage as it was a buffer between them and Prussia and Austria -
Treaty of Tilsit
2 treaties issued by Napoleon after his victory over the Prussians which established France's and Russia's relations as well as render Austria and Prussia powerless as they lost much of their land. -
Continental System
The Continental System is Napoleon's response to the United Kingdom's blockade against French coasts. In November 1806, Napoleon put the Berlin Decree into place which cut off British trade to any French partnered countries. -
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Russian Campaign
Napoleon and his army hoped to advance and succeed upon the Russians in an attempt to convince them to cut off trade with Britain, forcing Britain to surrender or end with peace. -
Waterloo
A battle between Britain controlled Netherlands and France where Napoleon chose to invade the Netherlands in an attempt to stop a coordinated attack against him as the 7th Coalition was forming. Napoleon failed, ending the Napoleonic wars -
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Paris Commune
An extreme socialist government that controlled Paris. After the fall of the Second French Empire, the Third French Empire rose only to move their capitol away from Paris as Paris was under constant attack from the Prussians during the Franco-Prussia war. What was left in Paris was radical troops of the National Guard who surrendered to the Prussians, giving them control.
