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The Estates-General Meeting
A political assembly in pre-revolutionary France where representatives from the three social classes ("estates") - the clergy, nobility, and commoners (Third Estate) - gathered to discuss and address issues related to the country, primarily concerning taxation and reforms. Its significance lies in the fact that it ultimately sparked the French Revolution when the Third Estate broke away and formed the National Assembly, marking the beginning of major political upheaval in France. -
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The French Revolution
A period of major social and political upheaval in France that saw the overthrow of the absolute monarchy, the establishment of a republic, and the dismantling of the feudal system. Marked a significant turning point in European history due to its radical transformation of French society based on the ideals of "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity), and its lasting influence on democratic movements worldwide. -
The Tennis Court Oath
A pivotal moment in the French Revolution where members of the Third Estate (commoners) swore to not disperse until a new constitution for France was established. This marked a significant act of defiance against the monarchy and laying the groundwork for the National Assembly and the revolutionary movement to come. -
The Storming of the Bastille
A pivotal moment in the French Revolution where a large crowd of Parisians stormed and captured the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny, effectively marking the beginning of the revolutionary upheaval against King Louis XVI. This event is considered a significant turning point as it demonstrated the power of the people to challenge the monarchy and led to widespread revolutionary fervor across France. -
The Great Fear
A period of widespread panic and unrest among French peasants where rumors of an aristocratic conspiracy to starve the people led to widespread attacks on manor houses and the destruction of feudal documents, ultimately contributing to the abolition of feudalism through the August Decrees. This event marked a significant turning point in the revolution by demonstrating the power of peasant rebellion against the nobility. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Outlined fundamental individual rights like liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression, proclaiming equality before the law and establishing the principle of popular sovereignty, significantly influencing the development of human rights movements globally. It was drafted by the National Assembly, with key figures like Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson contributing to its text. -
The Execution of King Louis XVI
Marked a pivotal moment as it symbolized the complete overthrow of the monarchy and the start of a new era of republican rule in France, signifying the end of a thousand years of uninterrupted French monarchy and profoundly impacting the course of European history. His execution, considered an act of high treason, was carried out publicly in Paris after a trial by the National Convention where he was found guilty of crimes against the state. -
The Reign of Terror
A violent period during the French Revolution where the revolutionary government, led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, executed large numbers of citizens deemed "enemies of the revolution," including nobles, priests, and even moderate republicans, through mass executions by guillotine. Its significance lies in the immense loss of life and the drastic shift towards extreme revolutionary tactics. -
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The Reign of Terror
A violent period during the French Revolution where the revolutionary government used mass executions by guillotine to eliminate perceived enemies of the revolution, including nobles, priests, and even moderate revolutionaries. Its significance lies in demonstrating the extreme lengths to which revolutionary fervor could lead, resulting in widespread terror and a high death toll, and solidifying the term "reign of terror" as a symbol of extreme political repression. -
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Coup d’etat
A bloodless seizure of power in France in November 1799, where he successfully overthrew the existing government, the Directory, and established himself as the First Consul, effectively marking the end of the French Revolution and paving the way for his eventual rise as Emperor of France. This coup was significant because it marked the beginning of Napoleon's personal reign and brought stability to a politically turbulent France following the revolutionary period. -
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The First Empire (Napoleon)
A dominant European power that emerged following the French Revolution, where Napoleon consolidated control over much of continental Europe through military conquest, significantly altering political boundaries, spreading revolutionary ideals like legal equality through the Napoleonic Code, and impacting the social structure across the continent, even after the empire's eventual collapse. This marked a major turning point in European history. -
Congress of Vienna
A major international conference where European powers gathered to reorganize the continent after the Napoleonic Wars, aiming to restore political stability by redrawing borders and establishing a balance of power. It effectively marked a turning point in European history by attempting to prevent future conflicts through diplomacy. -
Battle of Waterloo
Marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, where his French army was defeated by a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington (British) and Prussian forces under Blücher, effectively ending the Napoleonic Wars and removing French dominance over Europe. This battle is considered a pivotal moment in European history due to its lasting impact on the political landscape after Napoleon's reign concluded with his exile to St. Helena.