French Revolution: Key Events and Figures 1789
Key Events and Figures of the French Revolution
The Old Regime and the Three Estates
French Revolution: A major change in government that began in 1789. It brought an end to the absolute monarchy and a start to a representative government.
Old Regime: A combination of the absolute monarchy and feudalism in France. It included the three estates.
- First Estate: Consisted of the Roman Catholic Clergy. They received special privileges and paid no direct taxes.
- Second Estate: Consisted of the Nobles. They received special privileges and paid no direct taxes to the king.
- Third Estate: Consisted of the bourgeoisie, the sans-culottes, and the peasants. They paid high taxes and had no special privileges.
Bourgeoisie: The urban middle-class, they were merchants, artisans, well-educated, and often wealthy.
The Estates-General and the Revolution Begins
Estates-General: The legislative branch of the French government prior to the French Revolution. It could meet only with permission from the king (May 5th, 1789).
Vote by Order: When each estate received one vote. This was favored by the First and Second Estates.
Vote by Head: When each representative received one vote. This was favored by the Third Estate.
Tennis Court Oath: A promise made by the members of the National Assembly to stay together until they had written a constitution for France. This was the first deliberate act of the revolution (treason).
Louis XVI: The king of France at the start of the revolution. He was weak and indecisive.
Versailles: A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris. It was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Bastille: A medieval fort and prison in Paris used to store gunpowder.
Fall of the Bastille: Hundreds of hungry people stormed the prison in search of gunpowder to save Paris and the National Assembly.
Revolutionary Ideals and the Rise of Radicalism
Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: This was the slogan (battle cry) of the French Revolution.
Legislative Assembly: This was the legislative branch of government that was elected into power and voted to start a war with Austria. It was forced to step down from power.
Austria: Hoping to spread their revolutionary ideas, France voted to declare war on this country.
National Convention: This was the legislative branch of government that deposed the king of his title, declared France a republic, and publicly executed the king and queen.
The Reign of Terror and its Leaders
Robespierre: The radical leader during the French Revolution responsible for the Reign of Terror. He wanted to create a “Republic of Virtue”.
Reign of Terror: The excessively violent period during the French Revolution under the rule of Robespierre.
Republic of Virtue: Robespierre’s attempt to erase all traces of the monarchy, nobility, and the Catholic Church.
Jean-Paul Marat: A radical supporter of the French Revolution who used his newspaper to demand more blood. He was eventually murdered.
Georges Danton: A radical supporter and close ally of Robespierre who was eventually declared a traitor. He was executed by the guillotine.
Guillotine: A machine used to behead people. It was supposed to make death quick and painless.
Committee of Public Safety: A group of 12 men who decided who was an enemy of the state. Those who were deemed enemies were executed.
The National Assembly and the Radicals
National Assembly: This was the legislative branch of the government. It ended feudalism, serfdom, taxes to the church, and the special privileges of the First and Second Estates.
Radicals: This group hated the king, wanted drastic and sweeping changes, and advocated the use of violence in the name of the revolution.