Glossary
Committee of Public Safety
A powerful executive body established in 1793 during the French Revolution, dominated by Robespierre, which wielded dictatorial powers to defend the revolution against internal and external enemies, initiating the Reign of Terror.
Example:
The Committee of Public Safety centralized power and oversaw the widespread arrests and executions of suspected enemies of the state.
Constitutional Monarchy
A form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution, meaning their powers are limited.
Example:
The Constitution of 1791 established a Constitutional Monarchy in France, reducing the king to a figurehead with limited authority.
Dechristianization
A policy during the radical phase of the French Revolution aimed at eliminating the influence of the Catholic Church and traditional religious practices, replacing them with secular alternatives like the Cult of Reason.
Example:
Dechristianization efforts included converting churches into 'Temples of Reason' and changing the calendar to remove religious holidays.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
A foundational document of the French Revolution, adopted in 1789, which proclaimed the universal rights of men, including liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression, inspired by Enlightenment ideals.
Example:
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen served as a blueprint for a new society, asserting principles that would influence future democratic movements worldwide.
Enlightenment Ideas
A philosophical movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism, which challenged traditional authority and inspired revolutionary thought.
Example:
Thinkers like Rousseau and Locke provided the intellectual framework for questioning absolute monarchy, leading to demands for Enlightenment Ideas like popular sovereignty in France.
Equality
The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
Example:
The call for equality meant an end to the privileges enjoyed by the First and Second Estates, advocating for all citizens to be treated the same under the law.
Estates-General
A legislative and consultative assembly of the different classes of French subjects, summoned by the king in times of crisis, where each of the three estates had one vote.
Example:
The calling of the Estates-General in 1789, after a 175-year hiatus, was an attempt by Louis XVI to address the financial crisis, but it quickly exposed deep social divisions.
First Estate
In pre-revolutionary France, this social class comprised the clergy, who enjoyed significant privileges and were largely exempt from taxes.
Example:
The First Estate, despite owning vast lands, contributed little to the state's finances, a major point of contention for the Third Estate.
Food Shortages
Periods of scarcity of essential food items, often leading to skyrocketing prices and widespread hunger.
Example:
Severe food shortages and exorbitant bread prices directly contributed to the March on Versailles, as women demanded action from the king.
French Republic
The republican government of France established in 1792 after the monarchy was abolished, marking a radical shift from centuries of royal rule.
Example:
The establishment of the French Republic symbolized the complete overthrow of the old order and the triumph of revolutionary ideals, at least in theory.
Jacobin Club
A highly influential political club during the French Revolution, known for its radical republican views and its role in initiating the Reign of Terror.
Example:
The Jacobin Club, led by figures like Robespierre, became increasingly powerful and pushed for more extreme measures against perceived enemies of the revolution.
King Louis XVI
The last Bourbon monarch of France, whose weak and indecisive leadership, coupled with France's financial crisis, contributed significantly to the outbreak of the French Revolution.
Example:
King Louis XVI's failed attempt to flee France further eroded public trust and sealed his fate as a symbol of the old regime.
Liberty
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.
Example:
The desire for liberty from the king's arbitrary rule was a driving force behind the Third Estate's demands for a new constitution.
March on Versailles
An event in October 1789 where thousands of Parisian women marched to Versailles, demanding bread and forcing the royal family to return to Paris, signifying the shift of power to the people.
Example:
The March on Versailles highlighted the critical role of women in the revolution and the immediate impact of food shortages on public unrest.
Marie Antoinette
The Queen of France, known for her extravagant spending and perceived indifference to the suffering of the common people, earning her the nickname 'Madame Deficit'.
Example:
The public's resentment towards Marie Antoinette's lavish lifestyle fueled anti-monarchical sentiment amidst widespread poverty.
Maximilien Robespierre
A prominent leader of the Jacobin Club and the Committee of Public Safety, he was a key figure during the most radical phase of the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror.
Example:
Maximilien Robespierre's relentless pursuit of revolutionary purity ultimately led to his own downfall and execution.
National Assembly
Formed by members of the Third Estate after they were locked out of the Estates-General, it declared itself the true representative body of the French nation and aimed to create a new constitution.
Example:
The formation of the National Assembly marked a pivotal moment, signaling the Third Estate's defiance of royal authority and their commitment to radical change.
Olympe de Gouges
A French playwright and political activist who advocated for women's rights during the French Revolution, most notably by writing 'The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen'.
Example:
Olympe de Gouges challenged the gender limitations of the revolution's ideals, arguing that women, too, deserved equal rights.
Popular Sovereignty
The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.
Example:
The formation of the National Assembly was a direct assertion of popular sovereignty, as the Third Estate claimed the right to represent the nation's will.
Reign of Terror
A period of extreme violence during the French Revolution (1793-1794) characterized by mass executions of those suspected of being enemies of the revolution, led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety.
Example:
During the Reign of Terror, thousands were guillotined, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, in an effort to purge France of counter-revolutionary elements.
Second Estate
In pre-revolutionary France, this social class consisted of the nobility, who held hereditary privileges, owned much of the land, and were largely exempt from taxes.
Example:
Members of the Second Estate often held key positions in the military and government, further highlighting the social imbalance.
September Massacres
A series of killings of prisoners in Paris in early September 1792, fueled by fear of foreign invasion and counter-revolutionary plots, targeting nobles and clergy.
Example:
The September Massacres demonstrated the escalating paranoia and brutality that would characterize the more radical phases of the revolution.
Storming of the Bastille
An event on July 14, 1789, when an angry mob attacked the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny, for weapons and gunpowder, marking the symbolic start of the French Revolution.
Example:
The Storming of the Bastille sent shockwaves across France and Europe, signaling that the revolution was not merely a protest but a violent uprising.
Taxation Inequity
A system where the burden of taxes is unfairly distributed, with the poor paying a disproportionately high amount while the wealthy are largely exempt.
Example:
The deep-seated taxation inequity in pre-revolutionary France meant peasants struggled under heavy levies while nobles paid almost nothing, sparking widespread anger.
Tennis Court Oath
A pledge made by members of the National Assembly in June 1789, vowing not to disperse until a new constitution for France had been written.
Example:
The Tennis Court Oath demonstrated the unwavering resolve of the Third Estate to establish a more equitable government, even in the face of royal opposition.
The Directory
An ineffective five-member executive body that governed France from 1795 to 1799, replacing the Committee of Public Safety and struggling with political instability and corruption before being overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Example:
The Directory failed to provide stable leadership, paving the way for Napoleon's coup d'état and the end of the revolutionary period.
The Great Terror
The most intense phase of the Reign of Terror, occurring in the summer of 1794, during which executions dramatically increased, leading to thousands of deaths.
Example:
The Great Terror saw the guillotine working almost continuously, as the Committee of Public Safety intensified its efforts to eliminate all opposition.
Thermidorian Reaction
A period following the overthrow and execution of Robespierre in July 1794, marking a shift away from the radicalism of the Reign of Terror towards a more moderate and conservative phase of the revolution.
Example:
The Thermidorian Reaction led to the dismantling of the Committee of Public Safety and a backlash against Jacobin influence, including the 'White Terror' against radicals.
Third Estate
In pre-revolutionary France, this social class encompassed everyone else, from peasants and urban workers to the bourgeoisie, making up about 98% of the population and bearing the brunt of taxation.
Example:
The frustration of the Third Estate over their lack of political power and heavy tax burden was the primary catalyst for the revolution.