French Revolution Overview

The social and political system in pre-revolutionary France, characterized by rigid hierarchy and inequality.

The three social classes in France during the Ancien Régime: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

The wealthiest and most privileged social class in pre-revolutionary France, composed of the clergy. They owned vast lands and paid no taxes.

The second most privileged social class in pre-revolutionary France, composed of the nobility. They enjoyed tax exemptions and exclusive rights.

The largest and most burdened social class in pre-revolutionary France, composed of peasants, workers, and bourgeoisie. They paid the majority of taxes.

A rare gathering of representatives from all three estates of France, convened in 1789 to address the financial crisis.

A document written in 1789 where the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly and pledged to create a new constitution.

The storming of the Bastille prison by a Parisian mob on July 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.

The period of extreme violence and executions during the French Revolution, led by Maximilien Robespierre.

A device used for beheading during the Reign of Terror, symbolizing the execution of those deemed 'enemies of the revolution.'

The more moderate government that replaced the Jacobins after the Reign of Terror in 1795.

The French military leader who rose to power by conquering Italy and Egypt. He overthrew the Directory and established himself as First Consul.

The legal code enacted by Napoleon, promoting equality before the law and meritocracy, but limiting women's rights.

The act of Napoleon crowning himself Emperor of the French in 1804, solidifying his power.

A series of military campaigns that led to the creation of a French empire across Europe, spreading revolutionary ideas and abolishing feudalism.

An economic blockade imposed by Napoleon against Britain, aiming to weaken the British economy.

A protracted, costly guerilla war fought in Spain against Napoleon's forces, draining French resources.

Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, leading to massive losses due to winter and scorched earth tactics.

The period after Napoleon's abdication in 1814, when he briefly returned to power, only to be defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

The battle that ended Napoleon's reign, fought against British and Prussian forces in 1815.

The transformative period from the late 18th to the 19th century, marked by technological advancements, mechanization, and the shift from agrarian societies to industrial ones.

The revolution in farming practices, such as crop rotation and selective breeding, which led to increased food production and freed up labor for industrial work.

Reasons why the Industrial Revolution began in England, including abundant resources, good transportation, and a ready workforce.

The unconscious mind drives how people think and act.

A form of therapy focusing on unconscious conflicts and suppressed memories.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.

An alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during WWI.

An alliance of France, Russia, and the United Kingdom during WWI.

German military strategy to quickly defeat France by invading Belgium.

The first large-scale battle of World War I, fought from September 6-9, 1914.

A type of warfare characterized by extensive trench systems and stationary fighting.

The Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme.

The Russian Revolution of 1917, led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks.

The United States entered World War I in 1917 after German U-boats sank American ships, including the Lusitania.

A major German offensive in July 1918, the last major attempt to break through the Allied lines.

A treaty signed in 1919, ending World War I and imposing harsh penalties on Germany.

An international organization created after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among nations.

Estimated 70-85 million deaths.

The Nazi Party.

The 1919 treaty that imposed harsh punishments on Germany following World War I, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and heavy reparations.

Political system characterized by strong central authority, suppression of opposition, and control over all aspects of society.

The aggressive military tactic used by Germany in WWII, employing rapid movement of tanks and aircraft to overwhelm enemies.

A policy of appeasement towards Germany to avoid war.

The 1938 agreement that allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.

The systematic mass murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during WWII.

The period of geopolitical tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union following WWII, marked by ideological conflict and a nuclear arms race.

The largest tank battle in history, fought in 1943 on the Eastern Front between the Soviet Union and Germany.

The decisive 1942-1943 battle in which Soviet forces defeated the German 6th Army in Stalingrad.

A key battle in the Pacific Theater, fought in June 1942, where the U.S. Navy inflicted a major defeat on Japan.

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, which brought the U.S. into WWII.

The systematic genocide of Jews and other minorities by Nazi Germany during WWII.

The non-aggression pact signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, which allowed them to divide Poland.

The U.S.-funded program to rebuild Europe after WWII, aiming to promote economic recovery and prevent the spread of communism.

The upper middle class consisted of those in positions of authority like government employees, doctors, lawyers, and managers of factories, mines, and shops. The lower middle class included factory overseers and skilled laborers like toolmakers, mechanical drafters, and printers.

The Industrial Revolution significantly improved the lives of many, with increased jobs, national wealth, technological advancements, and a higher standard of living. People enjoyed healthier diets, better housing, and affordable clothing. Educational opportunities also expanded as engineers and clerical and professional workers were in high demand.

While the Industrial Revolution created wealth and jobs, it also widened the gap between wealthy industrialized nations and less-developed countries. Industrialized nations required raw materials from these less developed countries to support their factories and workers, increasing the power and wealth of already powerful nations.

Laissez-faire is the economic policy of allowing businesses to operate without government interference. It emphasizes economic liberty and the belief that free markets will lead to economic progress. The term translates to 'let do' or 'let people do as they please.'

According to Adam Smith, economic liberty would lead to economic progress. This meant that the government should not interfere with businesses or markets. He believed in three natural laws of economics: 1. Self-interest (people work for their own good) 2. Competition (competition leads to better products) 3. Supply and Demand (enough goods are produced at the lowest possible price to meet demand)

Capitalism is an economic system where private individuals own the means of production and invest money in businesses to make a profit. It is based on free markets and the pursuit of individual self-interest.

Thomas Malthus argued that population grows faster than the food supply, which will lead to poverty and misery. He believed that without wars or epidemics to control the population, resources will be insufficient, leaving many struggling to survive.

David Ricardo expanded on Malthus's theory, believing that a permanent underclass would always be poor due to the dynamics of the market system. If there are many workers and resources, then labor and resources remain cheap, perpetuating poverty.

Utilitarianism is a philosophy where the value of actions is determined by their usefulness or their ability to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It emphasizes maximizing happiness and well-being in society.

Socialism is an economic system where the means of production are owned by the public, and the government operates for the welfare of all. It aims to create a more equitable society by sharing resources and eliminating inequality.

Marxism is a radical form of socialism that argues that human societies have always been divided into warring classes,

Marx and Engels believed that society was divided into two main classes during their time: the bourgeoisie (the middle class or 'haves' who owned the means of production) and the proletariat (the working class or 'have-nots' who were exploited by the bourgeoisie).

Thomas Edison, renowned for his inventions, holds over 1,000 patents, including the light bulb and the phonograph. His contributions significantly impacted everyday life and ushered in a new age of technological advancement.

Alexander Graham Bell, a teacher of deaf students, invented the telephone in his spare time. He displayed his invention at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876, forever changing communication.

Guglielmo Marconi used electromagnetic wave discoveries to create the first radio in 1895. His invention enabled wireless communication through Morse Code, marking a significant breakthrough in long-distance communication.

Henry Ford aimed to make cars affordable for the average person. He achieved this by using the concept of standardized, interchangeable parts in vehicle production, significantly reducing production costs.

Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the long-sought goal of flight. Their gasoline-powered flying machine, known as the Wright Flyer, made its first successful flight on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. This momentous event marked the birth of the aircraft industry.

Louis Pasteur discovered that microscopic organisms called bacteria cause diseases. He developed the process of pasteurization, which uses heat to kill bacteria in liquids like milk, contributing to public health.

Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, which he explained in his book 'On the Origin of Species,' describes how organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This leads to the evolution of species over time.