French Revolution Vocab List PDF

French Revolution Vocab List 1.​ Balance of power- Political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others. 2.​ Concert of Europe- Series of alliances among European nations in the 19th century, devised by Metternich to prevent the outbreak of revolutions. 3...

French Revolution Vocab List 1.​ Balance of power- Political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others. 2.​ Concert of Europe- Series of alliances among European nations in the 19th century, devised by Metternich to prevent the outbreak of revolutions. 3.​ Concordat- Formal agreement dealing with the control of Church affairs. 4.​ Congress of Vienna- Series of meetings in 1814-15 during which the European leaders sought to establish long-lasting peace and security after the defeat of Napoleon. 5.​ Continental System- Napoleon’s policy of preventing trade between Great Britain and continental Europe. 6.​ Coup d’etat- Sudden seizure of political power in a nation. 7.​ Estate- One of three social classes in Europe prior to the Revolution. 8.​ Estates-General- Assembly of representatives from all 3 social classes in France. 9.​ Guerilla- Member of a loosely organized fighting force that makes surprise attacks on enemy troops. 10.​Guillotine- Machine for beheading people. 11.​Legislative Assembly- French congress with the power to create laws and declare war. 12.​Legitimacy- Hereditary right of a monarch to rule. 13.​Louis XVI- King of France prior to the Revolution. 14.​Lycee- State-run public school in France. 15.​Marie Antoinette- Queen of France prior to the Revolution. 16.​Metternich- Austrian Prince that led the Congress of Vienna. 17.​Napoleon- Corsican military mind that rose to power in France in the early 1800s. 18.​National Assembly- French congress established by representatives of the 3rd Estate in 1789 to enact laws and reforms in the name of the French people. 19.​Old Regime- Political and social system that existed in France before the French Revolution. 20.​Plebiscite- Direct vote in which a country’s people have the opportunity to approve or reject a proposal. 21.​Reign of Terror- Nickname for the rule of Robespierre. 22.​Robespierre- Powerful Jacobin leader that was the leader of the Committee for Public Safety. 23.​Scorched-earth Policy- Practice of burning crops and killing livestock during wartime so that the enemy cannot live off the land. 24.​Tennis Court Oath- Pledge made by the members of the National Assembly in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution. 25.​Waterloo- Village in Belgium in which Napoleon was defeated in 1815.