Here are more detailed definitions for the key terms based on your full review content: ⸻ Bourbon Dynasty – A prominent European royal family ruling France for centuries. The dynasty’s absolutist rule and disconnection from commoners’ struggles set the stage for revolution. Louis XVI was the last Bourbon king before the French Revolution. Louis XVI – King of France from 1774 until his execution in 1793. His inability to manage France’s financial crisis, his indecisiveness, and resistance to reforms led to the collapse of the monarchy. Married to Marie Antoinette, he became a symbol of royal excess. France’s Crises – Following the American Revolution, France entered an economic depression, worsened by war debt and lavish royal spending. High bread prices and poverty created resentment, especially as nobles and clergy remained privileged and tax-exempt. Estates General – A traditional assembly representing the three social classes (clergy, nobility, and everyone else). It hadn’t met for 175 years before Louis XVI called it in 1789 to address financial collapse. The unequal voting structure led to tensions and revolution. Cahiers de Doleances – “Notebooks of grievances” prepared by each estate before the Estates General meeting. They documented complaints like high taxes, feudal obligations, and calls for more equality and representation. National Assembly – Formed by the Third Estate when they broke away from the Estates General in 1789. It declared itself the legitimate government of France, sparking a constitutional crisis and the beginning of the revolution. Tennis Court Oath – A pledge made by the National Assembly after being locked out of their meeting room. They vowed not to disband until they had drafted a new constitution, asserting the people’s sovereignty over royal authority. Bastille – A royal prison in Paris stormed on July 14, 1789, by revolutionaries seeking gunpowder and arms. It symbolized the tyranny of the monarchy and became a national holiday in France. Marquis de Lafayette – A French nobleman and military officer who supported the American Revolution and became head of the National Guard. He represented moderate revolutionary ideals and tried to balance order and reform. The Great Fear – A wave of panic in the countryside in 1789 where peasants, fearing noble retaliation, attacked manor houses and destroyed feudal records. It led to the abolition of feudal privileges by the National Assembly. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen – Issued in 1789, this document proclaimed that all men are born free and equal in rights. It called for freedom of speech, religion, and equality before the law, rejecting hereditary privilege. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité – The official slogan of the Revolution, meaning “Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood.” It encapsulated the ideals of personal freedom, equal rights, and social unity. All Authority Rests with the Nation – A revolutionary principle meaning that political power belongs to the people, not monarchs or divine right rulers. Nationalization – The state seized Church property, particularly land, to alleviate France’s debt crisis. This weakened the Church’s influence and increased government control over religious affairs. Emigres – Nobles and clergy who fled France during the Revolution, often plotting with foreign monarchies to restore the old regime. Their reports fueled international fear and opposition to the Revolution. Jacobins – A radical political group led by figures like Robespierre and Marat. They advocated for republicanism, universal suffrage, and the use of terror to protect the Revolution. Declaration of Pillnitz – A joint statement by Austria and Prussia in 1791 promising to intervene militarily in France if the royal family was harmed. It heightened revolutionary paranoia and pushed France toward war. Jean-Paul Marat – A radical journalist and politician who inflamed revolutionary passions. He encouraged violence against perceived enemies of the Revolution, including in the September Massacres. September Massacres – A series of killings in 1792 where mobs murdered political prisoners in Paris, fearing they would join invading armies. It showed how fear and violence had overtaken the Revolution. La Marseillaise – A patriotic song sung by French volunteers during the Revolution. It later became the national anthem, symbolizing revolutionary fervor and national defense. Universal Manhood Suffrage – The revolutionary idea that all adult males should have the right to vote, regardless of property or class. This replaced limited suffrage based on wealth. Sans-culottes – Working-class radicals in Paris who demanded more democratic reforms and used violence to pressure leaders. Their name refers to their rejection of aristocratic fashion (no knee breeches). Guillotine – A device for executions that became the symbol of the Reign of Terror. It was seen as a humane and equal method of punishment but came to represent revolutionary excess. Committee of Public Safety – A powerful group of twelve men, including Robespierre, given emergency powers to defend the Revolution. They led France during the most radical and violent period. Levee en Masse – A mass national draft requiring all citizens to contribute to the war effort. It marked the first instance of total war in modern history. Total War – The complete mobilization of society—military, economy, and civilians—for war. In France, this included rationing, price controls, and citizen armies. Planned Economy – Government control over production and prices during the Revolution to prevent shortages and inflation. This included the production of the “bread of equality.” Bread of Equality – A symbol of revolutionary equality. All classes were required to eat the same coarse bread made of mixed grains during the war effort. Reign of Terror – A period from 1793–1794 where thousands were executed for allegedly opposing the Revolution. It was led by the Committee of Public Safety and marked by extreme paranoia. Dechristianization – A campaign to remove Christianity’s influence from French society. It included closing churches, removing religious symbols, and adopting a new calendar. Vandalism – Term originating from the dechristianization campaign, referring to the deliberate destruction of religious or cultural property. Thermidorian Reaction – The backlash following the fall of Robespierre in July 1794. It ended the Reign of Terror, restored more moderate politics, and executed former radicals. Muscadins – Well-dressed, upper-class youths who opposed the sans-culottes and helped suppress radical mobs during the Thermidorian Reaction. The Jewish Question – A debate in Revolutionary France over whether Jews should be granted equal rights or treated as a separate group. Bordeaux – A French city with a Sephardic Jewish community. Delegates from here argued successfully for Jewish emancipation. Alsatian Jewry – Jewish communities in rural Alsace that faced more skepticism and resistance to emancipation due to stereotypes and cultural differences. Emancipation – The granting of full civil rights to Jews during the Revolution. It reflected the principles of individual equality under the law. “Jews must be denied everything as a nation, but granted everything as individuals.” – A quote summarizing the Revolutionary stance: Jews could not have collective privileges but were equal as individual citizens. Toussaint Louverture – Leader of the Haitian Revolution. An ex-slave who led successful revolts against French, British, and Spanish forces, securing independence for Haiti. Napoleon Bonaparte – A military genius who rose to power after the Revolution. Became First Consul and later Emperor. Known for legal reforms, military victories, and reshaping Europe. Coup d’état – A sudden, often violent, seizure of government power. Napoleon overthrew the Directory in 1799 in a bloodless coup. First Consul – Title Napoleon assumed after the coup. It made him the most powerful man in France before he declared himself emperor. Amnesty – Napoleon’s policy of forgiving returning emigres to promote unity and stabilize France. Concordat – An agreement between Napoleon and the Pope recognizing Catholicism while giving Napoleon control over church appointments in France. Napoleonic Code – A civil law code created by Napoleon that protected property and paternal authority but rolled back some Revolutionary freedoms for women. Plebiscite – A public vote used by Napoleon to legitimize his rule. He used it to become First Consul for life and later Emperor. Austerlitz – Napoleon’s greatest military victory. In 1805 he defeated the Austrians and Russians, leading to major territorial changes in Europe. Trafalgar – A naval battle where Britain, led by Admiral Nelson, destroyed Napoleon’s fleet, ending his hopes of invading Britain. Holy Roman Empire (HRE) – A fragmented empire in Central Europe that Napoleon dissolved after Austerlitz, replacing it with his Confederation of the Rhine. Confederation of the Rhine – A group of German states under Napoleon’s control. It replaced the HRE and spread Napoleonic influence. Continental System – An economic blockade designed by Napoleon to hurt Britain by cutting off European trade with them. It backfired and hurt France more. Louis XVIII – Brother of Louis XVI. Restored to the throne after Napoleon’s defeat. Represented the return of monarchy and conservative order. 100 Days – The brief period in 1815 when Napoleon escaped exile, returned to power, and ruled until his final defeat at Waterloo. Waterloo – Napoleon’s final defeat by the British and Prussian armies. It marked the end of his rule and the Napoleonic Wars. St. Helena – A remote island in the South Atlantic where Napoleon was exiled after Waterloo. He remained there until his death in 1821. Consistory – Traditionally a religious council. In this context, likely refers to attempts to reorganize religious structures post-revolution. Assembly of Notables – A group of aristocrats and clergy convened by the king in 1787 to advise on reforms. Their refusal to approve taxes led to the Estates General being summoned. ⸻ If you want these in a document or PDF format, just let me know.