Flashcards on Key Events of the French Revolution



What was the National Assembly?

The National Assembly was the revolutionary assembly formed by representatives of the Third Estate.

What major political and social change occurred on August 4, 1789?

The abolition of the feudal system and privileges of the nobility and clergy.

What document was adopted by the National Assembly in August 1789?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Who were the sans-culottes?

The sans-culottes were radical working-class men and women who pushed for extreme change in France.

What was the Reign of Terror?

A period (1793-1794) during the French Revolution when thousands were executed for being "enemies" of the revolution.

Who was Maximilien Robespierre?

A radical Jacobin leader and one of the principal architects of the Reign of Terror.

What was the Committee of Public Safety?

A powerful body that controlled France during the Reign of Terror, dominating the revolutionary government.

What was the significance of the Women's March on Versailles?

It forced the royal family to move from Versailles to Paris, increasing the influence of the Parisian populace in politics.

When was Louis XVI executed?

January 21, 1793.

What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

A law passed in 1790 that subordinated the Catholic Church in France to the French government.

What major military coalition opposed the French revolutionary government?

The First Coalition, which included countries like Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain.

What change in government followed the fall of the monarchy in 1792?

The establishment of the French First Republic.

What was the Law of 22 Prairial?

A decree during the Reign of Terror that extended the reach of the Revolutionary Tribunal, leading to more executions.

What was the Cult of the Supreme Being?

An artificial religion established by Robespierre to promote civic virtues and rationalism.

Which directory governed France after the Reign of Terror?

The Directory, which ruled from 1795 to 1799.





Test your Knowledge


1. What was the National Assembly?

2. What major political and social change occurred on August 4, 1789?

3. What document was adopted by the National Assembly in August 1789?

4. Who were the sans-culottes?

5. What was the Reign of Terror?

6. Who was Maximilien Robespierre?

7. What was the Committee of Public Safety?

8. What was the significance of the Women's March on Versailles?

9. When was Louis XVI executed?

10. What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

11. What major military coalition opposed the French revolutionary government?

12. What change in government followed the fall of the monarchy in 1792?

13. What was the Law of 22 Prairial?

14. What was the Cult of the Supreme Being?

15. Which directory governed France after the Reign of Terror?