Revolutions and Nationalism

Study Guide Ch. 19 & 23

Ch. 19

suffrage – The right to vote.  In revolutionary France, it was only extended to all male citizens; before it had only been extended to male property owners.

sans-culottes – Working class men and women who demanded a republic that guaranteed them a living wage.  Sans-culottes literally mean “without clothes”; they wore trousers instead of culottes.

abdicate – To step down from power.  Napoleon abdicated from power after foreign troops invaded France and was exiled to the small island of Elba.

deficit spending – Government spending more money than it takes in.  The French monarchy had used deficit spending for generations and had run itself into severe debt.

plebiscite – A ballot in which voters say yes or no to an issue.  Napoleon held plebiscites, which overwhelmingly showed that the French strongly supported him.

blockade – Shutting off ports to keep people or supplies from moving in or out.  Britain tried to organize a blockade of European ports in response to Napoleon organizing an international embargo.

bourgeoisie – The French middle class who propped up the French economy.  They included the prosperous bankers, merchants, and manufacturers. 

nationalism – An aggressive feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country.  Nationalism quickly spread through France during the Revolution and many other European nations soon after.

emigre – Nobles, clergy, and other who had fled revolutionary France.  They reported attacks on their privileges, property, religion, and lives, and spread horror stories of the revolution to other Europeans.

Louis XVI – A well meaning King of France.  He was well meaning, but weak and indecisive, and failed to solve any of France’s fiscal problems.

Clemens von Metternich – Prince of Austria who played a key role in the Congress of Vienna.  During the congress, Metternich was the dominant figure, and he pushed for restoring the status quo of 1792.

Napoleon – Born on the French ruled island of Corsica, and quickly rose to power in the French army as a war hero.  He became Emperor of France in 1804 and went on to conquer almost all of Europe and established the Napoleonic Code.

Olympe de Gouges – A French journalist who demanded equal rights for women.  She authored the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and eventually women did gain some rights.

Rosbespierre – Leader of the Committee of Public Safety who was a key organizer in the Reign of Terror.  He believed that all criminals must lose their heads in order to secure liberty.  The end result was 40,000 people executed until he fell from power.

Jacques Louis David – A French artist who had used a grand classical style to portray French Revolutionary events.  Some of his works portrayed the Tennis Court Oath and the reign of Napoleon.

who denounced Fr. Rev? Why? – Nobles and clergymen denounced the French Revolution because it was a threat to their natural born privileges and property.  In some circumstances, it was a direct threat to their lives.

Reign of Terror – A period of the Revolution in which the Committee of Public safety conducted hasty trials and sentenced 40,000 people to death and lasted from July 1793 to July 1794.  The chief instrument of execution during this time was the guillotine, which became a symbol of terror and fear.

Napoleon annexed who? Napoleon annexed Netherlands and Belgium, as well as parts of Italy and Germany.  He abolished the Holy Roman Empire and created a 38 member Confederation of the Rhine under French protection.

Congress of Vienna – An international Congress created to restore the stability and order in Europe after 25 years of war.  It lasted for 10 months and was a dramatic show of diplomacy and espionage.

Ch. 23

Alexander II – Russian czar who ended serfdom.  He was later assassinated by a terrorist group calling itself the “People’s Will” for failing to satisfy peasants with reforms.

Francis Joseph – A Hapsburg Emperor who inherited the throne ate age 18, and attempted to strengthen his empire by making reforms.  He set up a constitution and a legislature, but had to later create the dual monarchy with Hungary.

Giuseppe Garibaldi –An Italian nationalist and ally of Mazzini who wanted to create an Italian Republic.  He assembled 1,000 red shirted volunteers and won control of Sicily and later Naples.

Otto von Bismarck – Chancellor of Prussia who united German states to create an independent Germany.  He was a master of realpolitik, and led several successful military campaigns.

William II – Kaiser of Germany who inherited position in 1888.  He wanted to seize total control of Germany and asked Bismarck to resign his position.

Camillo Cavour – Appointed as Prime Minister of Sardinia in 1852.  He and his successors played a key role in shaping an independent Italian state.

anarchist – People who want to abolish all government.  They sabotaged and created violence towards the newly instated Italian state.

refugee – People who flee from their homeland to seek safety elsewhere.  Many Jews fled Russia during the reign of Alexander III.

pogrom – Violent mob attacks on Jews.  Police in Russia under Alexander III looked the other way during pogroms and many Jews were forced to flee to other countries.

Realpolitik – Realistic politics based on a tough minded evaluation of the needs of the state.  Bismarck was a master of realpolitik and he viewed that the end justified the means.

Zemstvo – Local elected assemblies in Russia.  They discussed matters such as road repair, schools, and agriculture.

economic development in Germany – Germany had abundant supplies of iron and coal; essential to industrial development.  They had a highly skilled and educated work force and had a tremendous population boom.

Nationalism threatened? who? (which country the most) – Nationalism most threatened the old empires, such as the Ottoman Empire.  The Ottoman Empire ruled over several different nationalities, and most wanted to become independent nations.

Revolution of 1905 – In response to Bloody Sunday, Russian workers began taking over local governments, peasants began demanding land, and minority nationalities called for autonomy.  Nicholas was forced to announce sweeping reforms and promised his people “freedom of person, conscience, speech, assembly, and union.”