Vocabulary List for the French Revolution & Latin American Independence – Regular

bourgeoisie - the middle class; the owners of the factories and businesses

conservative - wanting to limit change; in favor of keeping things as they are

egalitarian - having to do with the idea that all humans are equal, particularly in social and political matters

Estates General - a meeting of the three traditional classes of French society, the Church, the nobility, and the commoners

faction - a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking

fraternity - brotherhood

legislate - to write law

moderate - opposed to extremes; preferring to stay within reasonable limits

monarch - a king or queen

National Assembly - a congress of the representatives of the French population who were democratically elected

nationalism - loyalty and devotion to a country or ethnic group that places emphasis on promoting the interests, cultural and social values, or religion of one group above all others

radical - someone who hopes for extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions

reactionary - someone who would like to turn the clock back to some previous better time

The Terror - the period during the French Revolution when Robespierre and the Committee of Public safety used the guillotine and non-legal arrests and violence to push forward their radical plans