A-Level European History: Key Themes & Concepts

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The Ancien Régime

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The pre-revolutionary social and political system in France (before 1789). It was characterized by absolute monarchy, a rigid feudal structure based on the Three Estates (Clergy, Nobility, Commoners), and unequal taxation. Its rigidity and financial instability contributed directly to the outbreak of revolution.

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Estates-General

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A legislative body in France consisting of representatives from the Three Estates. It was called into session in May 1789 by Louis XVI to address the financial crisis. The deadlock over voting procedures (voting by estate vs. by head) led the Third Estate to break away and form the National Assembly, marking the start of the Revolution.

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The Tennis Court Oath

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A pivotal event on June 20, 1789, where members of the newly formed National Assembly swore not to disband until they had drafted a constitution for France. It demonstrated the defiance of the Third Estate against royal authority and solidified the shift of sovereignty from the King to the people.

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The September Massacres

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A series of killings in Paris (September 1792) fueled by radical paranoia that foreign and royalist prisoners would overthrow the Revolution. The massacres exposed the violent volatility of the Parisian mob and forced the National Convention to decide the fate of the King, ultimately leading to the subsequent abolition of the monarchy.

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The Reign of Terror

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A period during the French Revolution (1793–94) led by the Committee of Public Safety and Robespierre. It utilized the Revolutionary Tribunal to execute 'enemies of the revolution' (approx. 17,000 officially). It was justified by the need to defend the republic against foreign and domestic counter-revolutionary threats.