AP European History Flashcards: The French Revolution
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 14 cards to help you master important concepts.
Declaration of the Rights of Man
A foundational document from the first phase of the revolution that abolished hereditary privileges and affirmed the rights of citizens.
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Declaration of the Rights of Man
A foundational document from the first phase of the revolution that abolished hereditary privileges and affirmed the rights of citizens.
What happened to the Catholic Church's property and status during the early revolution?
The Catholic Church was nationalized, meaning its property was seized by the state and it was brought under government control.
Contrast the form of government established in the first phase of the revolution with that of the Jacobin phase.
The first phase established a constitutional monarchy that shared power with a king, while the Jacobin phase established a radical republic with no monarch.
What was the Reign of Terror?
A period during the radical Jacobin republic, led by Robespierre, characterized by extreme violence, fixed prices/wages, and mass executions.
List three key achievements of the first phase of the French Revolution.
The first phase established a constitutional monarchy, nationalized the Catholic Church, and abolished hereditary privileges.
What were the three main categories of causes for the French Revolution?
The French Revolution resulted from long-term social/political issues and Enlightenment ideas, which were exacerbated by short-term fiscal and economic crises.
Describe the overall trajectory of women's rights during the French Revolution.
Women were enthusiastic early participants and saw brief improvements in legal status, but citizenship in the republic was ultimately restricted to men.
Besides violence, what economic policies did the Jacobins implement during the Reign of Terror?
The Jacobin government instituted economic controls by fixing prices and wages to manage shortages and inflation.
What was the primary goal of the French revolutionary armies as they moved across Europe?
They sought to bring the political and social changes initiated in France, such as republicanism and the abolition of privilege, to the rest of Europe.
How did the fiscal and economic crises contribute to the start of the French Revolution?
These short-term crises exacerbated long-standing social and political tensions, acting as a trigger for the revolutionary outbreak.
Who was the primary leader of the radical Jacobin republic?
The radical Jacobin republic was led by Maximilien Robespierre.
Jacobins
A radical political group, led by Robespierre, that established a republic and was responsible for the Reign of Terror.
What was the policy of de-Christianization?
An effort by the radical Jacobin republic to reduce the influence of Christianity in French society during the revolution.
Levée en masse
A policy of mass conscription (a national draft) used to raise large revolutionary armies in France.