Post on 22-Feb-2016
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Chapter 18The French Revolution and
Napoleon
1789 - 1815
Key Events• The fall of the Bastille marked the
beginning of the French Revolution• The Committee of Public Safety
began the Reign of Terror• Napoleon Bonaparte created the
French Empire• Allied Forces defeated Napoleon at
Waterloo
The Impact Today• The French Revolution became the model
for revolution in the modern world.• The power of nationalism was first
experienced during the French Revolution.
• The French Revolution spread the principles of liberty and equality, which are held dear by many nations and individuals today.
Section 1The French
Revolution Begins
Background to the Revolution
• Starts in 1789, much more complex, violent, and radical than the American Revolution.
• Tried to create a new political and social order.
• French society based on inequality, had same class system since the Middle Ages.
The Three Estates• Society divided into three estates.– 1st Estate – Clergy– 2nd Estate – Nobility– 3rd Estate – Bourgeoisie, commoners, and peasants
• The bourgeoisie were unhappy with nobility, though shared many of the same rights as them.
• Nobility and bourgeoisie both disliked the French monarchy, believed it was too old and rigid.
Financial Crisis• French economy expanded for 50 years,
came to a halt in 1787 and 1788.• Started by bad harvests and slowdown
in manufacturing.– Led to food shortages and rising food
prices and unemployment.• French government still spent lavishly
on luxuries and the American colonists fighting the British.
Versailles
Versailles ContinuedSalon The Grounds
From Estates-General to National Assembly
• King Louis XVI calls for a meeting of French Parliament at Versailles on May 5, 1789. The first time it had met since 1614.
• Each estate got one vote on matters dealing with the financial crisis.
• Third estate pushed for a new constitutional government that ended the tax exemptions for the first two estates, and to give each delegate one vote, not each estate.– The King denied this request
From Estates-General to National Assembly (Continued)
• The Third Estate creates the National Assembly on June 17, 1789.– Met at a nearby tennis court, created a
constitution, and members swore in on the Tennis Court Oath.
• Louis XVI wanted to use force against the assembly, got distracted by the raid on the Bastille on July 14 by a Parisian mob.
• Rebellions break out across France, Louis XVI loses royal authority.
• The Great Fear spreads that summer.
The Destruction of the Old Regime• National Assembly takes away the rights and
privileges of landlords, nobles, and clergy.• Create the Declaration of the Rights of Man
and the Citizen.– Rights to “liberty, property, security, and
resistance to oppression.”• Louis XVI is escorted to Paris and becomes a
prisoner of the people.– War begins with Austria and Prussia to stop the
revolution and restore Louis XVI to the thrown.
Section 2Radical Revolution
& Reaction
The Move to Radicalism• The Sans-culottes under Georges Danten
seek revenge on the kings supporters. Thousands are killed.
• National Convention splits between the Girondins and the Mountain.– Passed decree to put Louis XVI to death on
January 21, 1793.• Maximilien Robespierre leads the
Committee of Public Safety to deal with post-execution crisis.
The Reign of Terror• Committee of Public Safety executes
around 40,000 people who opposed the sans-culottes.
• Creation of the Republic of Virtue– A democratic republic of good citizens.– Slavery abolished, prices controlled on
different goods, the country becomes dechristianized.
A Nation in Arms• The French Revolutionary Army
created to hold back foreign invaders.• Army made up of over a million men
is very successful and even conquers the Austrian Netherlands.
• Nationalism created from victories.– Robespierre is executed for his power
hungry ways and the Reign of Terror officially ends.
The Directory• Committee of Public Safety greatly
weakened and churches reopen.• A new legislative assembly created– Council of 500: lower house that
initiated legislation.– Council of Elders – 250 member upper
house that accepted or rejected legislation.
–Members chosen by 30,000 electors who owned a certain amount of property.
The Directory (Continued)• The assemblies were led by the
Directory.– Five men elected by the Council of
Elders. It was known to be very corrupt.• Napoleon uses the army to lead a
coup d'état and overthrow the Directory and the assemblies in 1799.
Section 3The Age of Napoleon
(1799-1815)
The Rise of Napoleon• Born in 1769 on the island of Corsica to
a Florentine noble family.• Went to a French military school, not
well liked.• Many military successes in Italy, but
failed to invade Egypt and India.• Launches a coup d'état in 1799 and
creates a consulate government.– By 1802 Napoleon was made consul for
life, then emperor.
Napoleon’s Domestic Policies
• Claimed to have preserved the gains of the revolution.– Creates peace with the Catholic Church– Codified the laws, most notably the Civil
Code• Protected the rights of men, but not women
– Creates a new social order– Controls newspapers and books
Napoleon’s Empire• Directly ruled France, the
Netherlands, Western Italy, and parts of Greece.
• Forced other nations to ally with him against Britain.– Family members rule Spain, Germany,
Switzerland, and Poland.• Tried to spread his domestic policies
to other nations.
The European Response/Napoleon’s Failures
• Tries to conquer Britain by stopping trade, but fails.– British trade reaches record levels in
1810.• Ideas of the French Revolution does
spread by creating nationalism in conquered states.
The Fall of Napoleon• Tries to invade Russia in 1812, but
the lack of supplies and the winter destroys the army.– Only 40,000 of the 600,000 men make it
home.• European states rise up and
Napoleon is exiled to Elba.– Louis XVI’s brother, Louis XVIII, is
restored to the thrown.
The Fall of Napoleon (Continued)
• Escapes back to France• Gains support of the army again, the
king is still very weak.• Attacks an allied fort in Waterloo,
Belgium.– Experiences a bloody defeat to the Duke
of Wellington’s combined British and Prussian forces.
• Napoleon exiled to St. Helena in the South Atlantic.