The French Revolution The French Revolution and Napoleonand Napoleon

1789-1815

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUITON

1. POLITICAL– King ruled by divine right– King selected officials based on birth – King censored the people to keep down rebels– King imprisoned enemies with out cause– King gave no voice in the gov’t to his people

2.SOCIAL– FR had 3 social classes

– The 1st and 2nd estates were only 3% of the pop., yet they owned most of the land, had the best jobs, were not accountable to the law, and were exempt from taxes

3.ECONOMIC– The 3rd estate bore almost all taxes to

the gov’t and the church. After taxes, most had less than half their income.

– The Bourgeoisie wanted a Laissez-faire economy

4. The Enlightenment5. Influence of English and US

Revolutions–The FR desired a parliament like

gov’t and Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were diplomats to Paris

IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF FRENCH REVOLUTION

FR went bankrupt in 1788 Louis XVI summons the Estates

General- 1789-1st time in 175 years, admitted that the absolute monarch could not fix the problems of FR.

Misrepresentation in the Estates General– The 1st and 2nd estates had as many

representative as the 3ed estate– They voted by class not by individual so the

3rd estate would be outvoted 2-1

THE REVOLUTION BEGINS The Estates-General becomes the National

Assembly [1789]- the 3ed Estate wanted to be formed into a National Assembly where each member gets a vote. Louis XVI rejected this proposal. The 3rd Estate did it anyway and took the Tennis Court Oath

The storming of the Bastille [July 14,1789] Louis XVI had threatened to break up the National Assembly

This is their Independence Day

What did the National Assembly Do?

Stopped all special privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates

Wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man:

To aid the financial problems they seized church lands [20% of FR]– Church lands were sold off to peasants

The Catholic church was removed from power. Became enemy of the REV.

Reformed the gov’t: – Started uniform national taxes– All laws were nationwide which helped

nationalism

Constitution of 1791:– Created a limited monarchy– Laws were to be made by an elected

legislative body– Members of the assembly had to be property

owners that were elected

Who was for and against the revolution?

For:– Middle class and most peasants

Against who wanted a republic– Jacobins: radicals who represented the poor

classes of FR Against who wanted the old regime

– LouisXVI– Catholics– Nobles– Other Monarchs

The End of the Limited Monarchy

France was invaded by Austria and Prussia The people overthrew the king and created

the National Convention to draw up a new constitution.

The 1st Fr republic executed the king Fr is invaded by ENG, Spain, and Holland. Fr defended itself and started the Reign of

Terror

Significance of the French Rev.

Proclaimed democratic ideal through Liberte, egalite, and fraternite

Emphasis on nationalism Worldwide influence

The Napoleonic Era Napoleon Bonaparte-son of a porr village

lawyer. Born on the island of Corsica in 1769

By age 30 he had become master of FRANCE.

Believed himself a “man of destiny” Very ambitious and was ruthless and

unprincipled in his rise to power

Educated in a FR military academy

Troops were very loyal to him and supported his political ambition

FR accepted Napoleon b/c they were tired of Revolutionary disorder [example reign of terror]

Napoleon’s rise to power: First recognition as a military hero in 1793

and 1795 Defeated Austrian forces in Italy in 1796-

97 Wins victories in Egypt against ENG in

1798-99 Coup d’Etat-swift overthrow of the

government by force- Napoleon returns to Fr and does this in 1799

Sets himself up as a military dictator called the First Consul

1804- Napoleon replaces the republic with an empire and crowns himself as Emperor Napoleon I, the people accepted this. Look at what the revolution had become?

Napoleon dominates Europe1803-1809= Napoleon defeats

Austria, Russia, and PrussiaControls or allied to all of Europe

except ENGLAND

His Downfall 1. His own weaknesses

– Created empire to complex to rule– Lust power was limitless, also stubborn

2. England– Had always sought a balance of power– Napoleon threatened their colonies

3. His Continental System– He ordered all of Europe not to trade with

ENGLAND– Eng. ordered all neutral nations not to trade

with Europe, led to our war of 1812

Trade declines around the world, everyone blames Napoleon, peasants rise up because of hardships throughout the empire

4. Russia– Once an ally with FR, Russia resumes trade

with England so it can sell its grain.– Napoleon invades Russia in 1812, Russia uses

scorched earth policy, Capture Moscow but have to retreat because of overextended lines and “General Winter”

– Loses 75% of his army

5. Rising spirit of Nationalism– People wanted their independence

from Napoleon6. Exhaustion of FRANCE

– Out of manpower and resources

Napoleon Exiled: 1813-1814:He loses the Battle of Nations

in Germany and the allies invade and capture Paris

He is exiled to the island of Elba 1815: he escapes and returned to France

for 100 Days. He is defeated again @ the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to St. Helena.

Remained there until his death in 1821

Napoleon’s Accomplishments in FRANCE

Stable governmentFurthered public educationCompromise between the France and

the Catholic ChurchLegal reform: Code of NapoleonPaid off debt: Bank of France[still

exists]