French Revolution: Part III

Born in Corsica Military education in France Rises fast in new French Army Toulon Italy What made him a great military leader: 1. Genius tactician 2. Motivational speaker 3. “Leads by example”

Joins a group of conspirators December 1799, people vote in favor of his new constitution Abbe Sieyes

Needs to take the “heat” off from France’s enemies Needs to take the “heat” off from France’s enemies Treaty of Amiens 1801 Treaty of Amiens 1801 Just a truce – will give him 2 years to “clean-up” France Just a truce – will give him 2 years to “clean-up” France

I. Napoleonic Code – provided first clear & complete codification of French law Aspects Included: 1. Equality before law – civil code 2. Freedom of Religion (state becomes secular) 3. Property Rights guaranteed 4. Abolition of serfdom All of this will result in creating a strong central government and administrative unity

II. Careers Open to Talent – citizens able to rise in gov’t service based on abilities 1. Creation of new imperial nobility 2. Middle class benefits significantly 3. Grants amnesty to 100K émigrés 4. Workers denied right to from trade unions

III. Religious Reforms – Concordat of Brings back Catholic Church – but w/ gov. control of bishops 2. Deposed church lands stay in the hands of those who bought them 3. “old priests” replace the new revolutionary ones 4. Legal toleration of all faiths, including atheism 5. Christian calendar returns

IV. Financial Unity – creates Bank of France (1800) 1. Balanced the national budget 2. Established sound currency & public credit Other Economic Reforms: 1. food at low prices 2. Increased employment 3. Lowered taxes on farmers 4. Created independent peasantry 5. Efficient tax collection

V. Educational Reforms – public education under state control 1. Rigorous standards; available to the masses 2. Lycées reorganized to prepare young men for government service & professional occupations 3. Education becomes linked w/ social status Napoleon sought to increase the size of the middle class

Negative Characteristics Women Free speech / press violated Elections? Police State “new aristocracy” Labor rights

1804 – 1814 (War & Defeat)

Beginning in 1805, Napoleon engaged in constant warfare Extends French borders Creates dependent Satellite kingdoms Independent allied states War of the Third Coalition (1805 – 1807) Great Britain Austria Russia Sweden

French & Spanish fleets destroyed by Lord Horatio Nelson French & Spanish fleets destroyed by Lord Horatio Nelson French invasion of Britain no longer feesible French invasion of Britain no longer feesible

Napoleon defeats Austrians & Russians Austria accepts large territorial losses Third Coalition collapses, Napoleon now master of western & central Europe Builds Arc de Triomphe in commemoration

Defeat Prussians twice in 1806, then Russians (again)in Treaty of Tilsit, June of 1807 Reorganization of Germany (Confederation of the Rhine) Consolidates 300 independent states into 15 Names himself its “protector” Ends serfdom & gives peasants right to own land & move freely Awakes German nationalism

The Continental System (Economic Warfare) – 1806 A trade union among European nations, & closing of ports to British goods Purpose → 1. Make Europe self- sufficient & prosperous, 2. Encourage French industry, 3. Choke off British trade 1808 seizes Portugal and Spain

The “system” was hard on the British, even harder on the Continent British blockade Europe from American Agriculture French industry cannot keep up w/ demand Europe becomes resentful of restrictions

Initially: Viewed as liberator Deliverer of Revolutionary Ideals Enlightened gov., But Ultimately: Won’t go home High taxes, conscription Police State Sick of “French Culture” Resistance Spain & Italy, Prussia, Russia

Tsar Alexander I “breaks” w/ Continental System Napoleon leads “mixed” army of 700,000 into Russia in June Russians use vast numbers & scorched earth policy 400,000 die, 100,000 taken prisoner

French army loses decisive battle at Leipzig Napoleon abdicates the throne, Bourbon Monarchy restored (Louis XVIII) Napoleon returns to rule France – “100 Days” Defeated at Waterloo – June 1815 Klemens von Metternich