French Revolution

Estates Since the Middle Ages France’s social order was based on estates Clergy Maintained wealth from the middle ages First Estate Nobility Government, army and court positions Second Estate Majority of the population Bourgeoisie at the top Majority were rural farmers Third Estate

Financial Crisis Social Unrest + Economic Woes = led to Revolution Years of Deficit Spending = French government was spending more $ than it was making – National Debt Soars = Seven Years War and the American Revolution left nation broke Government began to borrow more $ – Resolution = Raise Taxes and/or Reduce Expenses Nobles & Clergy fiercely resisted Taxes fell on the shoulders of the 3 rd Estate

Estates General Louis XVI calls together the Estates General – Legislative body made up of Reps from each Estate Third Estate wanted to count votes by head – When this didn’t happen they broke from the Estates General – Created the National Assembly Reformers joined the new Assembly

Storming the Bastille Revolutionaries needed weapons and gunpowder Attacked the Bastille – Symbol of French oppression – Destroyed the Bastille and released the prisoners THE REVOLUTION IS ON!!

Stages of the Revolution Moderate Phase – National Assembly makes France a constitutional monarchy Radical Phase – End of the monarchy – reign of terror Directory – Reaction against extremism Age of Napoleon

Moderate Phase National Assembly was spurred into action with the storming of the Bastille Created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen – Modeled after the Declaration of Independence Created the Constitution of 1791 – Limited monarchy – Royal family basically imprisoned

Radical Stage Begins Louis and the royal family try to escape – Caught at the boarder and sent back – Increases distrust of the King Other European rulers cracking down and trying to suppress revolution – People see the King as working with their enemies – Radicals begin to gain more power in the Assembly

The Jacobins Jacobin Meeting House  They held their meetings in the library of a former Jacobin monastery in Paris.  Started as a debating society.  Membership mostly middle class.  Created a vast network of clubs.

The Sans-Culottes: The Parisian Working Class  Small shopkeepers.  Tradesmen.  Artisans. They shared many of the ideals of their middle class representatives in government!

The National Convention (September, 1792)  Its first act was the formal abolition of the monarchy on September 22,  The Year I of the French Republic.  The Decree of Fraternity  it offered French assistance to any subject peoples who wished to overthrow their governments. When France sneezes, all of Europe catches cold!

The Political Spectrum Jacobins Montagnards (“The Mountain”) Girondists Monarchíen (Royalists) 1790s: The Plain (swing votes) TODAY:

Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, 1793) c The trial of the king was hastened by the discovery in a secret cupboard in the Tuilieres of a cache of documents. c They proved conclusively Louis’ knowledge and encouragement of foreign intervention. c The National Convention voted 387 to 334 to execute the monarchs.

Marie Antoinette Died in October, 1793

Committee for Public Safety  Revolutionary Tribunals.  300,000 arrested.  16,000 – 50,000 executed.

Maximillian Robespierre (1758 – 1794)

Legislation Passed by the National Convention 1.Law of General Maximum  September 5,  Limited prices of grain & other essentials to 1/3 above the 1790 prices & wages to ½ of 1790 figures.  Prices would be strictly enforced.  Hoarders rooted out and punished.  Food supplies would be secured by the army! 2.Law of Suspects eSeptember 17, eThis law was so widely drawn that almost anyone not expressing enthusiastic support for the republic could be placed under arrest!

The Reign of Terror Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre Let terror be the order of the day! c The Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris alone executed 2,639 victims in 15 months. c The total number of victims nationwide was over 20,000!

The Guillotine: An “Enlightenment Tool”? Oh, thou charming guillotine, You shorten kings and queens; By your influence divine, We have re-conquered our rights. Come to aid of the Country And let your superb instrument Become forever permanent To destroy the impious sect. Sharpen your razor for Pitt and his agents Fill your divine sack with heads of tyrants.

Different Social Classes Executed 28% 31% 25% 8% 7%

The “Monster” Guillotine The last guillotine execution in France was in 1939! The last guillotine execution in France was in 1939!

Religious Terror: De-Christianization ( )  The Catholic Church was linked with real or potential counter-revolution.  Religion was associated with the Ancien Régime and superstitious practices.  Very popular among the sans-culottes.  Therefore, religion had no place in a rational, secular republic!

The De-Christianization Program 1. The public exercise of religion was banned. 2.The Paris Commune supported the: edestruction of religious & royal statues. eban on clerical dress. eencouragement of the clergy to give up their vocations. 3.The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was turned into the “Temple of Reason.” 4.The deportation of priests denounced by six citizens.

The “Temple of Reason” Come, holy Liberty, inhabit this temple, Become the goddess of the French people.

Backlash to the De-Christianization Program  It alienated most of the population (especially in the rural areas).  Robespierre never supported it.  he persuaded the Convention to reaffirm the principle of religious toleration.  Decree on the “Liberty of Cults” was passed  December 6,  BUT, it had little practical effect!

The “Thermidorean Reaction,” 1794 PJuly 26  Robespierre gives a speech illustrating new plots & conspiracies.  he alienated members of the CPS & CGS.  many felt threatened by his implications. PJuly 27  the Convention arrests Robespierre. PJuly 28  Robespierre is tried & guillotined!

The Arrest of Robespierre

Napoleon as “First Consul” aWith the government in disarray, Napoleon launched a successful coup d’ etat on November 9, aHe proclaimed himself “First Consul” [Julius Caesar’s title] and did away with the elected Assembly [appointing a Senate instead].  In 1802, he made himself sole “Consul for Life.”  Two years later he proclaimed himself “Emperor.” aWith the government in disarray, Napoleon launched a successful coup d’ etat on November 9, aHe proclaimed himself “First Consul” [Julius Caesar’s title] and did away with the elected Assembly [appointing a Senate instead].  In 1802, he made himself sole “Consul for Life.”  Two years later he proclaimed himself “Emperor.”

Napoleonic Europe

Napoleon’s Major Military Campaigns  Britain Austria Russia France  1805: Annexes: Netherlands Belgium Holy Roman Empire Parts: Italy Poland Prussia Crowned “King of Italy” on May 6, 1805

The “Big Blunder” -- Russia aThe retreat from Spain came on the heels of Napoleon’s disastrous Russian Campaign ( ). aIn July, 1812 Napoleon led his Grand Armee of 614,000 men eastward across central Europe and into Russia.  The Russians avoided a direct confrontation with Napoleon.  They retreated to Moscow, drawing the French into the interior of Russia [hoping that it’s size and the weather would act as “support” for the Russian cause].  The Russian nobles abandoned their estates and burned their crops to the ground, leaving the French to operate far from their supply bases in territory stripped of food. aThe retreat from Spain came on the heels of Napoleon’s disastrous Russian Campaign ( ). aIn July, 1812 Napoleon led his Grand Armee of 614,000 men eastward across central Europe and into Russia.  The Russians avoided a direct confrontation with Napoleon.  They retreated to Moscow, drawing the French into the interior of Russia [hoping that it’s size and the weather would act as “support” for the Russian cause].  The Russian nobles abandoned their estates and burned their crops to the ground, leaving the French to operate far from their supply bases in territory stripped of food.

Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow (Early 1813) 100,000 French troops retreat—40,000 survive!

Napoleon Abdicates! eAllied forces occupied Paris on March 31, eNapoléon abdicated on April 6 in favor of his son, but the Allies insisted on unconditional surrender. eNapoléon abdicated again on April 11. eTreaty of Fontainbleau  exiles Napoléon to Elba with an annual income of 2,000,000 francs. eThe royalists took control and restored Louis XVIII to the throne. eAllied forces occupied Paris on March 31, eNapoléon abdicated on April 6 in favor of his son, but the Allies insisted on unconditional surrender. eNapoléon abdicated again on April 11. eTreaty of Fontainbleau  exiles Napoléon to Elba with an annual income of 2,000,000 francs. eThe royalists took control and restored Louis XVIII to the throne.

Napoleon’s Abdication

“The War of the 7 th Coalition”  Britain, Russia. Prussia, Austria, Sweden, smaller German states France  1815: Napoleon’s “100 Days” eNapoléon escaped Elba and landed in France on March 1, 1815  the beginning of his 100 Days.

Napoleon’s Defeat at Waterloo (June 18, 1815) Duke of Wellington Prussian General Blücher

Napoleon on His Way to His Final Exile on St. Helena