The French Revolution & Napoleon Chapter 23 (P. 648-677)

France in the 1700s Considered the most advanced country of Europe Large population Prosperous foreign trade Center of the Enlightenment

France in the 1700s Great unrest… Bad harvests… High prices… High taxes… Enlightenment ideas inspired questions

The Old Regime Estates- social classes

The First Estate Clergy (Roman Catholic Church) Owned 10% of land Exempt from taxes Access to high offices

The Second Estate Rich Nobles Owned 10% of the land 2% of the population Paid almost no taxes Access to high office

The Third Estate Everyone Else 97% of population Made up of two groups Bourgeoisie Workers

Bourgeoisie Middle Class Often well-educated Believed in Enlightenment ideas Paid high taxes Lacked privileges

Workers Poorest 80% of the population Paid half their income in dues to nobles, tithes to the Church, & taxes to king

Monarchy Louis XVI Not attentive to his people’s problems Excessive lifestyle

Monarchy Marie Antoinette Unpopular Spent money lavishly

Estates-General Assembly of representatives from all three estates Called to approve a new tax on the nobility First meeting in 175 years

Estates-General Each Estate has 1 vote The two privileged Estates outvote the Third Third Estate wanted to meet together To give them more power King ordered the Estates-General to follow original rules

National Assembly Third Estate established to give themselves a voice Vote to create is the first deliberate act of revolution Beginning of representative government

Tennis Court Oath Locked out of their meeting room, delegates met on the tennis court and vowed to stay until they drafted a constitution

Tennis Court Oath In response, Louis stationed an army around Versailles Generated rumors: Troops would turn on citizens Troops would dismiss the National Assembly

Storming of the Bastille To defend against the rumored attack, citizens stormed the Bastille, a Paris prison, in search of gunpowder Becomes a symbol of revolution

The Great Fear Wave of panic throughout France After a bread riot, the royal family will flee Versailles

Response of National Assembly Motivated by fear- not idealism Reforms that will end the Old Regime Making commoners equal to clergy & nobility

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Statement of revolutionary ideals “men are born free & remain free & equal in rights”

New Constitution Limited constitutional monarchy Created the Legislative Assembly

Problems Remain Food shortages & government debt Legislative Assembly split into 3 groups Radicals- want sweeping changes, no monarchy Moderates- some changes Conservatives- few changes, uphold monarchy

Reaction in Europe Monarchs feared ideas would spread Austria & Prussia urged the French to restore Louis as absolute monarch Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria & Prussia

France at War Louis, Marie Antoinette, & children imprisoned Citizens raided prisons & murdered prisoners Legislative Assembly set aside the Constitution, declared the king deposed, called for the election of a new legislature National Convention

Execution of a King National Convention tries Louis for treason, finds him guilty, executes him by guillotine

Maximilien Robespierre Slowly gains power Goal: build a “republic of virtue” How: Wiping out every trace of France’s past

Reign of Terror Robespierre becomes leader of Committee of Public Safety Chief task: protect the revolution from its enemies Tried in the morning, executed in the afternoon

Reign of Terror Claims the lives of as many as 40,000 people 85% peasants or urban poor Marie Antoinette

End of the Terror National Convention turned on Robespierre Arrested & executed Power transferred to The Directory- Five men, moderates

Napoleon Bonaparte Becomes a hero defending National Convention against mob Promoted himself as a successful commander & hero

Napoleon Bonaparte Coup d'état- seizure of political power Napoleon established as one of three consuls Assumes power of dictator

Napoleon Rules France Positive Reforms New relationship with Catholic Church Napoleonic Code- Comprehensive system of laws Eliminated many injustices Also limited liberty

Emperor Napoleon declared himself emperor Crowned himself Voters supported him Crowned himself Signaled that he was more powerful than the Church

Desire for Empire Unsuccessful in Americas, Napoleon turns to claim territory in Europe Other monarchs joined forces against him

Empire Through military success & peace treaties, Napoleon builds the largest European empire since the Romans Britain is France’s only major enemy

Battle of Trafalgar Only major battle Napoleon lost But most significant Destruction of French fleet Forces Napoleon to abandon plans to invade Britain Establishes British as dominant naval power

Napoleon’s Empire Collapses 3 MISTAKES: Continental System Peninsular War Invasion of Russia

Continental System Blockade to prevent all trade & communication between Great Britain & Continental Europe 2 Goals: Make continental Europe more self-sufficient Destroy Great Britain’s commercial & industrial economy

Continental System British smugglers were successful Allies disregarded the blockade Even some of Napoleon’s family Britain responded with its own blockade Which it did better

Peninsular War Between French & Spanish guerilla forces Why: French deposed Spanish king Outcomes: Weakened France Increased nationalistic feelings

Invasion of Russia Breakdown in alliance led to war 420,000 French soldiers began 10,000 made it home Why? Retreat during winter After practicing scorched-earth policy

Napoleon’s Downfall All nations of Europe declare war on France After defeats, Generals refused to fight Napoleon surrendered & is exiled

The 100 Days Napoleon escapes Is welcomed in France Restored to power Dislike new monarch Restored to power

Battle of Waterloo Defeat ended Napoleon’s last bid for power (100 Days) Exiled to a more remote island Dies 6 years later

Congress of Vienna Series of meetings called to set up policies to establish long-lasting peace & stability on the European continent

Congress of Vienna Decisions were made in secret by Europe’s 5 great powers: Russia Prussia Austria Great Britain France

Congress of Vienna Outcome: Containment of France Making weak countries around France stronger

Congress of Vienna Outcome: Balance of Power France remained a major, but diminished power No one European country could easily overpower another

Congress of Vienna Outcome: Legitimacy Restore leaders deposed by Napoleon to their thrones To stabilize political relations

Long-Term Legacy Power of Britain & Prussia increased Nationalism began to spread Spanish colonies took advantage of events in Europe to declare independence Ideas about basis of power changed permanently Democracy seen as the best