Chapter 18 The 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 1 The 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. Clergy consisted of 130,000 people (0.5% of total population), owned 10% of land, and didn’t pay taxes. Nobility consisted of 350,000 people (1.5% of total population), owned 25% of land, and didn’t pay taxes. 3rd Estate made up 98% of population, owned 65% of land, and paid ALL of the taxes/taille.

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. The biggest spenders were Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette.

Versailles The main palace of Versailles

Versailles Continued Salon 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 1st and 2nd estate had 300 delegates each, 3rd estate had 600 delegates made up of mostly professionals.

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 Great Fear caused by the French people worried of their country being invaded by foreigners at their weakened state.

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. Declaration leaves out women

Radical Revolution & Reaction Section 2 Radical 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. Sans-culottes – Radicals from the middle and lower classes. The Girondins wanted to keep King Louis XVI alive, though out of power. The Mountain was made up of Parisian radicals, and wanted to execute the king.

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 army was the largest force of its time. Nationalism and stability come to France, no longer a need for Robespierre to bring order through terror.

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. The Directory only lasts for four years.

Section 3 The 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. Egypt and India were protected by the superior British Navy. Under Napoleon as consul, he appointed all members of the bureaucracy, controlled the army, conducted foreign affairs, and influenced the legislature.

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 It is left up to debate whether these preserved or destroyed the gains of the revolution.

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. Once the ideas of the revolution to spread to the other nations in hopes of making them French, a cohesive nation.

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. Telling other nations they couldn’t trade with Britain made them want to do it even more, hence the record numbers. They applied the ideas of the revolution to their own nations, seeing Napoleon as the leader they need to fight against.

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. Lost more men to the march home during the winter than during the fighting itself.

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.