The French Revolution, Napoleon, and the Congress of Vienna

The Old Regime First Estate – clergy, less than 1% of pop., owned 20% of land, exempt from taxes Second Estate – nobility, 2-4% of pop., owned 20% of the land, exempt from taxes Third Estate – middle class, urban artisans, peasants, 95% of pop. Oppressive taxation Taille - land tax, tithe, income tax, poll tax, salt tax, local tax Lettre de cachet- essentially a general warrant

The Old Regime Louis XVI attempted to tax nobility and clergy Because of debts of his ancestors Mismanagment of gov’t Versailles American Revolution Parlement of Paris ruled that Estates-General must approve any new taxes

Moderate Stage (1789-1792) See handout.

Radical Stage (1792-1795) See handout.

Reactionary Stage (1795-1799) Thermidorian Reaction Director Returned moderate bourgeois reformers to power Director Five-member executive Napoleon Bonaparte put down a riot that threatened the power of the Directory

Napoleon 1799 After victories against Austria and England, Napoleon overthrows the Directory and forms a new gov’t The Consulate

Domestic Reforms Concordat of 1801 Code Napoleon (1804) Pope renounced claims over Church lands seized during Revolution Priests who resisted the Civil Constitution of the Clergy would be restored, replacing the jurying priests Code Napoleon (1804) Uniform legal system State-supported education (1808) Lowered taxes and redistributed land to peasantry

Conquests and Defeats Italy 1797 – established Cisalpine Republic in Northern Italy 1809 – controlled virtually all of Italy Abolished feudalism Decided against national unity in Italy

Conquests and Defeats Germany Defeated Austria and Prussia Consolidated many of the nearly 300 political entities Abolished feudalism Planted the seeds of German nationalism

Conquests and Defeats The Continental System Spain Closed all ports to British commerce Spain Replaced the Spanish king with his brother Spanish rebelled in a bloody guerilla war supported by the British

Conquests and Defeats Russia Invasion of Russia – June 1812 Because Russia withdrew from the Continental System 600,000 troops Russians used scorched earth tactics Napoleon took Moscow Winter – retreat Only 22,000 returned

Collapse of Empire Riots in Italy British invasion in southern France Napoleon defeated – October 1813 Russia, Prussia, and Austria Battle of Leipzig Abdicated as emperor – April 4, 1814 Bourbons restored Napoleon exiled to Elba

Congress of Vienna September 1814-June 1815 Representatives of the major powers meet to redraw map of Europe and create a balance of power Rule of legitimacy Return rightful rulers to their thrones

Congress of Vienna Napoleon makes a brief return in March 1815 Defeated at Waterloo by British/Prussia force Exiled to Saint Helena in South Atlantic Concert of Europe – alliance England, Russia, Prussia, and Austria Ensure status quo Prevent spread of revolution and republican ideas