The French Revolution Impacts

OBJECTIVE(S): Describe how the French Revolution was a major turning point in world history Describe how the French Revolution was a major turning point in world history

I. The Congress of Vienna A. After the first defeat of Napoleon, the leaders of European countries wanted to put things back to normal. They held a series of meetings in Vienna, Austria, starting in 1814, to decide how to do this.

B. Austrian Prince Klemens von Metternich hosted the meetings. There were two key ideas that Metternich thought would help put things back to the way they were before the instability of the French Revolution.

1.Balance of power IMPORTANT CONCEPT: Balance of Power

Balance of power is the idea that if everyone is roughly equal in power, they are less likely to fight because everyone wants to fight wars that they think they will win easy.

a. To try and keep peace, the leaders attempted to create a balance of power. This idea says that if all countries are roughly equal in power, they are less likely to fight. Countries usually fight wars that they think they’ll win.

b. To create this balance, the Congress weakened France and strengthened her neighbors.

1) The leaders were also careful to not treat France too harshly so that it would seek revenge, thereby causing another war.

2) This was the mistake European leader made at the end of World War I when writing the Treaty of Versailles, punishing Germany for the war and creating a desire for revenge. This caused World War II.

2. Legitimacy and restoration a. Because Napoleon had unseated so many monarchs, deciding who should rule those countries now that they were independent again was a problem. b. To make this decision, the leaders agreed to the principal of legitimacy—that the right, or legitimate, rulers should be the ones in charge before Napoleon removed them from power. Putting a ruler back on their throne like this is called a restoration because they are “restored” to their throne.

C. The leaders at the Congress were all conservatives— politicians that don’t like change. D. They opposed the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment and wanted to stop these ideas from spreading any further and causing revolutions.

2. Despite the Congress’ efforts, revolutions broke out in European colonies in Latin America and in Europe throughout the 1800’s.

2. Despite the Congress’ efforts, revolutions broke out in Europe and in European colonies in Latin America throughout the 1800’s. a. Because of this, this time period is called the Age of Revolutions. b. In Latin America—particularly in Spain’s colonies—the rulers were not able to maintain control.

1) An unfair class system called the encomienda system was in place in the Spanish colonies.

The Encomienda System in Spanish colonies Peninsulares were born in Spain and ruled the colonial government Creoles were Spaniards born in Latin America (their parents were peninsulares); they were not allowed to have the best jobs Mestizos were people with a Spanish parent and a Native American parent Mulattoes had a Spanish parent and an African slaves as parents African slaves were imported to work the Spaniards’ plantations Native Americans were not useful to the Spanish due to the effects of European disease.

2) In this system, only peninsulares— people born in Spain—were able to have the top government job. 3) The Creoles, people whose parents were peninsulares—or people born in Spain—were unhappy with the system and used the other classes to start a revolution to get independence from Spain.

4. Revolutionary leaders in the Latin American Revolutions included Simon Bolivar—nicknamed the Liberator because he fought for independence for several Latin American countries (including the one named after him: Bolivia) and Jose de San Martin.

c) In Europe, the rulers threatened by these revolutions were able to put down these rebellions and keep power. d) As a result, these revolutions were unsuccessful in making any major changes, but the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment—natural rights, a government responsive to peoples’ needs, etc.—had come to be expected by people.

1. Although some minor conflicts did erupt, most of the European powers did not have another war until 1914, when World War I broke out. D. The balance of power established at the Congress of Vienna prompted—or started—a period of relative peace in Europe.

2. The Congress of Vienna is also an early example of international cooperation—an attempt by countries to settle their differences without fighting a war.

III. Growth of nationalism. A. The French Revolution helped strengthen another new idea. Nationalism is the belief that all of the people of the same nation—which means a groups of people with a common culture, language and history—should live in their own country, being ruled by themselves.

1. The first way was that the Revolution created a nationalist feeling within France, making the people feel more unified. B. Nationalism was strengthened two ways. 2. The other has to do with Napoleon.

a) As he took over other European peoples, Napoleon was at first welcomed as a liberator because he freed them from the harsh rule of absolute monarchs. b) As time went on, Napoleon’s rule caused the conquered people to unify against him as they began to believe that they should rule themselves and not be controlled by someone different from them.

b. As a result, these revolutions were unsuccessful in making any major changes, but the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment—natural rights, a government responsive to peoples’ needs, etc.—had come to be expected by people. a. In Europe, the rulers threatened by these revolutions were able to put down these rebellions and keep power.

IV. Growth of democracy. A. While the change was not immediate, the French Revolution was an important step toward European countries ending absolute monarchy and becoming more democratic.

1. After the Revolution and Napoleon, despite the restoration of kings to their thrones, European countries—with the exception of Russia—became limited monarchies (governments in which the kings shares power with a legislature). 2. As time went on, European countries got away from having monarchs altogether.

a. They became representative democracies—governments ruled by representatives elected by the people. b. For example, Kings were replaced by Prime Ministers— the title for the leader of many European governments—who are elected.