1. Chapter 19: The French Revolution and Napoleon
Main Ideas
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2. The First Estate was made up of the clergy.
1. The three divisions of France’s social structure before the French Revolution.
The First Estate was made up of the clergy.
The Second Estate was made up of the nobility.
The Third Estate was made up of the bourgeoisie (or middle class) as well as peasants and city workers.

3. 2. Causes of the financial crisis France faced in the late 1780s.
deficit spending,
years of mismanagement by the monarchy
a declining economy,
loss of the French and Indian War
poor harvests,
financial aid to the colonists during the American Revolution
the failure of economic reform.
Overpopulation

4. 3. Popular uprisings moved the French Revolution forward.
the storming of the Bastille—set the revolution in motion and pushed the National Assembly to take action;
women’s march on Versailles—forced the return of the king to Paris and pushed the National Assembly to turn France into a constitutional monarchy;
uprisings by the sans-culottes and “September massacres”— pushed the revolution into a more radical stage.

5. 4. The four stages of the revolution.
the moderate phase; the radical phase; the Directory; the Age of Napoleon

6. 5. Ways the revolution changed life in France.
the revolution abolished the old social order and made all French men equal citizens;
it instituted a new government;
it brought the Church under state control;
it changed fashion;
it introduced nationalism;
it made public education available;
it encouraged religious toleration, and
it promoted France as a secular nation instead of a religious one.

7. 6. The main events in the rise of Napoleon.
He won several victories against the Austrians and captured most of northern Italy;
he helped overthrow the Directory and set himself up as First Consul;
he declared himself Emperor of the French;
he defeated all the major powers, except for Britain.

8. 7. The main events in the fall of Napoleon.
He lost his campaign against Russia, which led to his defeat by Russia, Britain, and Prussia;
he abdicated.

9. 8. The chief goal of the Congress of Vienna.
to create a lasting European peace and a balance of power by establishing strong nations surrounding France and by protecting the system of monarchy

10. Remember!
Study these notes many times before your test, and you will remember (learn) the information.