1. ((Know your governing bodies!)
French Revolution
((Know your governing bodies!)

2. France…. Background Buildup of autocracy in 15th-16th centuries
Largely Catholic
Huguenots (Protestant) a sizeable minority
Fighting b/t Catholic and Protestant
1598- Edict of Nantes: promoted religious tolerance

3. Strengthening the Crown
Cardinal Richelieu- advisor to French monarch
Goal: strengthen the monarchy
Louis XIV: inherited throne at 4 yrs. Old
Reign
“Sun King”, “Most Christian King”, divine right
Palace of Versailles
Revoke Edict of Nantes

4. Strengthening the Crown
Louis XIV
Appoints Jean Baptiste Colbert as economic advisor
Mercantilism= need for empire
Increase empire= more resources= more wealth
Numerous wars= debt

5. French Revolution Economic problems:
War debts
Poor taxation policies
Poor harvests
Lavish lifestyle of monarchy
1789- Louis XVI summoned Estates General
governing body with members from each estate
Had not met in 175 years (absolutism)

6. French Revolution Conflict between the estates at the meeting
June 17, Third Estate declares themselves the National Assembly
July 14, storming of Bastille
August, Declaration of Rights of Man

7. French Revolution 1791- new Constitution ratified
Created Constitutional Monarchy; King retains executive power
Austrians and Prussians invade France to restore monarchy
Marie Antionette was sister of Austrian Emperor
Unsuccessful

8. French Revolution Continued unrest= another new Constitution
Declares France a republic
Established the Convention as the new ruling body
1793: Convention (led by radical Jacobins) imprison royal family and behead king and queen

9. French Revolution Reign of Terror:
Constitution once again thrown out
Committee of Public Safety created and facilitate the revolution
Led by Maximilien Robespierre and Jacobins
Thousands beheaded
Eventually, Robespierre too was beheaded
1795: yet another government established, called the Directory

10. Rise of Napoleon Directory created strong military
Napoleon Bonaparte popular military man
24 at the time
1799: overthrows Directory and declares himself First Consul

11. Napoleon Popular ruler Begins to build a French empire in Europe
Many domestic reforms
Napoleonic Codes (1804)- implemented some Enlightenment ideas and equality for men
Begins to build a French empire in Europe
Conquers Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and parts of Italy
1804- crowns himself emperor

12. Napoleon 1810: empire at its height 1812: attacks Russia= mistake
Conquered areas use this as opportunity to defeat and overthrow Napoleon
Exiled
But, disagreements about how to restore order

13. Napoleon 1813- Napoleon returns, tries to regain power
Defeated at Waterloo and permanently exiled to St. Helena, later dies there.
Other nations meet to restore balance of power

14. Congress of Vienna 1815: Congress of Vienna
French territory return to pre-Napoleonic borders
Returned rulers of areas conquered by Napoleon
French monarchy restored, but with Constitutional limits

15. France…. Continued
1830: another republic created, lasts until Revolutions of 1848
1852: Louis Napoleon established a second French empire
1870: Louis-Napoleon overthrown and yet another republic created
How is all that for confusing????? This is just one example of how confusing European politics can be.