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The French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon Bonaparte

Explore the beginning of the French Revolution, its differences from the American Revolution, the causes and events leading up to it, the formation of the National Assembly, and the initial reforms implemented.

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The French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon Bonaparte

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  1. Chapter 11 France: The French Revolution And the Age of Napoleon Bonaparte.

  2. Section 1: The French Revolution Begins

  3. Two important events in 1789 were: • the beginning of a new United States of America and the beginning of the French Revolution French Revolution vs. the American Revolution: • The French Revolution differed from the American Revolution in three ways • It was more complex, more violent, and more radical

  4. France BEFORE the Revolution: The French Estates 1st and 2nd exempt from Taille- tax • Before the Revolution: • 1st Estate: consisted of the clergy • .5% of the population 10% of land • 2nd Estate: consisted of the nobles • 1.5% of the population 25% of land • 3rd Estate: consisted of the commoners • 98% of the population 65% of land

  5. 2nd Estate • Held many of the leading positions in the government, the military, the law courts, and higher church offices. • Had many privileges

  6. The 3rd Estate Divided by differences in occupation, level of education, and wealth. • Peasants: largest segment of the 3rd Estate, some owned land, had to pay fees to use village facilities • Wage earners: craftspeople, shopkeepers, and other wage earners in the cities. • Bourgeoisie: Middle class of the 3rdEstate Merchants, bankers, industrialists, and professional people

  7. Immediate Cause • French Revolution was caused by near collapse of the government finances • Bad harvests in 1787-1789 combined with a slowdown in manufacturing led to food shortages, rising prices for food, and unemployment.

  8. Overspending….. • What was the name of the king and his queen that caused this near collapse because of their extravagance? • continued to spend money for: • Costly wars and court luxuries • Sent money to help American colonists against Britain Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette

  9. Desperate times call for desperate measures…. • Louis XVI was forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General, to raise new taxes. • French Parliament • This assembly had not meet since 1614 • The Estates-General included representatives from each of the three estates, approximately 300 each from the 1st & 2nd & 600 for the 3rd. • The meeting started on May 5, 1789 at Versailles.

  10. How should we vote? • Each Estate gets one vote Vs. • Each representative gets one vote • 1st and 2nd Estate like first option, why? • 3rd Estate likes the second option, why? • King likes 1st option… • This problem about voting lead the Third Estate to form the National Assembly on June 17, 1789 where they decided to draft a constitution.

  11. After their first meeting they came back to find their meeting place locked up. • Moved to a nearby indoor tennis court where they swore they would continue to meet until they produced a French constitution this is known as the Tennis court oath.

  12. July 14, 1789 • Commoners stormed the Bastille • an armory and prison in Paris • They dismantled it brick by brick • Symbolized injustice of the Monarch

  13. Popular revolutions and uprisings broke out throughout France along with peasant rebellions. • These events became part of the Great Fear, a vast panic that spread quickly. • The citizens feared invasion by foreign troops that they would support the monarchy so they formed militias

  14. What shall they do? • What did the National Assembly do in response to peasant revolts and fear of foreign troops? • August 8, 1789 they voted to • Abolish the rights of the landlords • Abolish financial privileges of the nobles & clergy. • Taille - France’s chief tax, both the nobles and clergy had been exempt from paying this hefty tax while the commoners paid

  15. National Assembly named its charter of basic liberties… The Declaration of the Rights of Man and The Citizen (Enlightened Views) • Nobles give up feudal dues • Nobles must pay taxes • All males could hold office

  16. What about the women? • Olympia de Gouges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen. WHY? • She refused to accept an exclusion of women from the political rights of France

  17. March to Versailles • King refuses to accept reforms • October 1789 – women marched to King Louis estate in Versailles demanding bread and the King’s acceptance of Assembly • King agrees to move to Paris to show support for the new reforms. • The royal family became virtual prisoners in Paris.

  18. National Assembly takes control of the church • The National Assembly controlled the Catholic Church…. Under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. • Determined that the bishops and priests would be elected by the people and paid by the state.

  19. Constitution of 1791 • National Assembly adopts a new constitution • Limits royal powers: still have a king but a Legislative Assembly will make laws • Unicameral legislature – one house • Voters elect • Suffrage – men only • Basic rights * Could not make everyone happy

  20. Monarch Flees • Social unrest continues • Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette flee to Austria • Arrested and returned to France • People distrust him • Emigres – French Nobles flee country

  21. Other European leaders began to fear that revolution would spread to their countries. Austria and Prussiaeven threaten to use force to restore monarchy. • Members of the new Paris Commune took the king captive and suspend the monarchy and call for a National Convention, chosen on the basis of universal male suffrage.

  22. Section 2 Radical Revolution and Reaction

  23. The French Revolution was about to enter a more radical and violent stage. • Power passed form the Assembly to the Paris Commune. • Called themselves the sans-culottes, ordinary patriots without fine clothes.

  24. French Republic • National Convention 1792 – 1795 • Democratic Constitution written • Everyman to vote • Metric system • Louis XVI – tried and convicted of “conspiring against liberty.” • Beheaded on guillotine

  25. Revolution Spreads • European Monarchs ally against the revolutionary government in France. • (Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Britain, and the Dutch Republic) • National Convention adopted conscription • The draft Civilians skills & resources gathered

  26. Revolutionaries • Jacobins – extreme radicals – defenders of the revolution • Girondists – moderates – wanted to protect the middle class from radical attacks • Disagree on course of revolution

  27. Reign of Terror • The Committee of Public Safety • Maximilien Robespierre • Takes control of France • Meant to defend France from foreign and domestic threats • Jacobins set out to control French enemies • From July 1793 – 1794 • Suspected Traitors put to death

  28. Revolutionary courts were set up to prosecute internal enemies of the revolutionary republic. • Close to 40,000 people were killed • 16,000 of them by Guillotine including • Marie Antoinette and Olympe de Gouges

  29. By the summer of 1794 the French had defeated their foes. There was less need for the Reign of Terror but it continued nonetheless. Robespierre obsessed with ridding France of all its corrupt elements • Robespierre was finally stopped and… • Put to death by guillotine

  30. Virtues • Committee of Public Safety • Opened schools • Promoted education • Taught agricultural skills • Introduced wage and price controls • Tried to unite Catholics, deists, and nonbelievers by worshiping “Superior Being”

  31. The Directory1795 - 1799 • Takes over after the fall of Robespierre • Ends Universal Suffrage • Property owners only • Five wealthy middle class men • Bicameral legislature • Put down revolts of radicals • Bankruptcy and moral scandals weakened the Directory

  32. Section 3 The Age of Napoleon

  33. Napoleon Bonaparte dominated FRENCH and EUROPEAN history from 1799 to 1815 The Rise of Napoleon French Military General during Revolution • Won victories in Egypt against British • Returned to France • Coup d'état – quick seizure of power • In this case Napoleon overthrew the Directory

  34. His education in French military schools led to his commission in 1785 as a LIEUTENANT in the French army. • AT the age of only 24, Napoleon was made a brigadier general by the COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY • IN 1796, he was made commander of the French armies in ITALY where he won a series of victories.

  35. He won support of his men because of his energy, charm, ability to make quick decisions, intelligence, ease with words, and supreme confidence.

  36. Although, theoretically the new government of 1799 (called the consulate) was a republic, but Napoleon held ABSOLUTE power. • Dictatorship – government with absolute ruler • IN 1802, Napoleon was made CONSUL for life and two years later he had himself crowned EMPEROR Napoleon I.

  37. Domestic Policies • Napoleon was a believer in reason who regarded religion to be at most a CONVINIENCE. But in Egypt he called himself a MUSLIM; in France, a CATHOLIC.

  38. Napoleon had no personal religious faith, but he saw the need to restore stability to France and most of France was Catholic. So he made peace with the Church. • Concordat of 1801 - an agreement made with the Pope, CATHOLICISM was recognized as the official religion of a majority of the French people.

  39. Most famous domestic achievement • Codification of the laws • Before the Revolution there had been almost 300 legal systems • Napoleon simplified and unite these into seven law codes • The most important was the CIVIL CODE or NAPOLEONIC CODE

  40. Bad things: • Women “less equal” • Harder to get divorce • Can’t inherit property equally • Husbands control property Good things: • All equal before the law • Right to choose profession • Religious toleration • Abolished serfdom

  41. Napoleon’s Empire At the end of the Revolution France was at war with a coalition of Russia, Great Britain, and Austria. Napoleon tries for peace, treaty in 1802, doesn’t last. New war in 1803 France comes out on top Map in your book p. 349 of France Empire, Dependent states and allies.

  42. Napoleonic Europe • Tries to take on Great Britain but Britain has a very powerful Navy. • Battle of Trafalgar – British Admiral Lord Nelson defeats French navy • Nationalism –People want self-rule; independent territory based on own custom and tradition

  43. Russia • Czar Alexander I – withdrew Continental System from hurting Russia’s economy • Continental System – Napoleon orders his European Nations to stop trade with Great Britain • Napoleon invades Russia

  44. Napoleon’s Defeat • Scorched earth policy • Harsh winters • Russians attack upon retreat • 400,000 of 600,000 French soldiers die

  45. Napoleon Surrenders • March 1814 • Louis XVIII regains thrown • Napoleon captured at Waterloo • Exiled to Saint Helena Island until death 1821

  46. Two major reasons help to explain the rapid decline of Napoleon’s Grand Empire: the SURVIVAL of Great Britain and the force of NATIONALISM • The beginning of Napoleon’s downfall came in 1812 with his disastrous invasion of RUSSIA.

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