The French Revolution and Napoleon

1. The French Revolution and Napoleon World History Chapter 3

2. On the Eve of Revolution • French Society Divided • The three estates • First Estate – Clergy • Control over 10% of land • Do not pay taxes, but collect taxes on land controlled • Second Estate – Nobility • Get best government jobs • Do not pay taxes • Privilege • Third Estate – Everyone else • Bourgeoisie (Middle class – Bankers, Lawyers, Merchants, Manufacturers, Doctors, Journalists, Professors, Etc…) • Country peasants • Urban poor • Pay all taxes

3. Financial Troubles • France, under Louis XV and Louis XVI borrowed extensively to pay for colonial wars and American Revolution, and to maintain a lavish court. • The monies owed was so large (2 billion livres), that just making payments on the interest of the debt took half the yearly government budget. • On top of this, the late 1780’s had a terrible harvest in France, and around Europe, that led to famine throughout the country, and riots in the cities for bread.

4. Calling of the Estates General • France was going bankrupt, and as a last resort, Louis XVI called for an assembly of the Estates General, to help solve the financial crises. • The Clergy and the Nobility (the First and Second Estates) saw this as a chance to weaken the authority of the crown in favor of the Nobles and Clergy (similar to the Glorious Revolution in England). • The Third Estate, however, had different plans, and armed with Enlightenment ideas, and emboldened by the American Revolution, set about a radical change in government. • When the King learned of this, he closed the assembly to prevent organized reform, but the Third Estate decided on it’s own to take control of the government in a nearby tennis court, and invited the Nobles and Clergy to the table. Support for the Assembly was so strong, that the Third Estate walked away with the government. • This shift in power did not happen overnight, and as the details were being worked out, the country drifted into chaos, and on July 14, 1789, 8000 Parisians stormed the Bastille in a several hour battle, capturing the hated symbol of Royal Oppression, as well as several tons of weapons. This act is considered equal to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and I celebrated as French Independence Day. For King Louis XVI, unlike other riots, this represented a fundamental shift in power away from the Crown, towards the people.

5. The Revolution Unfolds • Historians who study the French Revolution tend to separate the Revolution into four different phases: • The National Assembly Period (1789-1791) • Moderates pursue Enlightenment goals • The Radical Phase (1792-1794) • Complete change in government, reign of terror • The Directory Phase (1795-1799) • Reaction to extremism • Age of Napoleon (1799-1815) • Taking the revolution across Europe

6. Political Crises Leads to Revolt • National Assembly Period • Rumors create “great fear” • Soldiers seizing grain • Attacks on villages for food • Paris Commune Gains Power • Radical group (Jacobins) that can create riots virtually at will. Fights a war of words with other reformers, used newspapers and pamphlets to spread word.

7. National Assembly Acts • As the crises continued to get worse, the Assembly moved to end all special privileges of the Clergy and Nobility, including the exemption from taxation. Men are declared equal. “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” • Louis XVI hesitates to establish these Acts, Nobles continue to have privileges, anger and resentment grow. • Women Demand Equality • Just as in the American Revolution, Men still attempt to retain control over women. Women who speak out or criticize this are imprisoned or executed. • March on Versailles • About 6000 women, disappointed over lack of progress, marched to the King’s main palace at Versailles, and demanded food and for the King to return to Paris. The King agrees, and the women return to Paris with the King and with the guns from the palace. King is now virtually a prisoner. • National Assembly places the Church under the control of the state, nationalized all church lands, set pay for priests, and rescinded all special privileges. • The Clergy resisted this act, and the Pope condemned it. • Conservative church-going peasants sided with the church and view the Assembly with suspicion.

8. The 1791 Constitution • Limited Monarchy • Assembly retains powers • Make laws • Collect Taxes • Declare war and peace • Laws are streamlined • Districts are created to ease bureaucracy • Men are declared equal and the church is prohibited from interfering in government.

9. The Balance Shifts • By 1791, Louis XVI was convinced by Marie Antoinette to flee, but they were caught by a guard who used a piece of currency to check for Louis’ face. King declared a traitor. • While Enlightenment thinkers around Europe applaud the Constitution, the nobles and rulers of Europe were deeply troubled by it and borders were closed to stop the “French Plague” • The King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria decided to intervene, and declared they would help restore the Monarchy. • While the Assembly prepares for war, economic and food problems continue, and more radical revolutionaries call for more action. • Sans-culottes faction takes over (Robespierre), and moves to end monarchy, implement a Republic, and end tyranny in other countries. War declared on Austria, Prussia, Britain, and other countries. War begins in 1792, and will continue for 23 years.

10. Radical Days of the Revolution • Even as the National Assembly tried to from a new government and earn the trust of the people, War with Prussia demanded resources needed to reform a crippled economy and feed a starving nation. • Royalists in the military desert • War goes badly • Tensions lead to violence • Rising tensions lead some to believe the King is behind the war failures, and they storm the palace, King flees to Assembly • “September Massacre” A month later, prisons were stormed, and Nobles and Clergy held for political reasons were among 1200 killed. • Radicals take control, King executed • The Jacobins, led by Robespierre and backed by the Paris mob, take control of the National Assembly, and radically change the objectives of the revolution. • Created a new legislative body, the National Convention • Abolished the Monarchy, established the French Republic • Suffrage to all men • Put King on trial for Treason, convicted by 1 vote, executed Jan 1793

11. The Reign of Terror • Terror and Danger Grip France • War now surrounds France, (Spain, Britain, Netherlands, Prussia, Italy) • Loyalist officers and priests lead pro-monarchy peasants in revolt • Sans-Culottes demand food and relief from inflation • The Convention creates a new committee • In order to solve problems, the Convention creates a new committee called the Committee of Public Safety, that was in charge of justice and executions • The Committee had broad powers to deal with problems and called for a mass levy (tax) that required all citizens to contribute to the war effort. • Though starting with little experience, Republic troops were dedicated to preserving the revolution, and managed to beat back the invading armies, and even overrun the Netherlands and invade Italy. • Robespierre • As leader of the Committee of Public Safety, Maximilien Robespierre used terror as a tool of the state to wipe out elements of the old regime, and to consolidate power for the committee. • The Guillotine and the Reign of Terror • Gruesome executions became commonplace as within a 9 month period, more that 17,000 people were executed, and the mob became drunk on blood. • Even other members of the Convention began to fear Robespierre’s reach and the hunger of the mob and ended the Reign of terror by executing Robespierre and Saint-Just his assistant.

12. The Directory • The Revolution Enters it’s Third Stage • The bloody politics of the reign of terror gave way to a new directory of 5 members, and a bicameral legislature dominated by the bourgeoisie. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain, but Austria and Britain still threatened the new Republic. On top of this, corruption began to erode the public’s confidence in the government. In desperation, the Directory turned to a young and brilliant general named Napoleon to use as a figurehead. • Revolution Brings change • Nationalism Spreads • The victories of the Republic gave the people of France a new sense of communal pride and togetherness, a sense of Nationalism that had not existed before. This devotion to country inspired them to keep going in spite of troubles. • Revolutionaries push for social reform • Religious freedom • State education • Social welfare • End slavery

13. The Napoleonic Era 1799-1815 • Even before the Directory named Napoleon to be a part of their government, Napoleon had already earned himself a name as a great general. • Drove the British out of France • Won several victories against the Austrians • Captured most of Northern Italy • Forced the Hapsburg Emperor to make peace (the Hapsburg Empire consisted of several European nations including Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sicily). • Defeat in Egypt against the British, censored in the press

14. Rise to Political Power • At each stage of his rise to power, Napoleon did not for get the people. Before claiming power, Napoleon had held plebiscites, or votes by the people. At each step, the French people supported him strongly, creating what could be called democratic despotism (rule by a single person). • 1799 – Saves Directory from royalist revolt. Named part of the Directory, overthrows the Directory and sets up a three man Consulate. New constitution made. • 1802 - Napoleon names himself Consul for Life • 1804 – Assumes title of Emperor of France

15. More Reforms Under Napoleon • Strengthened the central government • Price controls • Encouraged new industry • Built roads and canals • Built public schools • Encouraged emigrants to return • Land reforms recognized • Government jobs based on talent • All citizens equal before the law • Abolished feudalism • Napoleonic Code

16. Napoleon Builds an Empire • Redrawing the map of Europe • Annexing the Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Italy and Germany. • Abolished the Holy Roman Empire • Reduced Prussia and created the Grand Duchy of Poland • Placed family and friends on the thrones of Europe (His bother became King of Spain) • Forced alliances on continental powers to secure French leadership. • War with Britain • Continental System • Battle of Trafalgar • War in the colonies • Britain blockades ports

17. Napoleon Overreaches • Nationalism helped in France, but worked against Napoleon in conquered countries. Popular rebellions sprout up all over in resistance to the continental system and French control. • Spanish guerrillas tie up French forces in Spain, Austria revolts (put down by Napoleon) • Invasion of Russia (1812) • Grand Army of 600,000 soldiers, 50,000 cavalry • Scorched Earth • Retreat from Moscow (20,000 soldiers return) • General Famine and General Winter

18. Downfall of Napoleon • Weakened by the Russian campaign, France was vulnerable to a new alliance of Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia. The new allies defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig (1813). • Napoleon abdicates, sent in exile to Elba. Louis XVIII is placed on the throne, many pro-royalists return to reclaim property and position. Many in the general population remain loyal to Napoleon. • Napoleon escapes exile (1815), returns to France. Armies sent against him join him instead. Napoleon encourages the King to send him more troops. Louis XVIII flees. • The allies quickly respond, and less that 100 days after his return, Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo (1815) by English General Wellington and Prussian General Blucher. Napoleon is sent to St. Helena in the South Atlantic, and he does not return this time.

19. Napoleon’s Legacy • Spread revolutionary ideas throughout Europe • Napoleonic Code (still used today) • Leaders meet in Austria, Congress of Vienna (1815) • Want to turn back the clock to 1792 • Restore Hereditary Monarchies through Legitimacy. • Redraw map of Europe again • Concert of Europe • Alliance to keep peace, and protect the status quo