The French Revolution + Napoleon

1. The French Revolution + Napoleon Ch 23 1789-1815

2. The Old Regime Political + social system of France prior to the Revolution The people of France were divided into 3 large social classes – Estates 1st Estate: Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church 1% of population Owned 10% of land in France Provided education + services to the poor Contributed about 2% of its income to the gov.’t 2nd Estate: Rich Nobles 2% of population Owned 20% of land in France Paid almost no taxes Before the Revolution

3. 3rd Estate: Everyone Else 97% of population. Made up of 3 groups: 1. Bourgeoisie (middle class) - bankers, factory owners, professionals - often educated - many believed ideas of Enlightenment - Some as wealthy as the nobles - Thought they deserved social status + political privileges 2. Workers (poorest group) - Urban - Laborers, domestic servants, etc - Low wages + frequently unemployed 3. Peasants (Largest group - over 80% of pop) - Paid ½ of income to taxes, Church, + dues to nobles

5. Causes of the Revolution (France was considered the most advanced country in Europe BUT…) 1. Series of bad harvests due to weather 2. High prices 3. High taxes 4. Population #1-4 led to people starving 5. ?s raised by ideas of the Enlightenment Inspired by American Rev. 6. Weak king Louis XVI (the 16th) was indecisive + made bad decisions 7. Gov.’t in debt Some inherited from previous kings, but King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette “Madame Deficit” still spent extravagantly Supported American Rev. w/ $

6. Louis XVI Calls a Meeting of the Estates-General (assembly from all 3 estates) In the Estates-General, all 3 estates’ delegates meet in separate halls w/ each estate having 1 vote 1st +2nd Estate could always outvote the 3rd Estate 3rd Estate wanted changes in the gov.’t All 3 estates should meet together w/ all delegates getting one vote each (3rd estate had more delegates than the other 2 combined) King refused

7. 3rd Estate voted to form a National Assembly to pass laws + reforms for French people • Goes against absolute monarchy • 1st deliberate act of revolution • Locked out of meeting room for the Estates-General • Break down door to indoor tennis court + pledge to stay until they have drawn up a new constitution • Tennis Court Oath • Supported by some members of the 1st + 2nd Estates

8. Storming of the Bastille In response to the Tennis Court Oath, Louis XVI stations mercenary army around Palace of Versailles People believe army might be used against them + gather weapons to protect themselves In search of gunpowder, a mob seized control of the Bastille (French prison) Brutally murdered the prison commander + some guards, then parade their heads on pikes around Paris – Beginning of revolution

9. The Great Fear Rumors go around that the nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize the peasants Causes panic (the Great Fear) among the peasants They break into nobles’ homes + burn them down Riots start over the price of bread End Section 1

10. 23.2

11. Reforms of the National Assembly 1789, Some 1st and 2nd Estate members declare their support for the revolution (out of fear) Old regime is gone Adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Influenced by Declaration of Indep. “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” Including rights of liberty, property, security, + resistance to oppression. “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” Didn’t apply to women Focused on the Church early on Took over Church lands Church officials + priests were to be elected Upset many peasants

12. Limited Monarchy Forms Louis XVI + family flee France – captured Opponents gain strength A constitution was approved that created a limited monarchy – Louis XVI lost power Created the Legislative Assembly Had power to create laws + approve or reject declarations of war King still had executive powers to carry out laws Legislative Assembly split into 3 groups over how to deal with problems such as food shortages, gov.’t debt, etc Radicals (left) wanted sweeping changes Moderates (middle) wanted some changes Conservatives (right) wanted fewer changes

13. Émigrés Sans-Culottes Nobles + others who fled France Hoped to influence France’s gov.’t from outside France Wanted to undo the Revolution + restore the Old Regime “those w/o knee britches” Wanted the Revolution to bring even greater changes

14. France at War Austria + Prussia want France to restore absolutemonarchy France declares war in 1792 Royal family imprisoned Rumors spread that supporters of the king in prison will break out + take over the city “September Massacres” Citizens raid prisons + murder over 1,000 prisoners National Assembly set aside old Constitution, deposed king, dissolved the Assembly, + called for new elections New governing body is the National Convention Abolished monarchy + declared France a republic All MEN are given the right to vote

15. Jacobins Death of Louis XVI Radicals One of the most prominent was Jean-Paul Marat Edited the ‘Friend of the People” newspaper Called for the death of all who support the king Found guilty of treason Beheaded by the guillotine Other countries side in the war against France

16. Maximilien Robespierre Slowly gained power in the Jacobins Want to establish a “republic of virtue” Changed calendar Closed all churches Became leader of Committee of Public Safety Task was to protect the Revolution from enemies virtual dictator Known as “Reign of Terror” “enemies” were tried + guillotined immediately after Executed the queen Thousands executed – mostly peasants + members of middle class

17. End of the Terror Some members of the National Convention fear for their own safety + turn on Robespierre Robespierre is executed by the guillotine in July 1794, ending Reign of Terror A 3rd gov.’t is begun Placed power in the hands of upper middle class 2 house legislature + an executive of 5 moderate men (the Directory) End of Section 2

18. 23.3

19. Beginnings One of the world’s greatest military geniuses As a young officer he protected the National Convention from royalist rebels 1796, the Directory appointed him to lead the French Army against Austria + Kingdom of Sardinia (Italy) – successful By 1799, the Directory had lost support. Troops under Napoleon’s command surround the National Legislature + drive out some members. Remaining members vote to dissolve Directory + set up a group of 3 consuls including Napoleon. He takes the title of 1st Consul + assumes powers of a dictator A sudden seizure of power like Napoleon’s is a coup d'état – “Blow to the state” Napoleon Bonaparte

20. Napoleon’s Rule In 1800, a plebiscite – vote of the people – was held that approved giving Napoleon many powers He supported laws that strengthened national gov.’t + achieved some goals of the Revolution Set up efficient method for tax collection Established national banking system Dismissed corrupt officials + set up Lycees – public schools to train public officials Signed a concordat (formal agreement, usually between a gov.’t + the pope) w/ the pope to recognize influence of the Church but keep the Church out of national affairs Set up the Napoleonic Code – System of laws Uniform set of laws Limited some individual rights Restored slavery in French Caribbean Crowned himself emperor – took the crown from the Pope

21. Creating an Empire Sells Louisiana territory to US Annexed parts of the Netherlands + Italy, set up puppet gov.’ts in other countries Fights w/ Britian, Russia, Austria, Prussia, + others Beats all but the British Battle of Trafalgar -only major battle he lost Naval battle More important than all his victories on land Ensured British naval supremacy for next 100 yrs Must give up plans to invade Britain End Section 3

22. 23.4

23. Family Mistakes: Divorced 1st wife Josephine (no heir) Married Marie-Louise who gave birth to Napoleon II His desire for power would be his downfall 1. 1806, set up blockade (a forcible closing of ports) to prevent all trade + communication b/w Great Britain + the rest of Europe This policy was called the Continental System b/c it was supposed to make continental Europe more self-sufficient. It was also intended to destroy Britain’s commercial + industrial economy – not very successful Britain retaliated w/ their own blockade more successful Stopped neutral ships by forcing them to stop at British ports + pay a tax (angered Americans + led to War of 1812)

24. 2. 1808, tried to make Portugal accept the continental System Sent an invasion force through Spain, which caused Spanish protests Napoleon responded by removing the Spanish king + putting his brother on the throne B/c of that + fear Napoleon would weaken the Catholic Church in Spain, Spanish peasant fighters began The Peninsula War (so called b/c Spain is on the Iberian Peninsula) Peasants called guerillas – members of a loosely organized fighting force that makes surprise attacks on enemy troops occupying their country British aided the guerillas France loses 300,000 men + Spanish king restored

25. 3. 1812, invaded Russia (a former ally) b/c they weren’t following the Continental System + b/c both have designs on Poland Napoleon leads an army of 420,000. The czar pulls his army back – draws French into Russia Russians practice scorched-earth policy – burned their own fields + killed off livestock so the French had nothing to eat Napoleon takes Moscow, but city was left in flames by the Russians Decided to retreat, caught in the Russian winter – then the Russians attack By the time his army makes it to France only 10,000 soldiers are left.

26. Downfall Britain, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, + Austria join together against him He raises another army, but most are ill-prepared. He surrenders in 1814 + gives up throne. Exiled to island of Elba Louis XVI’s brother assumes the French throne – quickly becomes unpopular in France Napoleon escapes from Elba in 1815 + tries to regain power (This period is known as the Hundred Days). French welcome him joyfully Raises an army + the other European powers do the same. He is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo + exiled to the island of St. Helena + dies there 6 yrs later. End Section 4

27. 23.5

28. Napoleon is Defeated European gov.’ts wanted to establish a long-lasting peace + stability in Europe Led to the Congress of Vienna Series of meetings in Vienna meant to accomplish those goals Scheduled to last 4 weeks, but took 8 months Congress of Vienna consisted of decisions made in secret among representatives from the “Great Powers” of Europe – Austro-Hungary, Russia, Prussia, Britain, + France Most influential member – Foreign Minister of Austria, Klemens von Metternich The Congress of Vienna

29. Metternich’s 3 Goals Europe 1810 Europe 1819 He distrusted the democratic ideals of the French Rev. + wanted to maintain stability of Europe. He had 3 goals: 1. Prevent French aggression by surrounding France w/ strong countries: Switzerland becomes an independent country Austrian Netherlands + Dutch Republic united – Kingdom of the Netherlands 39 German states united – Germany (dominated by Austro-Hungary) Kingdom of Sardinia was combined w/ Genoa (parts of modern day Italy)

30. 2. Restore a Balance of Power (a political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others) Wanted to weaken France but not leave it powerless (might encourage French to seek revenge), so France remained a major, but diminished power 3. Restore Europe’s royal families to the thrones they had before Napoleon’s rule Great Powers affirmed Principle of Legitimacy (hereditary right of a monarch to rule) Ruling families of France, Spain, + several Italian states reinstated Congress of Vienna believed that would stabilize political relations among nations

31. Successes of the Congress of Vienna Politics After the Congress of Vienna 1. 1st time the nations of an entire continent cooperated to control political affairs The settlements were fair, no cause for future wars 2. Agreed to come to one another’s aid if any threats to peace (40 yrs of peace) Britain + France have constitutional monarchies Gov.’ts in Eastern + Central Europe were more conservative Austro-Hungary, Russia, + Prussia were absolute monarchies

32. Rulers of Europe were nervous about the consequences of the French Rev. (afraid it might encourage future revolutions) Austria, Russia, + Prussia (the absolute monarchies) sign agreement – the Holy Alliance w/ each pledging to base their relations w/ other nations on Christian principles to combat forces of revolution Series of alliances devised by Metternich called the Concert of Europe – nations would help each other if revolutions started Eventually nationalistic feelings in countries under foreign control would result in revolutions End Section 5