French Revolution

1. Birth of a Republic French Revolution

2. National Convention • Met from 1792-1795 • Members were male: mostly doctors, lawyers, and middle class professionals • Democratic reforms—wrote 1st democratic constitution for France • Single national legislature • Every man could vote—male suffrage • Replaced monarchy’s confusing wts. & measures

3. System with the metric system (still used today) • New Calendar • Naming Sept. 22, 1792—date of the Republic creation • Calendar does not last

4. Death of a King • Had to deal with the Monarchy • Nov. 1792 the “Radicals” used letters found in the Palace—correspondence with other monarchs---little to no evidence---to discredit the Royal family. • Dec. 1792-Louis Tried before the Convention • Jan 1793-Beheaded on the guillotine—Humane means of execution-French celebrate the death!

5. In Celebration of the New Republic • Styles of clothing change • Men now wear long pants with no wigs • Women wear long dresses like Ancient Rome • Greetings • Instead of Mister/Madame • Now Citizen/Citizeness

6. Debate in the Convention • Jacobins (Ja-kuh-buhns)-Extreme radicals • Sat on high benches (The Mountain) • Leader---Maximilien Robespierre, Danton and Jean-Paul Marat • Saw itself as the defender of the revolution and the voice of the people

7. Girondists (Juh-Rahn-dihsts) –Moderates • Felt that the revolution went far enough • Wanted to protect the wealthy middle class from radical attacks

8. The Plain • Undecided deputies who were the majority of the convention • In 1793—come to support the Mountain • This helped the revolution become more radical and open to extreme violence

9. Spreading the Revolution • 1793-fearing the spread of the revolution to all of Europe Monarchs of G. Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sardinia join Austria & Prussia in an alliance against the French Revolutionary Government • French want to overthrow royalty everywhere • 1793-Danton-calls upon France to expand its territories to their natural frontiers: The Alps, The Pyrenees, The Rhine River and the Mediterranean Sea

10. An army made-up of volunteers poured outward to seize the natural frontiers • Poorly trained—was successful—caught many nations off-guard • Soon though—the professional soldiers of Europe inflicted many defeats on the French • French commander abandoned their troops and surrendered

11. National Convention in the summer of 1793 in an effort to stop the foreign invasion • Adopted: Conscription-The draft-Men ages 18-45 • Called the world’s first “Peoples’ War” • Why?

12. Revolution in Crisis • While fighting in Europe, also had a Civil War at home • West of France are Royalists (Peasants) • Peasants vs. revolutionaries • Peasants are angry because their son’s are being drafted • Mobs rioted in French cities • Caused rising food prices/food shortages • Political Crisis • Girondist accused thee Jacobins of seeking favor of the mobs

13. Jacobins said the Girondist were secretly royalists • Jacobins won control of the Convention and arrested the Girondist delegates • Supporters of the Girondist rebelled • Charlotte Corday (Girondist) killed the Jacobin leader Marat and was sent to the guillotine

14. Reign of Terror • Jacobins set out to crush all opposition in France • Neighborhood watches hunted down suspected traitors and handed them over to the courts • False statements by hostile neighbors caused innocent people to be executed

15. Marie Antoinette Is killed during this time

16. The Committee of Public Safety • Headed by Robespierre • Executed over 17,000 people during this time • 85% of the peopled killed were commoners—merchants, laborers and peasants

17. Republic of Virtue • Jacobin’s set this up • Only people who are honest and good citizens • Catholics—are enemies of the revolution—Jacobins want to do away with them. • Churches are closed—Turned into Temples of Reason • Later changed to allow worship of a Supreme Being

18. Jacobin Struggles • Spring of 1794—Danton finally tries to end the Reign of Terror • Robespierre has him/followers put to death • Tries to increase the Terror—next 4 months • Gave Revolutionary courts the ability to convict suspects without a trial • About 350 people a month were executed by the guillotine • Robespierre followers fearing for their lives have Robespierre arrested and executed by the guillotine

19. End of Terror • Jacobins lose power with the death of Robespierre • Wealthy Middle Class take power of the Convention • Even Royalist reappear • People rebel against the “Republic of Virtue” • Clothing styles go back to • Wigs • Knee high pants • Luxurious Dresses

20. Catholic churches reopen • Price controls relaxed—PX’s increase—hurt the poor—riots breakout • Army puts down the lower classes • Mid 1794—many favor a return to the Monarchy • After Robespierre the Convention briefly carries on as the government

21. New Constitution • 1795—France writes a new constitution • No universal suffrage only males who owned property could vote • Set-up and executive Council of 5 Men called The Directors • Ruled with a 2 house legislature • Radicals—sans-culottes—oppose the new government • Why? Food shortages and rising price, scandals in government, and France is near bancruptcy

22. All of France looks to the Army to save France from ruin • Video run for 11 min.

23. Napoleon Takes Over • During the French Revolution Napoleon’s great military skills won him quick promotion to the rank of General • 1795, age of 26- crushes the Royalists uprising against The Directory • 1796 Marries Josephine de Beauharnais a leader in Paris society • 1796 Command of the French Army that fought Austrians in Italy (defeats Austria)

24. Napoleon and Josephine

25. Napoleon and the British (Egypt) • 1798-1799 Fighting the British in Egypt • Napoleon was successful on land but the British destroyed the French Navy • British Admiral Horatio Nelson defeats the French Navy at the harbor of Alexandria

26. Napoleon takes over • This strands the French army in Egypt • Napoleon knowing of the political situation at home abandons his troops and returns to France • Oct 1799 Napoleon returns to Paris to a cheering crowd • He joins leaders in a coup d'état—a quick seizure of power against the directory

27. Napoleon’s Empire • The Consulate • Theoretically establishes a Republic • Actually sets-up a Dictatorship • Absolute Rule

28. The Consuls • From ancient Rome • 1st Consul was Napoleon • Executive Branch- A 3 member committee • Real power was with Napoleon • He appoints his own people in the place of elected people

29. Education • Now under the control of the Government and not the Church • Steps towards a Public School System • Rich kids attended—but now under Napoleon poor kids could get scholarships to attend the Lycees (lee-Say) or school

30. Finances • Created the Bank of France • Required that every citizen pay tax • Collected tax and deposited it in the bank • Government uses the money (tax revenue) to make loans to business • This brings inflation and PX’s under control • 1802 Napoleon names himself Consul for life • Approved by the plebiscites or popular vote

31. The Napoleonic Code • Made French Law clear • State above the individual—preserved some revolutionary laws—no one is above the law • Curtailed freedom of speech • Permitted the censorship of books, plays, and pamphlets • Women—rights were curtailed under law

32. Napoleon and the Church • Makes peace with the Catholic Church • Concordat of 1801 • Recognizes Catholicism as the religion of most of France • Called for religious tolerance • Napoleon could name all Bishops—who had to swear allegiance to the state • France keeps Catholic Church lands • France would pay salaries to the Catholic clergy

33. Building an Empire • Napoleon quickly defeats Austria and Italy • He persuades Russia to withdrawal from the war • Could not defeat the British Navy—Brits are ready for peace because of economy • March 1802 Treaty of Amiens • Brits and France • 1804 Napoleon names himself Emperor of France and sets his armies on the road to conquest

34. The Battle of Trafalgar • 1805 Napoleon feels he can invade Britain from the English Channel • Battle occurs off the Spanish coast • Admiral Lord Nelson defeats the French Navy removing the possibility of French troops on British land. E E F E F F F Spanish Coast

35. After Trafalgar • Napoleon decides to put an economic blockade on England • Continental System • Europe (he conquered) could not trade with Britain • Brits could not enter European Ports • Made Russia and Prussia to go along with • Brits respond with their own trade blockade that puts the U.S. in a difficult position

36. War of 1812 • England and France were seizing U.S. ships • This leads to the War of 1812 • U.S. joins the French side (Why?) • Despite Napoleon The Brits did maintain control of the seas • The French economy worsened yet Napoleon’s Empire grew to land battles

37. Napoleonic Europe • By 1812- Napoleon controls most of Europe—extended borders to Russia • Results • Napoleon—King of Italy • Joseph (Bro)—King of Naples and Spain • Louis (Bro)–- King of Holland • Napoleon crowns himself Holy Roman Emperor • Napoleon abolishes the Holy Roman Empire and creates the Confederation of the Rhine

38. Prussia declares war on France—they are easily crushed by Napoleon • People of Europe resent paying taxes to France and sending soldiers to serve in Napoleon’s army • A feeling of Nationalism (yearning for self-rule, customs, and traditions) stirs revolts against the French throughout Europe

39. Revolts against the French • 1812—1st in Spain • With the help of Britain’s Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley) Spain overthrows and reinstate their Monarchy • Inspires others to revolt • 2nd Revolt—Prussia • Successful • Russia joins the movement against Napoleon (Czar Alexander I) 1811 Russia removes itself from the continental system & resumes trade with Britain

40. Napoleon invades Russia • Napoleon army—600,000 soldiers from many countries • Russia—180,000 soldiers • May 1812—France begins it march towards Moscow • Russians use a scorched earth policy and retreat towards central Russia • Sept. 14—Napoleon arrives in Moscow—a great fire burns most of Moscow—set by the Russians

41. Russia is Victorious • Napoleon stays until Oct—Russian winter comes early • Soldiers have summer gear • he departs for France • As they retreat Russians attack • 5/6 soldiers in the French Army die • About 25,000 made it back to France

42. Defeat • From all directions his enemies attack • By 1814 The European armies were in Paris • Napoleon abdicates and surrenders • French Throne is restored to Louis XVIII (Bourbon Family) (Bro of Louis XVI) • Napoleon is exiled to ELBA—Island of Italy • Boundaries of France were reduced to those of 1792

43. Napoleon Returns • Still determined to rule—Napoleon returns to France on March 1, 1815 • Easily wins support of the people • Troops were restored • Ruled for 100 days—Napoleon is Emperor • Napoleon tells Europe he will not wage war • Europe fears him and raise an army • Napoleon meets—G. Britain, the Netherland, and Prussian armies

44. Battle of Waterloo • European armies are commanded by The Duke of Wellington • The armies meet at Waterloo, which is in the Netherlands (June 1815) • Napoleon is defeated decisively • Napoleon is placed under house arrest and sent to St. Helena an Island in the South Atlantic Ocean • He died there in 1821

45. Napoleon’s Legacy • Spread the ideas of reform of the French Revolution • Constitutions and Napoleonic code was spread throughout Europe • Destroyed the remains of feudalism • Reform taxes and agricultural methods • These reforms help modernize governments