Liberty, Equality, Liberty, Equality, FraternityFraternity

Old Regime

“Ancien Regime”

Political, social, and economicsystem of 18th century continentalEurope

Political Causes

• Absolute monarchy- “Divine Right”

• Favoritism

• Corruption

• Censorship

• Imprisonment without due process

• People had no voice in government

Social Causes• Class system- “Estates”

– First Estate-Clergy

– Second Estate-Nobles

– Third Estate-bourgeoisie, city workers, peasants

• Population growing• Food prices rising• Wages not rising• Resentment of nobility• Bourgeoisie wanted political power

Economic Causes

• To the Government– Feudal taxes and obligations

• To the Church– tithe

• To the Lords– feudal dues

Economic Causescontinued

•Louis XIV’s wars left France in debt

•Louis XVI’s constitutional reforms failed

•Nobility in opposition to the king forced him to call the

Estates General in May 1789

Other Causes• Bourgeoisie desire for

laissez-faire• Enlightenment ideas• English and American

Revolutions• Incompetent and

unpopular government

Immediate Causes

• Climatic disasters• Poor Harvests• Louis XVI

– Near bankruptcy

– Calls Estates General• Cahiers

Tennis Court Oath

July 1789

National Assembly 1789

Bastille Stormed

July 14, 1789•Symbol of Old Regime

•Peasant attacks against nobles

National Assembly1789-1791

Conservative, Radicals, Moderates

Women’s march on Versailles

• July 1791 Royal family attempts to flee

• Constitution 1791

• 1792 Louis imprisoned– émigrés

National Convention 1792-1795

•Republic declared•January 1793

•Louis executed

Horrible Guillotine Cartoons

Accomplishments of National Convention

• Abolished imprisonment for debt

• Abolished slavery in French colonies

• Adopted metric system

• Adopted national education system

• Prohibited primogeniture

• Drew up constitution with republic headed by a five man Directory

Turmoil

• February 1793-– War vs. Britain, Holland, Spain

• First Coalition vs. France• Committee of Public Safety-

April 1793

Reign of TerrorSeptember 1793-1794

• Suspension of Rights• Watch committees• “Witch Hunts”

“Death of Marat”-Jacques Louis David

1793

“It is necessary to annihilate both the internal and external enemies of the

republic or perish with its fall.” -Robespierre

Thermidorian Reaction1794-1796

• Robespierre falls• Abolished economic controls• Runaway inflation• Former victims now react• Restriction of political

organizations• Bread riots and uprisings put

down• Urban poor had little

influence until 1830

Directory1796-1799

• Middle Class constitutional republic– five man executive branch

• Only male property owners could vote• Wealthy controlled government• Unpopular • Bankruptcy• Still at war

Significance of Revolution

• Democratic Ideals-

“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

• Nationalism

• Worldwide influence

Napoleon Bonaparte

Early Years• Born Corsica• Military School

Military Years and Coup

• Lieutenant in French artillery– Military genius– Artillery

• Directory– 1796-1815 Napoleonic Wars– Egyptian campaign

• Horatio Nelson• Rosetta Stone

– Coup d’etat 1799

Consulate Period1799-1804

• Domestic Reforms– Legal Reforms

• Napoleonic Code– Education Reform– Economic Reform

• Stimulate economy• Food at lower prices• Increase employment• Peasants retain land acquired during

Revolution

Emperor1804-1814

• Constant warfare– Empire building

• Continental System• 1809- Marie Louise

– Daughter of Austrian emperor

Downfall and Exile• Downfall

– Invasion of Russia 1812• Tzar Alexander I• Scorched earth policy

– Economic problems• Continental System

• Final Defeat– Battle of Leipzig “Battle of

Nations”– Exile Elba

100 Days• 1814-1815 Louis XVIII

restored to throne

• Disharmony at Congress of Vienna

• Napoleon arrives in France – Louis XVIII goes into exile

– Waterloo• Duke of Wellington

• Prussian army

• Napoleon abdicates

– Exile to St. Helena

Exile for Napoleon