The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THE FRENCH ABOUT THE FRENCH

REVOLUTION?REVOLUTION? ITS MEANING THEN AND TODAY.ITS MEANING THEN AND TODAY. DID IT MEAN:DID IT MEAN:That the people of a country can create a better, That the people of a country can create a better,

fairer, more equal society?fairer, more equal society?Or…Or…That revolutions lead inevitably to new kinds of That revolutions lead inevitably to new kinds of

tyranny?tyranny?Was there a new kind of “social contract” or model Was there a new kind of “social contract” or model

for nations….for nations….If the old order of aristocrats and nobles was If the old order of aristocrats and nobles was

doomed….doomed….Who was going to be in charge?Who was going to be in charge?

TIMELINE: Four StagesTIMELINE: Four Stages

Moderate Stage (1789-92)Moderate Stage (1789-92)

Radical and Bloody Stage (1793-94)Radical and Bloody Stage (1793-94)

Reactionary Stage (1794-99)Reactionary Stage (1794-99)

Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)

Moderate Stage (1789-92)Moderate Stage (1789-92) Three Estates– not happyThree Estates– not happy

National AssemblyNational Assembly

Storming of the BastilleStorming of the Bastille

Great FearGreat Fear

Declaration of the Rights of ManDeclaration of the Rights of Man

Limited Church AuthorityLimited Church Authority

Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly

Three EstatesThree Estates

First Estate– ClergyFirst Estate– Clergy– 0.1% of population0.1% of population– 10% of land10% of land– No taxesNo taxes– Many are members of Many are members of

NobilityNobility– Collected TithesCollected Tithes

Three EstatesThree Estates

Second Estate– NobilitySecond Estate– Nobility– 1.9% of population1.9% of population– Owned 20% of landOwned 20% of land– No taxesNo taxes– Collected Feudal DuesCollected Feudal Dues– ““Born” into wealthBorn” into wealth

Three EstatesThree Estates

Third Estate– First ClassThird Estate– First Class– BourgeoisieBourgeoisie

Strongly influenced by EnlightenmentStrongly influenced by Enlightenment Wealthy, self-made men with no say in Wealthy, self-made men with no say in

gov’t.gov’t.

Three EstatesThree Estates

Third Estate– Second ClassThird Estate– Second Class– Sans CulottesSans Culottes

Middle Class with no say in gov’t.Middle Class with no say in gov’t.

Three EstatesThree Estates

Third Estate– Third ClassThird Estate– Third Class– Peasant FarmersPeasant Farmers

Made up 80% of populationMade up 80% of population Extremely poorExtremely poor Paid 50% of taxesPaid 50% of taxes

Louis XVI is WeakLouis XVI is Weak

Wife, Marie Antoinette is Austrian Wife, Marie Antoinette is Austrian and extravagantand extravagant

Louis XVI is in DebtLouis XVI is in Debt

Louis XVI spent too much, including Louis XVI spent too much, including American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Needs to tax nobles to avoid Needs to tax nobles to avoid bankruptcybankruptcy

Calls Estates GeneralCalls Estates General

Estates GeneralEstates General

Estates General to Estates General to National AssemblyNational Assembly

Estates General meets in 1789 for Estates General meets in 1789 for first time since 1614first time since 1614

Third Estate demands equality in Third Estate demands equality in voting process and makes the voting process and makes the National AssemblyNational Assembly

Tennis Court Oath– End to absolute Tennis Court Oath– End to absolute monarchy and beginning of monarchy and beginning of representative gov’t.representative gov’t.

Louis drops the ball– Louis drops the ball– “Storming of the Bastille”“Storming of the Bastille”

Bread prices now cost more than a Bread prices now cost more than a day’s wagesday’s wages

Louis calls in the Swiss Army, causing Louis calls in the Swiss Army, causing great feargreat fear

Mobs storm the Bastille on July 14, Mobs storm the Bastille on July 14, 1789.1789.

First violent Act of RevolutionFirst violent Act of Revolution

Bread RiotsBread Riots

Storming the BastilleStorming the Bastille

Great FearGreat Fear

Panic swept the countryPanic swept the country

Third Estate and the Nobles clashThird Estate and the Nobles clash

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are forced to leave Versaillesforced to leave Versailles

Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of ManMan

Men are Free and EqualMen are Free and Equal Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion Equal JusticeEqual Justice Government must preserve Natural Government must preserve Natural

RightsRights– Liberty, property, securityLiberty, property, security

The ChurchThe Church

Catholic church lost political Catholic church lost political independence and landindependence and land

Church officials to be elected by Church officials to be elected by property ownersproperty owners

Church official Paid as state officialsChurch official Paid as state officials Peasants Peasants VERYVERY unhappy and many unhappy and many

oppose further revolutionary actsoppose further revolutionary acts

Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly

Replaced National Assembly in 1791Replaced National Assembly in 1791

Political Spectrum emergesPolitical Spectrum emerges– Right (Loyal to the King)Right (Loyal to the King)– Left (Radicals)Left (Radicals)– Center (conservatives, agree with both Center (conservatives, agree with both

sides)sides)

Radical and Bloody Stage (1793-94)Radical and Bloody Stage (1793-94)

Execution of Louis XVIExecution of Louis XVI

RobespierreRobespierre

Reign of TerrorReign of Terror

Louis XVI is beheadedLouis XVI is beheaded

1792, the mobs in the streets are 1792, the mobs in the streets are ruling the countryruling the country

Radical Group called the Jacobins Radical Group called the Jacobins emerges and leads the call for a emerges and leads the call for a RepublicRepublic

The Monarchy is abolishedThe Monarchy is abolished Louis XVI is tried for treason and found Louis XVI is tried for treason and found

guiltyguilty Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are

beheaded by guillotinebeheaded by guillotine

The GuillotineThe Guillotine

The rise of Maximilien RobespierreThe rise of Maximilien Robespierre

France was in chaos with both foreign France was in chaos with both foreign enemies and domestic dissentersenemies and domestic dissenters

Robespierre and Jacobin supporters Robespierre and Jacobin supporters wanted a Republic of Virtue, focused wanted a Republic of Virtue, focused on reason/ science with no religionon reason/ science with no religion

1793 started Committee of Public 1793 started Committee of Public SafetySafety

The TerrorThe Terror

The Committee of Public Safety The Committee of Public Safety judged not just monarchists, but judged not just monarchists, but anyone not as radical as Robespierreanyone not as radical as Robespierre

Anywhere from 3,000 to 40,000 Anywhere from 3,000 to 40,000 people were killedpeople were killed

80% were from the Third Estate, 80% were from the Third Estate, whom the revolution had been whom the revolution had been started forstarted for

Reactionary Stage (1794-99)Reactionary Stage (1794-99)

Robespierre is beheadedRobespierre is beheaded

The Directory is formed with right-wing The Directory is formed with right-wing beliefs, two legislative houses, and an beliefs, two legislative houses, and an

executive branch of five membersexecutive branch of five members

A period of calmA period of calm

A great General rules the French ArmyA great General rules the French Army

REVIEWREVIEW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXsZbkt0yqo

Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)

Napoleon is voted emperorNapoleon is voted emperor

France dominates EuropeFrance dominates Europe

Napoleon makes three poor decision Napoleon makes three poor decision that destroy his empirethat destroy his empire

NapoleonNapoleon

Napoleon– Great Emperor?Napoleon– Great Emperor?

Through great military success, he gained Through great military success, he gained the support of the peoplethe support of the people

1804 French VOTE to make him Emperor 1804 French VOTE to make him Emperor for LIFEfor LIFE

Drafted successful policyDrafted successful policy Implemented the Napoleonic CodeImplemented the Napoleonic Code Broadened France’s Power to almost all of Broadened France’s Power to almost all of

EuropeEurope But could it last?But could it last?

Policies and the Napoleonic Policies and the Napoleonic CodeCode

Economic OrderEconomic Order Slowed inflation/ People could afford breadSlowed inflation/ People could afford bread Set up a National BankSet up a National Bank

Social OrderSocial Order People promoted on merit not on blood-linePeople promoted on merit not on blood-line

Religious OrderReligious Order Napoleon signs Concordat (settlement) with PopeNapoleon signs Concordat (settlement) with Pope Catholics favored in France, but not total Catholics favored in France, but not total

dominancedominance Legal Order– Napoleonic CodeLegal Order– Napoleonic Code

Napoleonic CodeNapoleonic Code

Napoleon’s favorite achievementNapoleon’s favorite achievement Laws made French citizens equalLaws made French citizens equal Abolished Three EstatesAbolished Three Estates Did not apply to NapoleonDid not apply to Napoleon However, went against ideas of However, went against ideas of

Enlightenment:Enlightenment: Allowed for Censorship by NapoleonAllowed for Censorship by Napoleon Removed women’s rights (won during Revolution)Removed women’s rights (won during Revolution) Restored slavery in French Colonies of Caribbean Restored slavery in French Colonies of Caribbean

(abolished during Revolution)(abolished during Revolution) Did NOT apply to NapoleonDid NOT apply to Napoleon

Napoleon Battles to Napoleon Battles to Dominate EuropeDominate Europe

Led numerous battles from 1805-Led numerous battles from 1805-1807 that almost led to French 1807 that almost led to French domination of Europedomination of Europe

Napoleon’s Empire included all of Napoleon’s Empire included all of Western Europe and beyondWestern Europe and beyond

Despite great success on land, the Despite great success on land, the loss of the naval battle of Trafalgar to loss of the naval battle of Trafalgar to British proves fatefulBritish proves fateful

Napoleon’s Empire Napoleon’s Empire CollapsesCollapses

Continental SystemContinental SystemPeninsular WarPeninsular War

Russian InvasionRussian Invasion

Continental SystemContinental System

Blockade of British shipping and goodsBlockade of British shipping and goods Attempt to strengthen the continental Attempt to strengthen the continental

countries of Europecountries of Europe Britain responded with their own blockadeBritain responded with their own blockade Continental System weakened the Continental System weakened the

economies of continental Europeeconomies of continental Europe Policy hurt Napoleon more than his Policy hurt Napoleon more than his

enemiesenemies

Peninsular War– Spanish Peninsular War– Spanish GuerillasGuerillas

Napoleon attempted to make his Napoleon attempted to make his brother King of Spainbrother King of Spain

Nationalism was on the rise Nationalism was on the rise throughout Europe due to Napoleon’s throughout Europe due to Napoleon’s conquest of the continentconquest of the continent

Spanish guerillas killed almost Spanish guerillas killed almost 300,000 French soldiers300,000 French soldiers

Russian InvasionRussian Invasion

Russia refused to participate in the Russia refused to participate in the blockade of Britainblockade of Britain

1812, Napoleon attacked Russia with 1812, Napoleon attacked Russia with 400,000400,000

Majority of Army was not French, and had Majority of Army was not French, and had little loyalty to Napoleonlittle loyalty to Napoleon

Scorched Earth Policy destroyed Napoleon’s Scorched Earth Policy destroyed Napoleon’s army and left him with only 10,000 army and left him with only 10,000 survivorssurvivors

Napoleon is defeatedNapoleon is defeated