WORLD HISTORY

Section 1 (pages 592-599)

Revised October 8, 2012

CHAPTER 20THE FRENCH

REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON

Inequalities in society Old order

King was at the top, followed by three social groups (estates) 1st Estate—Roman Catholic clergy (1%) 2nd Estate—Nobles , made up of key positions in gov’t & military (2%) 3rd Estate—Largest group (97%)

Bourgeoisie-merchants, factory owners, & professionals Sans culottes-artisans & workers Peasants-worked hard and had very little

Enlightenment ideas—rebellion against the kingPoor leadership from Louis XVIFinancial crisis—France deeply in debt

King Louis XVI tried to tax the 2nd Estate, but the Nobles refused

Widespread hunger & record cold (1788) Poor harvest

1. What caused the French Revolution?

Reasons:

1. Inequalities in society 2. Ideas of Enlightenment writers

3. Poor leadership from Louis XVI

4. Financial crisis

5. Widespread hunger and record cold

CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTIONThe Bread Famine and the Pawnbroker by Le Sueur brothers, 1700s

THE OLD ORDER- Inequalities in French society! King was at the top- King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-

Antoinette 3 social groups (ESTATES) were under him 1st Estate- Catholic Clergy- 1% of the population

Several privileges- FEW TAXES 2nd Estate- Nobility- 2% of the population

Paid few taxesKey positions in govt. and militaryGreat country manors

3rd Estate- 97% of the populationBourgeoisie- Merchants, Factory Owners,

ProfessionalsArtisans- Skilled WorkersPeasants

THE REVOLUTION BEGINS

The Revolution Begins

An assembly made up of all three Estates met to discuss new taxes. Asked to approve taxes on the Third Estate Estates General had not met for over 175 years

Representatives wrote notebooks (cahiers) to document their grievances. As the notebooks arrived in Paris, it became evident that the people wanted

extreme reforms. Voting process threatened reform

Before, 1st/2nd Estate voted together, thus outvoting the 3rd estate 3rd Estate wanted voting procedures changed

Refused to follow King’s orders to vote the old way King Louis refused to recognize them Thus, they formed the National Assembly on June 17, 1789 Gave themselves the right to make law Locked out by the King and met in an indoor tennis court

Tennis Court Oath—would not leave until they had written a constitution for France. The King relented and allowed each representative to have a vote

2. What happened at the meeting of the Estates-General?

Spring of 1789—no group was happy1st/2nd Estates (upper clergy & nobility)

Resented they had lost power to the monarchy3rd Estate

Wealthy bourgeoisie resented gov’t regulations that hampered business growth

Poorer members resented the hunger & unemployment

Demanded more representation and rightsA mob stormed the BastilleRumors of retaliation spread

3. What happened during the first events of the Revolution?

The King ordered troops to Paris and Versailles in case he needed to preserve the monarchy by force. In response, the Nat’l Assembly armed themselves

against any action taken by the King.On July 14, 1789, a mob of Parisians went to the Bastille,

an ancient prison, looking for weapons.The Bastille was viewed as a symbol of oppression by the

people.The mob first tried to negotiate for weapons, but when

the Bastille’s commander refused, they stormed into the prison.

The mob killed the commander and put his head on a stick before parading through the streets of Paris.This became a powerful symbol of the French Revolution.

4. Why did a mob storm the Bastille?

Storming the Bastille

THE REVOLUTION BEGINS

Some were fearful of punishment from the king.Rumors were spread about the king hiring

foreign soldiers to punish the 3rd Estate.As a result, a panic swept through France.

Some stories were true, but most were not.As a result of years of abuse by landowners,

some peasants did take revenge.Records listing feudal dues and rents were

burned, along with some of the nobles’ homes.

5. What was the connection between the fall of the Bastille and the Great Fear?

YesThey represented 97% of the people in

France.

6. Did the National Assembly created by the 3rd Estate have the right to make laws for all of France?

CREATING A NEW NATION 1789- NATIONAL

ASSEMBLYEliminated Feudal

duesTax the First EstateWrote the

Declarations the Rights of Man

“LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND FRATERNITY”

Freedom of speech press and religion

The violence that marked the beginning of the Revolutions subsided.

The Nat’l Assembly began to transform centuries of French tradition.

By August 1789Nat’l Assembly had eliminated all the feudal dues and

services owed by peasants to landownersEliminated the 1st Estates legal privilegesAdopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the

CitizenLiberty, equality, fraternity (brotherhood)All men are born equal and remain equal before the lawFreedom of speech, press, and religion

US Bill of Rights Women not given these rights (Olympe Gouges)

7. How did the French create a new nation?

The Declaration laid out the basic principles of the French Revolution—“liberty, equality, fraternity [brotherhood].” Writers of the Declaration took their inspiration from the English Bill of Rights, the American Declaration of Independence, and the writings of Enlightenment philosophers

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the …

rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression

5. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society….

6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its formation. It must be the same for all…

7. No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law…

9. As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty…

11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man…

12. A common contribution (tax) is essential. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

King Louis again called troops to the palace to protect his throne.

This angered the common peopleIn October, 7000 women marched through

the rain from Paris to Versailles and demanded bread.

After breaking into the palace, King Louis agreed to return to Paris and live in the Tuileries Palace with his family.

8. What was the outcome of the women’s march on Versailles?

Revolution’s leaders took bolder stepsThey passed several anticlerical measuresSeized church lands and sold them to pay off

France’s huge debtAll religious orders were disbandedAlso passed an act to turn the clergy into

public employeesThis outraged most members of the clergy and

horrified many peasants.

9. What happened after the seizure of Versailles to religious leaders?

Nat’l Assembly finished constitution in 1791It created a new legislative body called the

Legislative Assembly.Citizens gained broad voting rights.

But had to be a tax paying male and at least 25

The monarchy was kept, but severely restricted.

King Louis and Marie-Antoinette feared for their lives.Disguised themselves and fled.They were eventually caught and returned to

Paris.

10. What steps did National and Legislative Assemblies take to create a new nation?

July 1792Austria & Prussia issued a warning against

harming the French monarchs.Austria sent 50,000 troops to the French

border.In response, the Legislative Assembly declared

war.France’s army was in disarray, and was easily

defeated.The warning had probably been issued to avoid

provoking a war against France, but to no avail.

11. Why do you think that Austria and Prussia warned against harming the French monarchs?

A mob marched on the palace and slaughtered the guards.

The king and queen, with their children, were thrown in prison.

They had been reduced to commoners.Faced with mob violence and foreign invasion,

the Legislative Assembly felt powerless.It voted itself out of existence and called for the

election of a new legislature.This violence put the radical faction in control.

This National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.

12. What challenges were faced by the people of France in August 1792?

1791- Constitution was CompleteLegislative Assembly

1791- Legislative Assembly

Established broad voting rights

Restricted the Monarchy

King and Queen were arrested while trying to flee

1792- Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria and Prussia

The End of the Monarchy Extreme action came on August 10, 1792, when a mob marched on the Tuileries Palace and slaughtered the guards. Louis, Marie-Antoinette, and the children—now demoted to commoners— were thrown in prison.

     Faced with mob violence and foreign invasion, the Legislative Assembly felt powerless. It voted itself out of existence and called for the election of a new legislature, the National Convention. The violence in August helped put the radical faction, or those who favored extreme change, in control. Among the National Convention’s first acts were abolishing the monarchy and declaring France a republic.

1793 Jacques-Louis David painting, the Death of Marat

Section 2 (Pages 601-607)

When the National Convention convened on September 20, 1792, the radical representatives were in control.

France would not be a constitutional monarchy, but a republic.

Tried and executed the king.Set up Committee of Public Safety and the

Revolutionary Tribunal.Closed churches.Tried to undo old way.

1. What changes did the radical government make in French society and politics?

Montagnards – the most radicalJacobin ClubLower middle class and poor peopleSupported the Republic- against Monarchy

Girondins – moderatesSupported constitutional monarchyResisted extremes on either side

The PlainSwing votersEventually lean Radical

2. What were the three factions in the National Convention?

National Convention-1792THE REPUBLIC

1792- Establishment of a new Legislature- THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

Radical faction took over the government

ABOLISHED THE MONARCHY

GOVERNEMNT DIVIDED INTO THREE FACTIONS The Mountain

(Montagnards)—most radical, support from lower middle class/poor

Girondins—moderates The Plain—swing voters

3. Who were the radical leaders of the new republic of France?

Jean-Paul Marat Advocate of violence and leader of

Paris sans culottes One of the most radical leaders Printed radical newspaper Had a skin condition which

required daily medicinal baths Stabbed to death while taking his

bath

Georges-Jacques Danton Violent agitator – very popular with

public A compromiser

Maximilien Robespierre Intense dedication to the

Revolution Led the National Convention

during its most blood-thirsty time.

Initially detested the death penalty

The more powerful Montagnards were eager to try & execute the King.Wanted to prevent the return of the Monarchy and

defend the Revolution from its enemies.The King was quickly condemned and scheduled

to die on January 21, 1793.He tried to give a speech about his innocence,

but was drown out by a drum roll.He was placed in the guillotine and his head was

cut off.A young guard held his head up after the

execution.

4. When the National Convention decided to try and execute the king, what message were they sending to France?

EXECUTION OF THE KING

First to be set up was the Committee of Public Safety.Managed the country’s military defense against

enemies on France’s borders.Created a draft of all able-bodied men between 18-

45 for military service.

Created a court called the Revolutionary Tribunal.This court was set up to root out and eliminate

people who threatened the Revolution from within.

5. What departments did the National Convention set up? What did they do?

TRANSFORMING SOCIETY

Leaders wanted to erase all connections to old ways of life, including religion.Many clergy members lost their positions. In Paris, the local government closed the churches and

replaced Catholic Churches with “the Cult of the Supreme Being”.

A metric system replaced the old system of weights and measures.

A new calendar also cut ties to the past.This calendar, renamed the months and made each

month 3 weeks of 10 days. This calendar fell out of use, but the metric system

stayed.

6. How did the Revolution attempt to also transform society?

It saw the old government and systems as oppressive and it wanted to create a better society.

7. Overall, why did the Nat’l Convention want to change French government and society?

Middle of 1793Many people in and out of France criticized

the Revolution.Revolution leaders worried about a

counterrevolution.A revolution against a gov’t that was established by

a revolution.Included Great Britain, Holland, Spain, Austria,

and Prussia who all formed a coalition to make war against France.

In response, revolutionary leaders began a series of accusations, trials, and executions.

8. What was the Reign of Terror, and how did it end?

As a result, some of the revolutionary leaders feared that they would lose control. They decided to take drastic actions to avoid a possible counterrevolution, a revolution against a government that was established by a revolution. The Mountain began a series of accusations, trials, and executions that became known as the Reign of Terror, creating a wave of fear throughout the country.

Reign of Terror-DirectoryPage 604-605

The peasants had won their main goal—the end of feudal dues—they returned to their conservative roots.

Most remained devoutly Catholic.After the institution of the draft, the peasants’

hatred for the gov’t erupted.“They have killed our king; chased away our

priests; sold the goods of our church; eaten everything we have and now they want to take our bodies . . . No, they shall not have them.”

9. Why did peasants generally oppose the Revolutionary gov’t?

An area of western France, resistance to the gov’t was so strong that it led to civil war.

Counterrevolutionary force called the Catholic and Royal army, fought gov’t forces.

Gov’t forces ultimately regained control by destroying everyone and everything it could.

10. What dramatic events occurred in the Vend`ee?

Reign of Terror-DirectoryPage 604-605

Committee of Public Safety (summer of 1793)M. Robespierre declared the need to use terror to

defend the republic from its many enemies.The terror campaign started with the Girondists,

who had favored a constitutional monarchy.Soon, anyone who had criticized the Revolution or

was connected to the Old Order, was in danger of being hauled in for a trial.

Some were tried because of their counterrevolutionary activity.

The accused had few rights and some were even forbidden to defend themselves.

11. Who was in danger of being tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal?

Such a death was quick, in contrast to the agonizing methods of execution used in the past.

The executioner could execute more than one person per minute.

Paris executioner complained that decapitation by sword dulled the blade. Sharpening the sword took time, and their were many to be

executed. Sometimes the condemned bribed the executioner to be “on target” with

their swing.

Dr. Joseph Guillotine, a member of the Nat’l Assembly, recommended a “decapitation machine” used by other countries. Guillotine believed this method was more in line with

Enlightenment ideals.The guillotine became a symbol of terror.

12. How did the guillotine contribute to the Reign of Terror? What is its history in France?

The Reign of Terror did not spare any particular class, occupation, or gender. More peasants and laborers formed the largest group of

victims.However, nobility and even women were executed.

Marie-Anoinette—Queen of France Olympe de Gouges—wrote Declaration of the Rights of

Woman Nuns who refused to close their convents.

Robespierre sent G.J. Danton and followers to the guillotine. Robespierre himself was executed along with about 100 of his

followers.During the 10 months of the Terror, some 300,000 people

were arrested, and about 17,000 were executed.

13. Why wasn’t the Reign of Terror ended sooner? Who were the victims? How many were victims did the Terror claim?

France had to start over with a new gov’tIn 1795, the Nat’l Convention wrote another

constitutionAfter the new constitution was adopted, voters elected

a governing board called the DirectoryDirectory made up of 5 men called Directors

The Directory did pass some legislation, but was mostly ineffective

France’s troubles continued because of the ineffectiveness and corruption of the DirectoryAs a result, there was a power vacuum, with no one

really in controlHigh prices, bankruptcy, citizen unrest still continued

After the Terror

Section 3Pages 608-613

Napoleon’s Europe

Estates General (Old Order) Had not met for 175 years Sought changes to voting process/individual votes

Nat’l Assembly (created June 17, 1789) Locked out by King (Tennis Court Oath) Ended feudalism and privileges of the 1st & 2nd Estates Approved the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen Seized church lands and made clergy paid employees Kept limited monarchy, which reduced the king’s power

Legislative Assembly (first met September, 1791) Inexperienced representatives, often deadlocked on domestic issues Declared war on Austria in April 1792 Voted itself out in 1792 Felt powerless, after royal family was imprisoned

Nat’l Convention (first met September, 1792) Extremely radical Abolished the monarchy & declared France a republic Tried and executed Louis XVI for treason Instituted draft to increase size of army In power during the Reign of Terror Began codifying laws and creating public education system Abolished slavery in French colonies Wrote a new constitution, and created the Directory

Directory (first met in 1795) Run by an executive branch of five directors Weak, corrupt, and inefficient Ended in 1799 when Napoleon seized power

Governments of Revolutionary France

1. How did a young officer’s chance to prove himself change Europe’s future?

Napoleon showed early signs of greatness

1793- Defeated the English at Toulon

Napoleon took over for a wounded captain

1794- Defeated Austria in Italy

1795- Defeated the French mob

1790’s- Napoleon controlled all French forces- kept France secure in very difficult times

1798- Napoleon in Egypt (pg.609)

1799 Coup d'état- Directory had grown weak and ineffective (pg. 609)

2. How did Napoleon rise to power?Bonaparte was a ruthlessly ambitious young manThe turmoil of the French Revolution gave him a

prime opportunity to rise quickly to powerIn just a few short years, he would rise from a mere

army captain to the ruler of France1793-forced British out of the port of Toulon1794-won victory over Austrian troops in Italy1795-faced off against Loyalist in Paris

Fired into crowd with “grape-shot” and made the mob flee

For this, he was put in command of the interior of France

He was only 26

1796-Directory placed Napoleon in command of French forces invading Italy.

His army was poorly supplied, thus they had to take their food from the countryside.Used this to his advantage and moved swiftly

through battles against Austria & ItalyDid not have to wait for supply trains

These victories kept France’s borders secure and won territory for France.

3. What was the outcome of Napoleon’s campaigns in Italy?

He wanted to disrupt the trade between Great Britain and IndiaHe took a large army and the French fleet

across the Mediterranean Sea in 1798.Napoleon’s forces quickly defeated Egypt’s

Ottoman defenders and won control of EgyptThe British navy, under the command of

Admiral Horatio Nelson, trapped the French fleet in the Battle of the NileBritish destroyed most of the French fleet

4. Why did Napoleon turn his attention to Egypt?

Napoleon wanted to keep the defeat a secretHe placed his army under another officer in

Egypt and returned to FranceHe kept his defeat out of the press and

exaggerated his successes He became a national hero in the process

5. What happened after the defeat in Egypt?

Using his hero status, Napoleon decided to seize political power.By this time, the Directory had grown weak and

ineffective.Fearful of loyalists and other countries, a group of

conspirators planned to overthrow the French government and place Napoleon in control.

Thus, in November of 1799, a group of armed supporters of Napoleon surrounded the Directory.They demanded the members to transfer France’s power to Napoleon

This is called a coup d’etat.

6. How did Napoleon become the dictator of France?

Exhausted by the chaos, death, and warfare of the revolution, most French embraced the order and stability Napoleon promised.Napoleon also promised to uphold some key

revolutionary reforms.The people were willing to give up some

freedoms if Napoleon could bring peace, prosperity, and glory to France.

7. Why would a nation that had overthrown a king now welcome a new dictator?

He strengthened control by submitting a plebiscite to the French people The plebiscite or question was put

up for vote in 1804. Did they want to declare France an

empire? French voters supported him and

voted yes. Napoleon then became Emperor

Napoleon I. Pope Pius VII came from Rome to

crown him. Napoleon grabbed the crown and

placed it on his own head.

He then wanted to rule all of Europe and began a series of wars to do this.

8. How did Emperor Napoleon come to dominate Europe?

France had controlled parts of the Americas.These territories included: Louisiana, Florida

and Saint Domingo (present day Haiti)When a civil war broke out in sugar-rich Saint

Domingo, Napoleon sent an expedition to take back the colony and restore the profitable sugar industry.The expedition failed miserably.

After the failure, Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States and

turned his focus on Europe.

9. What happened to Frances’ power in the Americas?

These wars were an extension of the ones fought between France and other European nations during the French Revolution.

During this period, France became the dominant power.

These wars lasted until 1815. Keeping France in a

continuous state of war for more than a decade.

10. What were the Napoleonic Wars?

Throughout the Napoleonic Wars, Great Britain remained France’s greatest enemy.Britain helped organize a series of coalitions of European

nations against France.Britain also funded resistance to Napoleon.

Napoleon knew that he would have to defeat Britain to achieve peace in Europe.He planned on invading Britain in October, 1805.Napoleon was defeated by Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar.

However, on land, Napoleon had been successful.

Defeated Russian and Austrian troops at the Battle of Austerlitz, near Vienna, Austria.

11. Why was Napoleon unable to conquer Great Britain?

Napoleon’s disdain for the British grew as they continued to defy him.He knew this “nation of shopkeepers” relied on

oversea trade.If he could disrupt this trade, he could make it more

difficult for the British to fund the rebellion in Europe.

He planned a blockade of trade to Britain.This was called the Continental System.

The British countered with requiring all ships from neutral countries to stop in Britain ports for permission to trade with the French.

These trade restrictions caused more conflicts.Peninsular War

12. What was the Continental System?

THE NAPOLEONIC WARS(1804-1815) The Continental System

Portugal, part of the Iberian peninsula, was neutral during the Napoleonic Wars.Needed the trade with Britain, thus refused to comply with

the Continental System.Napoleon sent troops into Portugal to force out the king.He then conquered Spain and placed his brother Joseph

in power.Spanish resented a foreign ruler and revolted in 1808.

Britain then sent troops to support the revolt.Napoleon was now fighting two military forces.

He responded by sending troops from central Europe, and they quickly won victories over the British and Spanish forces.

13. What was the Peninsular War?

Spanish people began a guerrilla war.They ambushed French troops and raided

French camps.To punish the Spanish guerrilla fighters, the

French slaughtered many innocent Spanish civilians.

This guerrilla war kept the French pinned down, and eventually Napoleon had to pull his troops out of Spain.

14. How did the Spanish people threaten French forces?

In spite of the loss in Spain, Napoleon managed to take control of most of Europe through treaties, alliances, and victories in battle.

The only nations free of his control were Great Britain, Sweden, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire.

Napoleon placed his relatives in power.Brothers in Holland, Naples & Sicily (Italy),

Westphalia (Germany)Sisters and even his stepson, also held

powerful positions.

15. How did Napoleon establish dominance in Europe?

16. What were Napoleon’s most important policies? Reform of Church-State Relations

Agreement with Pope called Concordat Recognized most of French were Catholic, but did not have to be Catholic

Economic Reforms Established the Bank of France to regulate the economy It also set up a more efficient tax collection system

Legal and Educational Reforms Scholars revised and organized French law and created the Napoleonic Code

This code made laws uniform across the nation and eliminated many injustices

However, it also promoted order and authority over individual rights. Freedom of press was restricted Denied rights for women Napoleon established a network of high schools, universities, and technical

schools to educate young men in preparation for jobs Napoleon’s legacy

Ensured that some basic ideas of the Revolution would remain part of the French gov’t

Democratic ideas included equality before the law and a representative gov’t Nationalism spread to peoples that Napoleon had conquered

Section 4Pages 614-619

Napoleon’s Fall and Europe’s Reaction

Napoleon stationed troops near the western border of RussiaCzar Alexander I became nervous and stationed his own

troops there.Napoleon noticed these troop movements of the Russians

and decided to turn his troops east and move into Russia.Thus, in June 1812, Napoleon and an army of 600,000 men

marched across the Russian border.Many of these troops were new recruits from conquered

territories and felt no loyalty for Napoleon.Many of the army’s supplies were lost or spoiled along the

way.The summer heat made men and horses miserable.

Thus, many me suffered from disease, desertion, and hunger, which thinned the ranks.

1. Why did Napoleon attack Russia?

Napoleon wanted a quick victory over the Russians.The Russian troops withdrew as the French army

advanced.Peasants, too, moved east after setting fire to their

fields and cities in order to leave nothing behind that the French could use.Scorched earth

Finally, in August, 1812, the French army clashed with the Russians.They won the battle

However, they had extremely high casualties

The Russians retreated, still 90,000 men strong.

2. What strategic moves did Russian forces make?

As the remnants of the French army pushed on to Moscow, they discovered the city in ruins. Fires had been set and the city was nearly deserted.

Napoleon knew he could not support his troops in this ruined city through the winter. In October, he and his army left Moscow.

The French army was forced to return from the direction they had come. The fields were still scorched and they received isolated attacks from

Russian peasants. As the harsh Russian winter set in, starvation and freezing

temperatures killed thousands. What was left of the French army staggered home without a leader.

Napoleon had rushed back to Paris by sleigh, leaving his troops behind. In the end, only 94,000 out of the original 600,000 French troops made it back.

3. What happened near Moscow?

371,000 killed in action[1] 800,000 killed by disease, primarily in the

disastrous invasion of Russia[2] 600,000 civilians[2] 65,000 French allies (mainly Poles fighting for

independence lost in 1795)[2] Total: 1,800,000 French and allies (mostly

Germans and Poles) dead in action, disease and missing[1]

French losses during Napoleonic Wars

4. Why do you think Napoleon was exiled rather than placed in prison?The Allies had hope after Napoleon’s Russian campaign.

Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great BritainAfter the Russian campaign, Napoleon raised another army.

His troops were inexperienced.In October 1813, the allies met Napoleon’s new troops near

the German city of Liepzig.The battle was a clear defeat for Napoleon. In March, 1814, the allies entered Paris in victory.

As one of the terms of surrender, Napoleon had to give up his throne.He was allowed to keep the title of emperor, but was exiled to

the island of Elba—a tiny patch of land off the coast of Italy.He went into exile with a small pension and about 400 guards.

5. After Napoleon’s exile, who became leader of France? What were Napoleon’s last campaigns?

The allies restored the French monarchy, recognizing Louis XVIII, as the rightful king of France.Brother of executed king

Also returned the borders of France to 1792 areas.

The king quickly unpopular.Many were fearful of a return to the Old Order.

The Hundred DaysBattle of Waterloo

After about one year, Napoleon hired a ship to take him and many supporters back to France.

As rumors spread about his return, Louis XVIII panicked and fled to Belgium. The allies (Prussia, Austria, Russia, Gr. Britain) declared Napoleon

an outlaw. The French people, who had been dragged through years of bitter

warfare, were not happy. (over 1 million French killed) Thousands of other French citizens were excited to hear of

Napoleon’s return. They still adored the leader and the reforms he had made while he was

emperor. In fact, the troops sent to arrest him, instead pledged their loyalty to him.

Napoleon arrived in Paris to cheering crowds, thus this began a brief period of renewed glory for France called the Hundred Days.

6. What happened after Napoleon’s exile on Elba? What were the “Hundred Days”?

Across Europe, Napoleon’s enemies were gathering their troops for another showdown with Napoleon.

After some indecisive battles, the final confrontation took place on June 18, 1815 at Waterloo, a Belgian village.Napoleon led his troops against British (led by the Duke of

Wellington), Belgian, Dutch, and German troops.After heavy rain delayed the battle, Napoleon’s army was no

match for the combined strength of the multiple armies.There were about 50,000 casualties between France and Great

Britain, a great loss of life.The Battle of Waterloo was a crushing defeat for Napoleon

and ended his military career and the Napoleonic Wars.

7. What happened at the Battle of Waterloo?

Battle of Waterloo

Napoleon evaded capture for a short time, but was eventually caught.

This time they exiled him much further away at Saint Helena, a bleak volcanic island in the South Atlantic, some 1200 miles from the nearest mainland.

Napoleon never escaped from his remote prison on Saint Helena.

He died just six years later at the age of 51.The cause of death is still not known.

8. What happened in Napoleon’s final days?

A meeting in 1815 to create a plan to restore order and stability to Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.700 diplomats attended the Congress, only a few

played crucial roles:Lord Castlereagh of Great BritainKing Fredreick- William III of PrussiaPrince Klemens von Metternich of AustriaCharles Tallyrand of France

METTERNICH HAD A STRONG DISTRUSTOF DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL CHANGE (see next slide)

The congress redrew the map of Europe.It also formed the German Confederation Took and distributed France’s conquered territories Restored some monarchies

9. What did the Congress of Vienna achieve?

THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA-1815Metternich was the

leader of the Congress of Vienna.ReactionaryRestore a balance of

power in EuropeMake Europe peaceful

againRestore old monarchiesCompensate the AlliesPunish France Stop the Revolutionary

movement

10. Why did the Congress of Vienna want to suppress all revolutions?Saw revolutions as a destabilizing force.Wanted to stabilize Europe.

Those which aided France lost territoryThose which opposed France won territory

11. How was it decided which nations gained territory and which nations lost it?

12. What is the legacy of the French Revolution?

Revolutionary Legacy-Privileged positions (monarchy)

were not secure (fear of Revolution)Enlightenment ideas of human

dignity, personal liberties and equality would not go away. (individual rights)

The common man could make great changes.

1789-1800 1789

Nat’l Assembly forms Fall of the Bastille Declaration of the Rights of

Man/Citizen 1791

Legislative Assembly forms France declares war against Austria &

Prussia 1792

Nat’l Convention forms Monarchy ends

1793 Louis XVI executed First coalition formed against France Reign of Terror begins

1795 The Directory forms

1799 Napoleon seizes power

1805 French defeat at Trafalgar,

victory @ Austerlitz 1812

Disastrous Russian campaign

1813 Napoleon exiled to Elba

1815 Napoleon’s Hundred Days French defeat at Waterloo Napoleon exiled to St.

Helena Congress of Vienna

Major Events of the Revolution and Napoleonic Era

1800-1815