The French Revolution Section 9.41: Background of the French Revolution.
French Revolution
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Transcript of French Revolution
Birth of a Republic
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
System with the metric system (still used today)
New Calendar Naming Sept. 22, 1792—date of the
Republic creation Calendar does not last
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!
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
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
Girondists (Juh-Rahn-dihsts) –Moderates
Felt that the revolution went far enough
Wanted to protect the wealthy middle class from radical attacks
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
Marie AntoinetteIs killed during this time
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
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
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
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
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
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
All of France looks to the Army to save France from ruin
Video run for 11 min.
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)
Napoleon and Josephine
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
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
Napoleon’s Empire
The Consulate Theoretically establishes a Republic Actually sets-up a Dictatorship Absolute Rule
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.FFFF
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ESpanish Coast
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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