The The French French

RevolutionRevolution10R Global History10R Global History

Unit XUnit X

Soon after the American Revolution, a Soon after the American Revolution, a major revolution broke out in France.major revolution broke out in France.

Starting in 1789, the Starting in 1789, the French RevolutionFrench Revolution had a deep and lasting impact on France, had a deep and lasting impact on France, Europe, and other areas of the world.Europe, and other areas of the world.

The The French RevolutionFrench Revolution went through many went through many stages, caused by changes in leadership stages, caused by changes in leadership and shifts in power. and shifts in power.

The French Revolution & The French Revolution & The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of Terror

Causes of the Causes of the RevolutionRevolution

Political, social, and economic Political, social, and economic factors combined to bring about the factors combined to bring about the

French Revolution.French Revolution.

(1) Absolute Monarchy(1) Absolute Monarchy On the eve of revolution, France was an On the eve of revolution, France was an

absolute monarchyabsolute monarchy.. Under Under absolutismabsolutism, most , most peoplepeople in France were in France were

denied basic rights and any say in denied basic rights and any say in governmentgovernment..

(2) Social Inequality(2) Social Inequality Since the Middle Ages, Since the Middle Ages,

everyone in France had everyone in France had belonged to one of belonged to one of three three social classessocial classes called called estatesestates..

The The clergyclergy were the were the First EstateFirst Estate; the titled ; the titled nobilitynobility composed the composed the Second EstateSecond Estate..

These two These two estatesestates (classes) held (classes) held enormous enormous wealthwealth, did not have to , did not have to pay taxespay taxes, as well as , as well as other special other special rightsrights and and privilegesprivileges..

(2) Social Inequality (2) Social Inequality ((continued) continued)

The The Third EstateThird Estate made made up up most of French most of French societysociety and included a and included a bourgeoisiebourgeoisie (middle (middle class), class), poor city poor city workersworkers, and , and rural rural peasantspeasants, the largest , the largest group.group.

The Third Estate, which The Third Estate, which resented its resented its heavy tax heavy tax burdenburden and and lack of lack of rightsrights, grew increasingly , grew increasingly discontent.discontent.

(3) Economic Injustices(3) Economic Injustices

The The governmentgovernment, with its , with its lavish court and lavish court and expensive warsexpensive wars, spent more money than it , spent more money than it earned.earned.

Bad harvestsBad harvests in 1789 caused in 1789 caused food prices to food prices to riserise..

Peasants and city dwellers often did not have Peasants and city dwellers often did not have enough food and therefore began to enough food and therefore began to riotriot, , demanding bread.demanding bread.

(4) Enlightenment(4) Enlightenment Through the 1600s and 1700s, Through the 1600s and 1700s, EnlightenmentEnlightenment

thinkers were critical of France’s thinkers were critical of France’s absolute absolute monarchymonarchy and called for and called for democratic reformsdemocratic reforms..

EnlightenmentEnlightenment ideas led many French to ideas led many French to questionquestion the the traditional way oftraditional way of ordering ordering societysociety..

(5) English & American (5) English & American ExamplesExamples

England’s England’s Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution provided an provided an example of how existing authority could be example of how existing authority could be challenged.challenged.

In addition, the French were inspired by the In addition, the French were inspired by the American colonies’ successful fight for American colonies’ successful fight for liberty liberty and equalityand equality in the in the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution..

Stages of the Stages of the RevolutionRevolution

The French The French RevolutionRevolution

(1) The Revolution (1) The Revolution Begins…Begins…

As conditions grew worse in France, As conditions grew worse in France, demands for demands for reformreform increased. increased.

In 1789, King Louis XVI finally called the In 1789, King Louis XVI finally called the Estates GeneralEstates General, , a body made up of a body made up of representatives of all three estatesrepresentatives of all three estates, into , into session.session.

After this, change came swiftly…After this, change came swiftly…

the the National AssemblyNational Assembly

The Third Estate, the The Third Estate, the only elected group in only elected group in the the Estates GeneralEstates General, , declared itself the declared itself the National AssemblyNational Assembly..

The National The National Assembly vowed to Assembly vowed to write a new write a new constitutionconstitution for for France.France.

Seizure of the BastilleSeizure of the Bastille Working-class people, Working-class people,

already rioting over already rioting over the price of bread, the price of bread, stormed a prisonstormed a prison called the called the BastilleBastille on on July 14, 1789.July 14, 1789.

Fighting broke out Fighting broke out within the cities and within the cities and country-sides of country-sides of France.France.

In a period known as In a period known as the the Great FearGreat Fear, , peasants attacked peasants attacked noblesnobles and destroyed and destroyed their homes.their homes.

……and the and the

Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of ManMan

The National Assembly The National Assembly abolished the privileges abolished the privileges of the First and Second of the First and Second Estates and Estates and adoptedadopted the the Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Rights of Man and the CitizenCitizen..

BasedBased partly on the partly on the Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence, it , it contained many contained many Enlightenment ideasEnlightenment ideas..

(2) A Limited Monarchy(2) A Limited Monarchy By 1791, the Assembly had written a By 1791, the Assembly had written a

constitutionconstitution.. The Constitution of 1791 defined the The Constitution of 1791 defined the role role

and purpose of a new governmentand purpose of a new government..

According to the Constitution the role According to the Constitution the role and purpose of this new government and purpose of this new government

was…was…1)1) It set up a It set up a limited monarchylimited monarchy and and

representative assemblyrepresentative assembly..2)2) It declared that people had It declared that people had natural rightsnatural rights

and that it was the job of the and that it was the job of the governmentgovernment to to protect those rightsprotect those rights..

3)3) It put the It put the ChurchChurch under state control. under state control.

News about the News about the French RevolutionFrench Revolution quickly quickly spread across Europe.spread across Europe.

Many European Many European rulers and nobles fearedrulers and nobles feared that that revolutionary ideas would spreadrevolutionary ideas would spread to to their own countries.their own countries.

In 1792, to fight In 1792, to fight tyrannytyranny and and spread the spread the revolutionrevolution, , France declared warFrance declared war on Austria, on Austria, Prussia, Britain, and several other states.Prussia, Britain, and several other states.

(3) Radicals in Power(3) Radicals in Power

The war with other The war with other European nations European nations went badly for France.went badly for France.

In 1792, In 1792, radicals took radicals took control of the control of the AssemblyAssembly, , ended the ended the monarchymonarchy, and , and declared France a declared France a republicrepublic..

Their slogan was Their slogan was ““LibertyLiberty, , EqualityEquality, , FraternityFraternity.”.”

In 1793, In 1793, the king was the king was executedexecuted for treason. for treason.

This event was This event was followed by a period in followed by a period in France called the France called the Reign of TerrorReign of Terror, led in , led in part by part by Maximilien Maximilien RobespierreRobespierre, , a radical a radical revolutionaryrevolutionary. .

During this time, tens During this time, tens of thousands of people of thousands of people were were executedexecuted..

Thousands more were Thousands more were put into prisonput into prison. .

Within a year, however, the violence Within a year, however, the violence turned back on itself.turned back on itself.

Robespierre himself was executedRobespierre himself was executed, and , and the the Reign of TerrorReign of Terror ended. ended.

(4) Moderates Return(4) Moderates Return

Beginning in 1795, Beginning in 1795, a five-man “Directory”a five-man “Directory” supported by a legislature supported by a legislature held power in held power in FranceFrance. .

This government was This government was weakweak and and inefficientinefficient.. Rising bread pricesRising bread prices brought the threat of brought the threat of riotsriots.. Into this chaotic situation stepped an Into this chaotic situation stepped an

ambitious military leader, ambitious military leader, Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte..

Napoleon in Napoleon in PowerPower

The French The French RevolutionRevolution

Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte

His Rise To Power…His Rise To Power…

When the revolution When the revolution started, started, Napoleon Napoleon BonaparteBonaparte was a was a low-level low-level military military officerofficer with dreams with dreams of glory.of glory.

Bonaparte rose in Bonaparte rose in the ranks and won the ranks and won important victories important victories against the British against the British and Austrians.and Austrians.

A popular general by A popular general by 1779, Napoleon 1779, Napoleon helped to helped to overthrowoverthrow the weak Directory in the weak Directory in a a coup d’etatcoup d’etat, or , or revolt by military revolt by military leaders to overthrow leaders to overthrow a governmenta government..

He organized a He organized a new new governmentgovernment and put and put himself in charge.himself in charge.

Three years later, he took the title Three years later, he took the title ““Emperor of the FrenchEmperor of the French.”.”

Napoleon now had Napoleon now had absolute powerabsolute power.. The French people, hoping for stability, The French people, hoping for stability,

supported Napoleon at each step in his rise.supported Napoleon at each step in his rise.

His AchievementsHis Achievements

Much of Napoleon’s Much of Napoleon’s popularitypopularity came from his came from his effective policieseffective policies, i.e.:, i.e.:

1)ECONOMY-Napoleon 1)ECONOMY-Napoleon controlledcontrolled prices, prices, supported new industry, and built roads & supported new industry, and built roads & canals.canals.

2)EDUCATION-Napoleon established a 2)EDUCATION-Napoleon established a governmentgovernment-supervised a -supervised a public school systempublic school system..

continued…continued…3) Napoleonic Code3) Napoleonic Code

▪ ▪ The The Napoleonic CodeNapoleonic Code was was a legal code a legal code that included many Enlightenment ideasthat included many Enlightenment ideas, , such as the such as the legal equality of citizenslegal equality of citizens and and religious tolerationreligious toleration..

Napoleon’s EmpireNapoleon’s Empire From 1804 to 1814, From 1804 to 1814,

Napoleon ruled an Napoleon ruled an empireempire..

He He conqueredconquered much of much of Europe.Europe.

Napoleon often Napoleon often replaced monarchs of replaced monarchs of defeated nations with defeated nations with friends and relatives.friends and relatives.

Of the European Of the European powers, only powers, only BritainBritain and and RussiaRussia remained remained beyond Napoleon’s beyond Napoleon’s reach.reach.

The Dictatorship BeginsThe Dictatorship Begins

Napoleon’s FallNapoleon’s Fall

Napoleon’s empire Napoleon’s empire began to crumble as began to crumble as people in conquered people in conquered statesstates, inspired by , inspired by nationalismnationalism, , revoltedrevolted against French rule.against French rule.

When Napoleon When Napoleon attempted to invade attempted to invade Russia in the winter Russia in the winter of 1812 he lost most of 1812 he lost most of his army due to of his army due to hunger and cold.hunger and cold.

The Battle of WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo In 1813, an alliance of Russia, Britain, In 1813, an alliance of Russia, Britain,

Austria, and Prussia defeated Napoleon, Austria, and Prussia defeated Napoleon, forcing him to step down in 1814.forcing him to step down in 1814.

Napoleon returned to power in 1815, but Napoleon returned to power in 1815, but the British and Prussians the British and Prussians defeateddefeated him at him at the the Battle of WaterlooBattle of Waterloo..

The The Battle of Waterloo ended Napoleon’s reignBattle of Waterloo ended Napoleon’s reign, , and he lived the rest of his life in and he lived the rest of his life in exileexile..

The Congress The Congress of Viennaof Vienna

Balance of Power and Balance of Power and Restored MonarchsRestored Monarchs

After Napoleon’s After Napoleon’s defeat, defeat, European European diplomatsdiplomats met at met at the the Congress of Congress of ViennaVienna in 1815 to in 1815 to devise devise a peace a peace settlementsettlement..

As a result of the As a result of the meeting in Vienna, meeting in Vienna, European leaders European leaders agreed to agreed to restore restore order and stability order and stability to Europeto Europe..

Balance of Power & Restored Balance of Power & Restored MonarchsMonarchs

Despite their Despite their sometimes different sometimes different goals, the leaders at goals, the leaders at the Congress of Vienna the Congress of Vienna accomplished a great accomplished a great deal.deal.

They wanted to They wanted to establish a establish a balance of balance of powerpower, or , or a distribution a distribution of military and of military and economic powereconomic power that that would would prevent any one prevent any one country from becoming country from becoming too strongtoo strong..

The leaders also The leaders also wanted to wanted to restore restore power to monarchspower to monarchs (king and/or queens).(king and/or queens).

The Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna proved to be a victory proved to be a victory for for conservativesconservatives..

ConservatismConservatism was was a set a set of beliefs held by those of beliefs held by those who wanted to who wanted to preserve traditional preserve traditional waysways..

Effects of the French Effects of the French RevolutionRevolution

The The French RevolutionFrench Revolution and the reign and the reign of of NapoleonNapoleon transformed both France transformed both France and Europe in may ways:and Europe in may ways:

1)1) DEMOCRATIC IDEALSDEMOCRATIC IDEALS-Napoleon’s -Napoleon’s conquests spread the conquests spread the ideals of ideals of democracydemocracy throughout Europe. throughout Europe. People struggled to achieve the goals People struggled to achieve the goals of the French republic: “of the French republic: “LibertyLiberty, , EqualityEquality, , FraternityFraternity.”.”

2)2) NATIONALISMNATIONALISM--National pride and a National pride and a sense of national identitysense of national identity replaced replaced earlier loyalty to local authority and earlier loyalty to local authority and the person of the monarch. the person of the monarch.

Effects of the French Effects of the French Revolution Revolution cont.cont.

3)3) As As conservatismconservatism clashed with clashed with the ideals the ideals of the French Revolution, of the French Revolution, revolutions revolutions would occur throughout would occur throughout Europe and Europe and Latin AmericaLatin America..