The French Revolution

Impacts

OBJECTIVE(S):OBJECTIVE(S):• Describe how the Describe how the

French Revolution French Revolution was a major turning was a major turning point in world point in world historyhistory

I.I. The Congress of ViennaThe Congress of Vienna

A.A. After the first defeat of After the first defeat of Napoleon, the leaders of Napoleon, the leaders of European countries wanted to European countries wanted to put things back to normal. put things back to normal. They held a series of meetings They held a series of meetings in Vienna, Austria, starting in in Vienna, Austria, starting in 1814, to decide how to do 1814, to decide how to do this.this.

B.B. Austrian Prince Klemens Austrian Prince Klemens von Metternich hosted the von Metternich hosted the meetings. There were two meetings. There were two key ideas that Metternich key ideas that Metternich thought would help put thought would help put things back to the way they things back to the way they were before the instability were before the instability of the French Revolution.of the French Revolution.

1. Balance of power

IMPORTANT CONCEPT:Balance of Power

Balance of power is the idea Balance of power is the idea that if everyone is roughly that if everyone is roughly equal in power, they are equal in power, they are

less likely to fight because less likely to fight because everyone wants to fight everyone wants to fight

wars that they think they wars that they think they will win easy.will win easy.

a.a. To try and keep peace, the To try and keep peace, the leaders attempted to create leaders attempted to create a balance of power. This a balance of power. This idea says that if all countries idea says that if all countries are roughly equal in power, are roughly equal in power, they are less likely to fight. they are less likely to fight. Countries usually fight wars Countries usually fight wars that they think they’ll win.that they think they’ll win.

b.b. To create this balance, To create this balance, the Congress weakened the Congress weakened France and strengthened France and strengthened her neighbors.her neighbors.

1)1) The leaders were also careful The leaders were also careful to not treat France too to not treat France too harshly so that it would seek harshly so that it would seek revenge, thereby causing revenge, thereby causing another war.another war.

2)2) This was the mistake This was the mistake European leader made at the European leader made at the end of World War I when end of World War I when writing the Treaty of writing the Treaty of Versailles, punishing Versailles, punishing Germany for the war and Germany for the war and creating a desire for revenge. creating a desire for revenge. This caused World War II.This caused World War II.

2.2. Legitimacy and restoration Legitimacy and restoration a.a. Because Napoleon had unseated so many Because Napoleon had unseated so many

monarchs, deciding who should rule those monarchs, deciding who should rule those countries now that they were independent countries now that they were independent again was a problem.again was a problem.

b.b. To make this decision, the leaders agreed to To make this decision, the leaders agreed to the principal of legitimacy—that the right, or the principal of legitimacy—that the right, or legitimate, rulers should be the ones in legitimate, rulers should be the ones in charge before Napoleon removed them from charge before Napoleon removed them from power. Putting a ruler back on their throne power. Putting a ruler back on their throne like this is called a restoration because they like this is called a restoration because they are “restored” to their throne.are “restored” to their throne.

C. The leaders at the Congress The leaders at the Congress were all conservatives—were all conservatives—politicians that don’t like politicians that don’t like change. change.

D.D. They opposed the liberal ideas They opposed the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment and of the Enlightenment and wanted to stop these ideas wanted to stop these ideas from spreading any further and from spreading any further and causing revolutions.causing revolutions.

2.2. Despite the Congress’ Despite the Congress’ efforts, revolutions efforts, revolutions broke out in European broke out in European colonies in Latin colonies in Latin America and in Europe America and in Europe throughout the 1800’s. throughout the 1800’s.

2.2. Despite the Congress’ efforts, revolutions broke Despite the Congress’ efforts, revolutions broke out in Europe and in European colonies in Latin out in Europe and in European colonies in Latin America throughout the 1800’s.America throughout the 1800’s.

a.a. Because of this, this time period is called the Because of this, this time period is called the Age of Revolutions.Age of Revolutions.

b.b. In Latin America—particularly in Spain’s In Latin America—particularly in Spain’s colonies—the rulers were not able to colonies—the rulers were not able to maintain control.maintain control.

1)1) An unfair class systemAn unfair class systemcalled the encomiendacalled the encomiendasystem was in place insystem was in place inthe Spanish colonies.the Spanish colonies.

The Encomienda System in Spanish coloniesThe Encomienda System in Spanish colonies

Peninsulares were born in Spain and Peninsulares were born in Spain and ruled the colonial governmentruled the colonial government

Creoles were Spaniards born in Latin America Creoles were Spaniards born in Latin America (their parents were peninsulares); they were (their parents were peninsulares); they were

not allowed to have the best jobsnot allowed to have the best jobs

Mestizos were people with Mestizos were people with a Spanish parent and a a Spanish parent and a

Native American parentNative American parent

Mulattoes had a Spanish parent Mulattoes had a Spanish parent and an African slaves as parentsand an African slaves as parents

African slaves were imported to work the African slaves were imported to work the Spaniards’ plantationsSpaniards’ plantations

Native Americans were not useful to the Spanish due Native Americans were not useful to the Spanish due to the effects of European disease.to the effects of European disease.

2)2) In this system, only peninsulares—In this system, only peninsulares—people born in Spain—were able people born in Spain—were able to have the top government job.to have the top government job.

3)3) The Creoles, people whose The Creoles, people whose parents were peninsulares—or parents were peninsulares—or people born in Spain—were people born in Spain—were unhappy with the system and unhappy with the system and used the other classes to start a used the other classes to start a revolution to get independence revolution to get independence from Spain.from Spain.

4.4. Revolutionary leaders in the Latin Revolutionary leaders in the Latin American Revolutions included American Revolutions included Simon Bolivar—nicknamed the Simon Bolivar—nicknamed the Liberator because he fought for Liberator because he fought for independence for several Latin independence for several Latin American countries (including the American countries (including the one named after him: Bolivia) and one named after him: Bolivia) and Jose de San Martin.Jose de San Martin.

c)c) In Europe, the rulers threatened by In Europe, the rulers threatened by these revolutions were able to put these revolutions were able to put down these rebellions and keep down these rebellions and keep power.power.

d)d) As a result, these revolutions were As a result, these revolutions were unsuccessful in making any major unsuccessful in making any major changes, but the liberal ideas of changes, but the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment—natural rights, the Enlightenment—natural rights, a government responsive to a government responsive to peoples’ needs, etc.—had come to peoples’ needs, etc.—had come to be expected by people.be expected by people.

1.1. Although some minor conflicts Although some minor conflicts did erupt, most of the did erupt, most of the European powers did not have European powers did not have another war until 1914, when another war until 1914, when World War I broke out.World War I broke out.

D.D. The balance of power established The balance of power established at the Congress of Vienna at the Congress of Vienna prompted—or started—a period prompted—or started—a period of relative peace in Europe.of relative peace in Europe.

2.2. The Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna is also an early example is also an early example of international of international cooperation—an cooperation—an attempt by countries to attempt by countries to settle their differences settle their differences without fighting a war.without fighting a war.

III.III. Growth of nationalism. Growth of nationalism. A.A. The French Revolution helped The French Revolution helped

strengthen another new idea. strengthen another new idea. Nationalism is the belief that all Nationalism is the belief that all of the people of the same nationof the people of the same nation—which means a groups of —which means a groups of people with a common culture, people with a common culture, language and history—should language and history—should live in their own country, being live in their own country, being ruled by themselves.ruled by themselves.

1.1. The first way was that the The first way was that the Revolution created a nationalist Revolution created a nationalist feeling within France, making the feeling within France, making the people feel more unified.people feel more unified.

B.B. Nationalism was strengthened two Nationalism was strengthened two ways.ways.

2.2. The other has to do with The other has to do with Napoleon. Napoleon.

a)a) As he took over other European peoples, As he took over other European peoples, Napoleon was at first welcomed as a Napoleon was at first welcomed as a liberator because he freed them from liberator because he freed them from the harsh rule of absolute monarchs.the harsh rule of absolute monarchs.

b)b) As time went on, Napoleon’s rule As time went on, Napoleon’s rule caused the conquered people to unify caused the conquered people to unify against him as they began to believe against him as they began to believe that they should rule themselves and that they should rule themselves and not be controlled by someone different not be controlled by someone different from them.from them.

b.b. As a result, these revolutions were As a result, these revolutions were unsuccessful in making any major unsuccessful in making any major changes, but the liberal ideas of the changes, but the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment—natural rights, a Enlightenment—natural rights, a government responsive to peoples’ government responsive to peoples’ needs, etc.—had come to be expected needs, etc.—had come to be expected by people.by people.

a. In Europe, the rulers threatened by In Europe, the rulers threatened by these revolutions were able to put these revolutions were able to put down these rebellions and keep down these rebellions and keep power.power.

IV.IV. Growth of democracy. Growth of democracy.

A.A. While the change was not While the change was not immediate, the French immediate, the French Revolution was an important Revolution was an important step toward European step toward European countries ending absolute countries ending absolute monarchy and becoming more monarchy and becoming more democratic.democratic.

1.1. After the Revolution and Napoleon, After the Revolution and Napoleon, despite the restoration of kings to their despite the restoration of kings to their thrones, European countries—with the thrones, European countries—with the exception of Russia—became limited exception of Russia—became limited monarchies (governments in which the monarchies (governments in which the kings shares power with a legislature).kings shares power with a legislature).

2.2. As time went on, European countries As time went on, European countries got away from having monarchs got away from having monarchs altogether. altogether.

a.a. They became representative They became representative democracies—governments ruled democracies—governments ruled by representatives elected by the by representatives elected by the people.people.

b.b. For example, Kings were For example, Kings were replaced by Prime Ministers—replaced by Prime Ministers—the title for the leader of many the title for the leader of many European governments—who European governments—who are elected.are elected.