The French Revolution & Napoleon

Section1: On the Eve of Revolution

Section 2: Creating a New France

Section 3: Radical Days

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

Section 5: The End of and Era

Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

Summary:Social unrest, government debt, and food shortages contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789

Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

Since the Middle Ages, everyone in France had belonged to one of the three social classes, called Estates

The 1st Estate – Clergy

The 2nd Estate – Nobles

The 3rd Estate – Peasants

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1st Estate

2nd Estate

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Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

The 1st & 2nd Estates were rich and powerful

They had many special privilegesFor example, they did not have to pay taxes

– They made up about 2% of the total population of France

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Land Ownership

1st Estate

2nd Estate

3rd Estate

Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

Most (98%) of French people belonged to the 3rd Estate

Although they were poor, their tax burden was the heaviest

Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

In 1789, France faced several crisesFor many years the French government had been spending more money than it had earned

Bad harvests caused food prices to riseMany peasants did not have enough to eat

– In towns and in the countryside, starving people rioted

Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

To deal with these problems, King Louis XVI met with the leaders of the 3 Estates

Most common people wanted financial relief, but the elected members of the Third Estate wanted government reform

Section 1: On the Eve of Revolution

After weeks of meetings, its leaders took a daring step

They created a new government called the National Assembly

Some reform-minded nobles and clergy joined them

Section1: On the Eve of Revolution

The National Assembly promised to write a new constitution for France

However, dangerous rumors, increasing food shortages, and an attack on the Bastille (a Parisian political prison) kept the problems from being solved

A violent revolution was starting

Section 2: Creating a New France

Summary:The National Assembly instituted political and social reforms in the early stages of the revolution

Section 2: Creating a New France

In 1789, a terrible famine occurred in France

Starving peasants attacked the homes of nobles

Section 2: Creating a New France

Revolutionary groups took over Paris and demanded an end to the monarchy

Finally Nobles agreed to give up their special privileges

Section 2: Creating a New France

The National Assembly began making reforms

They agreed to abolish feudalism

In 1791, the assembly finished writing a new constitution that used Enlightenment ideas

Section 2: Creating a New France

Under this constitution, people had natural rights and the government had to protect those rights

The constitution created a limited monarchy

The assembly also reformed French laws and supported trade

Declaration of the

Rights of Man and

the Citizen

Section 2: Creating a New France

But when the assembly took control of the French Catholic Church and sold its lands to pay back the government’s debt, the pope, clergy, and many peasants rejected the revolution

National Assembly

Section 2: Creating a New France

Other groups, however, wanted even more changes

Violent disagreements soon caused the downfall of the assembly

Section 2: Creating a New France

News about the French Revolution spread across Europe

While many Europeans supported the revolution, rulers and nobles were afraid that revolutionary ideas would spread to their own countries

Section 2: Creating a New France

After the French king and his family made an unsuccessful attempt to flee, the king of Prussia promised he would fight to save the French monarchy

Section 2: Creating a New France

In 1792, France declared war on Austria, Prussia, Britain, and several other European states

The fighting lasted for over 20 years

Section 3: Radical Days

Summary:The French Revolution, driven by leaders determined to preserve and extend the revolution, entered a radical phrase

Section 3: Radical Days

The war with other European powers went badly for the French forces

People thought the king was helping the enemy

Mobs attacked the kings guards and killed nobles

Section 3: Radical Days

Radical revolutionaries, supported by Paris crowds, took control of the Assembly in 1792

These radicals ended the monarchy, made France a republic, and wrote another constitution

In 1793, they executed, or put to death, the king and queen for treason

Section 3: Radical Days

By 1793, France was at war with most of Europe

Within France peasants rioted for food, and revolutionary groups fought against each another

To restore order, the new government set up the Committee of Public Safety, which had absolute power

Section 3: Radical Days

Using a new invention, called the Guillotine, the Committee, led by Maximilien Robespierre, beheaded thousands of people for treason, even supporters of the revolution were sometimes killed to set an example

Thousands more people were put in prison

This period is called the Reign of Terror

Section 3: Radical Days

By 1799, life in France had changed

The Monarchy and the old class system were gone

The government controlled the church– The French people began to feel proud

of France» This feeling of pride is called

Nationalism

Section 3: Radical Days

The new government continued to make important reforms

It set up school for children and organized a system to care for the poor

Slavery in the French colonies ended

Religious tolerance became the law

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

Summary:Napoleon built a large empire by annexing lands, making alliances, and placing family members on the thrones of Europe

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

When the French Revolution started, Lt. Napoleon Bonaparte began to earn rapid promotions

He led the French army in victories over Britain and Austria

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

A general by 1799, Napoleon helped to overthrow the French government

He organized a new government and put himself in charge

Five years later he took the title Emperor of the French

At each step of his rise of power, the French voted their support

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

The policies that Napoleon set up show why he was so popular

He strengthen the French government and restored order

He improved the economy and encouraged new industry

He built roads and canals and supported public education

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

Some of Napoleon’s reforms continued the spirit of the revolution

Peasants could legally keep the Church lands they bought

Careers were opened to anyone with ability

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

One of his most important reforms was a new set of laws called the Napoleonic Code

These laws included many enlightenment ideas but undid some reforms of the revolution

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

From 1804 to 1814, Napoleon defeated the greatest nations of Europe an built an empire

He conquered the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of Italy and Germany

He ended the Holy Roman Empire and divided Prussia

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

Napoleon replaced the monarchs of defeated nations with his friends and family

Only Britain remained outside Napoleon’s empire

Section 4: The Age of Napoleon Begins

Section 5: The End of An Era

Summary:After suffering defeat, Napoleon was removed from power

European leaders restored peace and redrew the map of Europe

Section 5: The End of An Era

Under Napoleon, French armies spread the ideas of the French Revolution across Europe

The French overthrew European monarchs and set up their own governments

They also reduced the power of the Church and ended serfdom

Section 5: The End of An Era

Many Europeans welcomed the ideas of the French Revolution

However, they did not welcome the French rulers

Nationalism caused conquered people to reject French control

From Italy to Spain to the Netherlands, people rebelled against the French

Section 5: The End of An Era

The end of the empire began in 1812 when Napoleon invaded Russia

The invasion was a disaster

Many French soldiers died during the long Russian winter

Section 5: The End of An Era

The following year, an alliance of Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia defeated Napoleon at the town of Leipzig and forced him to live on an island in the Mediterranean

Section 5: The End of An Era

After the defeat of Napoleon, European leaders met at the Congress of Vienna

They hoped to create peace after 25 years of war

One of their goals was to return Europe to the way it was in 1792, before Napoleon

Section 5: The End of An Era

To accomplish this goal they gave power back to the monarchs of Europe

The leaders of Europe also took steps to create a balance of power

To prevent France from going to war again, they strengthened the countries around itTo protect the new order, European states formed a peacekeeping organizationThe peace lasted 100 years

Section 5: The End of An Era

Goal Action

To prevent France from going to war again

Strengthen countries around France

To return Europe to the way it was in 1792, before Napoleon

Give power back to the monarchs of Europe

To protect the new system and maintain peace

Create the Concert of Europe, an organization to maintain peace in Europe

The Congress of Vienna