French Revolution

The French Revolution and Napoleon

Background: 1700s France considered most advanced country in Europe

Center of EnlightenmentLarge pop., prosperous foreign tradeUnrest caused by high prices, taxes, and

questions raised by Rousseau and Voltaire

I. Social Order—Old Regime

Feudalism still there from the Middle Ages1st Estate: Clergy 1% of population most

privileges/no taxes owned 10% of land in France

2nd Estate: nobles-military 2% of population/some rights and some taxes

3rd Estate: Bourgeoisie (merchants, artisans, educated)—middle class, /no rights/all taxes 97% of population (peasants)

I. Reasons for resentment and discontent

Privileges for the upper estatesHeavy taxesDeficit spending-spend more than you take

in: debtPoor harvestsFailures of reforms

Forces of Change

Enlightenment Ideas: New ideas spread fast w/3rd EstateBegan questioning structure of society

“equality, liberty, and democracy”Success of American Revolution is an

inspirationRousseau and Voltaire discussed

The Estates-General

Voting process—each estate gets 1 vote—normally 1st and 2nd estates vote together, always outnumbering the 3rd estate

National Assembly—formed by the Third Estate to represent the people of France (First deliberate act of revolution—3 days after forming locked out of meeting room)

Tennis Court Oath: National Assembly vowed to write a constitution for France (eventually some member of the other estates joined them and estates-general disbanded

French Revolution

Louis XVI tried to make peace and ordered nobles and clergy to join 3rd Estate N.A.

A rumor started that foreign troops were coming to massacre the French people

People gathered weaponsJuly 14, 1789: Mob wanted gun powder @ the

Bastille—this is known as: Storming of the Bastille-prison fortress—overwhelmed king’s soldiers—symbolic act of Revolution

Great Fear

Rebellion SpreadWave of senseless panic rolled through

FrancePeasants broke into nobles manor houses and

tore papers binding themOct. 1789: about 6000 women rioted over

price of breadMarched on Versailles, broke in, killed 2

guards, demanded King and Queen come to Paris, did and did not return

Signaled the change of power and radical reforms to come

Stages of the Revolution

Moderate Phase: National Assembly (limited const. monarchy)

Radical Phase: Reign of Terrorreturn to moderation Directory: against

extremismDictator: Age of Napoleon

Moderate Phase-National Assembly

Declaration of the Rights of ManSimilarities to the American Declaration of

Ind. All men equal Natural rights Equal above the law

Specific rights listed—(did not apply to women) Right to hold public office Freedom of religion Taxes based on income for everyone

Slogan: “Liberty, equality, fraternity”

Accomplishments of Women

Forced Louis XVI, wife and son to move back to Paris!!!!

Constitution of 1791

Type of government: limited constitutional monarchy

Power of the new Legislative Assembly: make laws, collect taxes, decide on issues of war and peace

War in Europe

War in Europe will distract the focus War with:

Austria Prussia Britain

Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria (April 1792); Prussia joined Austria; Louis, Marie Antoinette and children imprisoned

Legislative Assembly dissolved their assembly, new election

The Radical Phase--Revolution

Leaders: San-culottes: working class (wanted more voice in

gov’t, lower food prices and end food shortages) Jacobins: middle class; intellectuals radical change;

wanted to remove king and establish a republic; influenced Louis fate—tried for treason, death by guillotine

Seating arrangements: Conservatives=right, Moderates=middle,

Radicals=left

1792 Radicals Take Over The Legislative Assembly

They called for the creation of a new legislative body

National Convention Controlled By Jacobins

Granted suffrage to all malesFrance = A Republic (people elect rulers)

No more Monarchy! A new constitution needed Louis XVI tried for treason Convicted/Sentenced to death Marie Antoinette put to death Louis XVII died in prison

National Convention Divides

Jacobins Radicals

Girondists Conservatives

National Convention Created Committee of Public Safety—(directed war effort)

12 Member CommitteeLed by Robespierre—a Jacobin

Started the REIGN OF TERROR Attempt by the Jacobins to crush all opposition July 1793-July 1794; during Robepierre’s rule—

decided who were enemies of the Republic Enemies were generally those who challenged his

leadership 3,000 in Paris, 40,000 total, 85% peasants

National Convention Turned Against the Committee

July 1794—members of the National Convention knew they were not safe from Robespierre, so they turned on him—demanded “Down with the tyrant!”

Robespierre Executed

Third Stage:Moderates Take Over the Gov’t

A new constitution writtenEstablished the Directory—(executive

council) 5 Men in Power 2 house Legislature, but elected only by male property

owners

Directory

WeakDictatorialFaced Growing Discontent

People Turned To A Military Hero

Napoleon BonaparteOverthrew the Directory—coup d’etatEstablished the Consulate

3 Man Governing Body Wrote a new constitution (actually a dictatorship)

1804—Napoleon = Emperor

To make people feel involved he offered PLEBICITES (pop. Vote)

Successful reforms made him popular Napoleonic Code (French Law under Napoleon-pg575)

Napoleon Abroad

Plan to dominate Europe—Continental System—(Napoleon’s first mistake)

Struggled with Britain and France Seized neutral trading ships—especially from the U.S. Led to War of 1812

Napoleon placed economic blockades on Britain, but failed to recognize smugglers as a problem

Britain will respond with its own blockade—stop any ship search and tax—U.S. will be angry

Battle of Trafalgar

Continental System cont…

As Napoleon moved eastward, the ideas of liberalism and revolution spread with him—philosophy encouraging political reform Many rulers across Europe will resent Napoleon Strong resistance from Spain during the Peninsular

Campaign—they used Guerilla-warfare against the French

Peninsular War: Portugal ignoring Continental System; Napoleon sent army through Spain to invade Portugal

Spanish towns protested, Napoleon threw out king and put his brother on the throne

Peninsular War

Catholic NationGuerillas sent to ambush the French—lasted

5 yearsNapoleon lost 300,000 men!(Second Mistake!!!)

Invasion of Russia—(third mistake)

Breakdown in alliance with Russia Alexander I refused to stop selling grain to Portugal Both wanted Poland Napoleon decided to invade Russia Problem: Grand Army=men from all over Europe with little

loyalty to Napoleon Russians used scorched-earth policy as they retreated further

into Russia Napoleon over-extended his supply lines Extremely harsh Russian winter

Battle of Borodino

Seesaw battleAlexander I retreatedNapoleon took Moscow, but it was already

burningNapoleon waited for peace offeringToo late to advance/retreat—OctoberNapoleon turned back, snow in NovemberRussian raiders attacked Napoleon’s army 10,000 left to fight when returned to Russia

Napoleon’s Downfall

Fourth Coalition: British, Russia, Prussia and Sweden joined to fight Napoleon

Austria joined (Napoleon’s wife’s country)All main powers of EuropeBattle of Leipzig: tore Napoleon’s new army up!Paris taken—March 1814 by Russian czar and

Prussian kingSurrendered: April 1814Napoleon exiled to Elba—Mediterranean IslandLouis XVIII (brother to Louis XVI) placed on

throne

Napoleon Returns!

New king unpopular, inspired NapoleonFear of a return to the Old Regime rekindled

loyalty to NapoleonLouis XVIII fledNapoleon battled against foreign enemies in

Waterloo, Belgium 1815 Napoleon defeated He abdicated again Exiled again—to St. Helena (South Atlantic island) Died in 1821

Napoleon’s legacy

Napoleonic Code Constitution Elections, but with limited suffrage More property ownership More access to education Spread ideas of the revolution Unsuccessful attempt to unify Europe under French

domination Awakening of feelings of national pride and growth of

nationalism

European Peace—Congress of Vienna 1814

Chief Goal: to create lasting peace by establishing a balance of power

8 months long5 “great powers”

King Frederick William III of Prussia Czar Alexander I of Russia Emperor Francis I of Austria British foreign minister French foreign minister

Prince Klemens von Metternich

Foreign minister of Austria3 goals to maintain a balance of power and

stability: Prevent future French aggression by surrounding

France with strong armies=containment (p 216) Created the Concert of Europe—peacekeeping

organization (kept peace in Europe until WWI 1914) Restore Europe’s royal families to thrones=leaders

promoted legitimacy

Legacy of the Congress of Vienna

“Balance of power” doctrineRestoration of monarchiesNew political map of EuropeNew political philosophies (liberalism,

conservatism)

Revolution in Latin America

Ferdinand VII restored to Spanish throne by Congress

Clashes erupted quicklyPeninsulares: born in Spain, in colonies;

wanted to restore their power and controlCreoles: retain and expand powers they had

seized; Revolts broke out against king in Spanish America

Mexico remained loyal to FerdinandSpanish king tightened control of Spain and

Americas

Haiti

Contributions of Toussaint L’OuvertureFormer slave who led Haitian rebellion

against FrenchDefeated the armies of three foreign powers:

Spain, France, and BritainSlaves in Haiti rebelled, abolished slavery,

and won independence.

Bolivia/Venezuela

Contributions of Simón BolivarNative resident who led revolutionary effortsLiberated the northern areas of Latin

America

Revolution in Latin America cont…

Mexico revolted out of anger and threw off Spain’s control

Father Miguel Hidalgo started the Mexican independence movement.

Portugal revolted and got independence!

How did the Monroe Doctrine impact revolutions in Latin America? 

Impact of the Monroe DoctrineThe Monroe Doctrine was issued by President

James Monroe in 1823.Latin American nations were acknowledged

to be independent.The United States would regard as a threat to

its own peace and safety any attempt by European powers to impose their system on any independent state in the Western Hemisphere.