The French Revolution Unit 5: the Long 19th Century

1750-1900

Causes of the French revolution

• People feel restricted by gov’t• Three Estates• Titles of Nobility• Role of Church• Economic Conditions

• Intellectuals criticize The Enlightenment

• Gov’t does not respond to needs of the people• Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette• Even higher taxes (salt)• No food for people

Causes of the French Revolution

• Government faces economic hardships• Wars of Louis XIV• Participation in American

Revolution• Bankruptcy• Excessive spending of Monarchs• Famine/lack of food

• Social Classes Unhappy/Tensions between classes• Three Estates• High Taxation• Estates General

Stages of French Revolution

• Stage One: Removal of the Ancien Regime (1789-1792)• Create new government (National

Assembly/Legislative Assembly)• Storming of the Bastille (July 1789) • Women’s March to Versailles • Declaration of Rights of Man and

Citizen• New Constitution/abolish serfdom

and slavery• Starts moderate but becomes more

radical over time• Declares war against Austria,

Prussia

Stage Two: Radicalization 1792-1794

• Maximillien Robespierre • Guillotine • Abolish monarchy/declares

republic/executes Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

• Expansion of French Revolution as an international war• Britain• Spain• Germany • Russia• Ottoman Empire

Stage Three: Thermidorian Reaction1794-1799

• Attempt to restore order and create a moderate government

• The Directory• Too little too late leads

to rise of Napoleon Bonaparte (r. 1799-1815)

Napoleon Bonaparte• General in French army

during the Revolution • Comes to power in 1799;

crowns himself emperor in 1804

• Two main goals:• Improve France

internally• Create a large French

Empire in Europe

Internal Changes to France

• Napoleonic Code • Civil Equality• Concordat of 1801

(Religious tolerance)• Widespread education (high

schools and universities)• All citizens pay taxes• BUT: no freedom of the

press

Creating a French Empire

• Placed family members and friends in key areas (Spain, parts of Italy and Germany)

• Russian Campaign marks the failure of Napoleon

• 1814: Exiled to Elba • The Hundred Days: NB

returns for 100 days as leader of France

• 1815: Exiled to St. Helena

Consequences of French Revolution

• Congress of Vienna (1815)• Led by Klemens von Metternich

(Austria)• “Balance of Power” • Redraws European borders• Rise of European Conservatism

(keep status quo)

• Haitian Revolution • End of successful French

monarchy• Rise of Nationalism

• Leads to unification of Italy (1860) and Germany (1871)