Birth of a Republic

National Convention

Met from 1792-1795 Members were male: mostly doctors,

lawyers, and middle class professionals

Democratic reforms—wrote 1st democratic constitution for France

Single national legislature Every man could vote—male suffrage Replaced monarchy’s confusing wts.

& measures

System with the metric system (still used today)

New Calendar Naming Sept. 22, 1792—date of the

Republic creation Calendar does not last

Death of a King

Had to deal with the Monarchy Nov. 1792 the “Radicals” used letters

found in the Palace—correspondence with other monarchs---little to no evidence---to discredit the Royal family.

Dec. 1792-Louis Tried before the Convention

Jan 1793-Beheaded on the guillotine—Humane means of execution-French celebrate the death!

In Celebration of the New Republic Styles of clothing change

Men now wear long pants with no wigs Women wear long dresses like Ancient

Rome Greetings

Instead of Mister/Madame Now Citizen/Citizeness

Debate in the Convention

Jacobins (Ja-kuh-buhns)-Extreme radicals Sat on high benches (The Mountain) Leader---Maximilien Robespierre, Danton

and Jean-Paul Marat Saw itself as the defender of the

revolution and the voice of the people

Girondists (Juh-Rahn-dihsts) –Moderates

Felt that the revolution went far enough

Wanted to protect the wealthy middle class from radical attacks

The Plain Undecided deputies who were the

majority of the convention In 1793—come to support the Mountain This helped the revolution become more

radical and open to extreme violence

Spreading the Revolution

1793-fearing the spread of the revolution to all of Europe Monarchs of G. Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sardinia join Austria & Prussia in an alliance against the French Revolutionary Government

French want to overthrow royalty everywhere

1793-Danton-calls upon France to expand its territories to their natural frontiers: The Alps, The Pyrenees, The Rhine River and the Mediterranean Sea

An army made-up of volunteers poured outward to seize the natural frontiers

Poorly trained—was successful—caught many nations off-guard

Soon though—the professional soldiers of Europe inflicted many defeats on the French

French commander abandoned their troops and surrendered

National Convention in the summer of 1793 in an effort to stop the foreign invasion Adopted: Conscription-The draft-Men

ages 18-45 Called the world’s first “Peoples’ War” Why?

Revolution in Crisis

While fighting in Europe, also had a Civil War at home West of France are Royalists (Peasants)

Peasants vs. revolutionaries Peasants are angry because their son’s are

being drafted

Mobs rioted in French cities Caused rising food prices/food shortages

Political Crisis Girondist accused thee Jacobins of seeking

favor of the mobs

Jacobins said the Girondist were secretly royalists

Jacobins won control of the Convention and arrested the Girondist delegates

Supporters of the Girondist rebelled Charlotte Corday (Girondist) killed

the Jacobin leader Marat and was sent to the guillotine

Reign of Terror

Jacobins set out to crush all opposition in France

Neighborhood watches hunted down suspected traitors and handed them over to the courts

False statements by hostile neighbors caused innocent people to be executed

Marie AntoinetteIs killed during this time

The Committee of Public Safety Headed by Robespierre Executed over 17,000 people during

this time 85% of the peopled killed were

commoners—merchants, laborers and peasants

Republic of Virtue

Jacobin’s set this up Only people who are honest and good

citizens Catholics—are enemies of the

revolution—Jacobins want to do away with them.

Churches are closed—Turned into Temples of Reason

Later changed to allow worship of a Supreme Being

Jacobin Struggles

Spring of 1794—Danton finally tries to end the Reign of Terror

Robespierre has him/followers put to death Tries to increase the Terror—next 4 months Gave Revolutionary courts the ability to convict

suspects without a trial About 350 people a month were executed by the

guillotine Robespierre followers fearing for their lives have

Robespierre arrested and executed by the guillotine

End of Terror

Jacobins lose power with the death of Robespierre

Wealthy Middle Class take power of the Convention

Even Royalist reappear People rebel against the “Republic of

Virtue” Clothing styles go back to

Wigs Knee high pants Luxurious Dresses

Catholic churches reopen Price controls relaxed—PX’s increase

—hurt the poor—riots breakout Army puts down the lower classes Mid 1794—many favor a return to

the Monarchy After Robespierre the Convention

briefly carries on as the government

New Constitution

1795—France writes a new constitution No universal suffrage only males who

owned property could vote Set-up and executive Council of 5 Men

called The Directors Ruled with a 2 house legislature Radicals—sans-culottes—oppose the

new government Why? Food shortages and rising price,

scandals in government, and France is near bancruptcy

All of France looks to the Army to save France from ruin

Video run for 11 min.

Napoleon Takes Over

During the French Revolution Napoleon’s great military skills won him quick promotion to the rank of General

1795, age of 26- crushes the Royalists uprising against The Directory

1796 Marries Josephine de Beauharnais a leader in Paris society

1796 Command of the French Army that fought Austrians in Italy (defeats Austria)

Napoleon and Josephine

Napoleon and the British (Egypt) 1798-1799 Fighting the British in

Egypt Napoleon was successful on land but

the British destroyed the French Navy

British Admiral Horatio Nelson defeats the French Navy at the harbor of Alexandria

Napoleon takes over

This strands the French army in Egypt Napoleon knowing of the political

situation at home abandons his troops and returns to France

Oct 1799 Napoleon returns to Paris to a cheering crowd

He joins leaders in a coup d'état—a quick seizure of power against the directory

Napoleon’s Empire

The Consulate Theoretically establishes a Republic Actually sets-up a Dictatorship Absolute Rule

The Consuls

From ancient Rome 1st Consul was Napoleon Executive Branch- A 3 member

committee Real power was with Napoleon He appoints his own people in the

place of elected people

Education

Now under the control of the Government and not the Church

Steps towards a Public School System

Rich kids attended—but now under Napoleon poor kids could get scholarships to attend the Lycees (lee-Say) or school

Finances

Created the Bank of France Required that every citizen pay tax Collected tax and deposited it in the bank Government uses the money (tax revenue)

to make loans to business This brings inflation and PX’s under control

1802 Napoleon names himself Consul for life

Approved by the plebiscites or popular vote

The Napoleonic Code

Made French Law clear State above the individual—

preserved some revolutionary laws—no one is above the law

Curtailed freedom of speech Permitted the censorship of books,

plays, and pamphlets Women—rights were curtailed under

law

Napoleon and the Church

Makes peace with the Catholic Church Concordat of 1801

Recognizes Catholicism as the religion of most of France

Called for religious tolerance Napoleon could name all Bishops—who

had to swear allegiance to the state France keeps Catholic Church lands France would pay salaries to the Catholic

clergy

Building an Empire

Napoleon quickly defeats Austria and Italy

He persuades Russia to withdrawal from the war

Could not defeat the British Navy—Brits are ready for peace because of economy

March 1802 Treaty of Amiens Brits and France

1804 Napoleon names himself Emperor of France and sets his armies on the road to conquest

The Battle of Trafalgar

1805 Napoleon feels he can invade Britain from the English Channel

Battle occurs off the Spanish coast Admiral Lord Nelson defeats the

French Navy removing the possibility of French troops on British land.F

FF

F

EE

E

Spanish Coast

After Trafalgar

Napoleon decides to put an economic blockade on England

Continental System Europe (he conquered) could not trade

with Britain Brits could not enter European Ports Made Russia and Prussia to go along

with Brits respond with their own trade

blockade that puts the U.S. in a difficult position

War of 1812

England and France were seizing U.S. ships

This leads to the War of 1812 U.S. joins the French side (Why?) Despite Napoleon The Brits did

maintain control of the seas The French economy worsened yet

Napoleon’s Empire grew to land battles

Napoleonic Europe

By 1812- Napoleon controls most of Europe—extended borders to Russia

Results Napoleon—King of Italy Joseph (Bro)—King of Naples and Spain Louis (Bro)–- King of Holland Napoleon crowns himself Holy Roman

Emperor Napoleon abolishes the Holy Roman

Empire and creates the Confederation of the Rhine

Prussia declares war on France—they are easily crushed by Napoleon

People of Europe resent paying taxes to France and sending soldiers to serve in Napoleon’s army

A feeling of Nationalism (yearning for self-rule, customs, and traditions) stirs revolts against the French throughout Europe

Revolts against the French 1812—1st in Spain With the help of Britain’s Duke of

Wellington (Arthur Wellesley) Spain overthrows and reinstate their Monarchy

Inspires others to revolt 2nd Revolt—Prussia

Successful Russia joins the movement against Napoleon

(Czar Alexander I) 1811 Russia removes itself from the continental system & resumes trade with Britain

Napoleon invades Russia

Napoleon army—600,000 soldiers from many countries

Russia—180,000 soldiers May 1812—France begins it march

towards Moscow Russians use a scorched earth policy

and retreat towards central Russia Sept. 14—Napoleon arrives in

Moscow—a great fire burns most of Moscow—set by the Russians

Russia is Victorious Napoleon stays until Oct—Russian

winter comes early Soldiers have summer gear he departs for France As they retreat Russians attack 5/6 soldiers in the French Army die About 25,000 made it back to France

Defeat

From all directions his enemies attack By 1814 The European armies were in

Paris Napoleon abdicates and surrenders French Throne is restored to Louis XVIII

(Bourbon Family) (Bro of Louis XVI) Napoleon is exiled to ELBA—Island of

Italy Boundaries of France were reduced to

those of 1792

Napoleon Returns

Still determined to rule—Napoleon returns to France on March 1, 1815 Easily wins support of the people Troops were restored Ruled for 100 days—Napoleon is Emperor Napoleon tells Europe he will not wage

war Europe fears him and raise an army Napoleon meets—G. Britain, the

Netherland, and Prussian armies

Battle of Waterloo

European armies are commanded by The Duke of Wellington

The armies meet at Waterloo, which is in the Netherlands (June 1815)

Napoleon is defeated decisively Napoleon is placed under house

arrest and sent to St. Helena an Island in the South Atlantic Ocean

He died there in 1821

Napoleon’s Legacy

Spread the ideas of reform of the French Revolution

Constitutions and Napoleonic code was spread throughout Europe

Destroyed the remains of feudalism Reform taxes and agricultural

methods These reforms help modernize

governments