CHAPTER 19: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

AND NAPOLEONSECTION 1:

BEGINNINGS OF THE

FRENCH REVOLUTION Ham

World Studies

A. THE ROOTS OF THE REVOLUTIONMain Idea:The roots of the French Revolution laid

ideas of the Enlightenment, foreign revolutions, economic problems, and corruption.

A. THE ROOTS OF THE REVOLUTION

The EnlightenmentThe French Government

censored books, pamphlets, and sent free thinkers to prison.

Ideas of the Enlightenment were based on reason, tolerance, and respect of beliefs different from one’s own.

Public opinion became a force and power in society.

A. ROOTS OF THE REVOLUTION Revolutions in Great Britain

and America After the revolution, the US had

become a republic in which some citizen had the right to vote for elected officials.

The monarchs viewed this as a threat of power to all monarchs.

This showed French intellectuals that Britain's current limited monarchy could result in successful governing and a peaceful society, and the American example showed that citizens could elect others to represent them.

A. THE ROOTS OF THE REVOLUTION France’s Economy

Because of the war, the French ministers raised taxes on a population that could not afford because the economy was failing and by 1978 it was in turmoil.

In 1783 the French Government survived by borrowing money from European banks, but the royal family’s wasteful spending hurt the economy and increased resentment towards the government.

The only option left for solving the economic crisis was to call a meeting of the Estates-General, a council for advice to the king that had not met for over 175 years.

B. FRENCH SOCIETYMain Idea:Before the revolution , France had three

levelsof society.

B. FRENCH SOCIETY The First Estate

The first-estate was made up of the clergy—priests , bishops, and other men who held high-ranking positions in the Roman Catholic Church

They were exempt from taxes.

Those high ranking officials were usually aristocrats who lived in luxury.

B. FRENCH SOCIETY The Second Estate

This estate consisted of the aristocracy, or nobles who had inherited wealth and titles.

The also did not have to pay taxes and were the only people to be able to hold position in an office.

They held most of the land not owned either by the Church or the state.

B. FRENCH SOCIETY The Third Estate

This included all people not in the First or Second Estates.

It as by far the largest and included a great mix of people.

They had little power and paid the taxes It included 98% of the people of France

C. THE FRENCH MONARCHYMain Idea:The absolute monarchs of France had the

power to affect the lives of their subjects.

C. THE FRENCH MONARCHY

Louis XVWhen Louis XV inherited the

crown from his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five a temporary ruler had to be assigned. The Duc d’Orleans ruled until his death in 1723

Louis XV took the throne in 1744, he had little interest in governing and relied on his ministers

During his reign, France had fought costly wars and was driven into debt.

C. THE FRENCH MONARCHY Louis XVI and Marie

Antoinette Four years after Louis XVI’s

marriage to Marie Antoinette, he inherited the throne from his grandfather (Louis XV)in 1744.

Marie Antoinette was an extravagant spender so the people believed her to be of significance to France’s debt.

Louis XVI could not solve the financial Crisis and his reign would set of the chain of events that would abolish France’s monarchy.

D. FROM ESTATES-GENERAL TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLYMain Idea:The 789 meeting of Estates-General led

to sweeping changes in the government.

D. FROM ESTATES-GENERAL TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Meeting at Versailles

May 5, 1789, the Estates-General were presented to King Louis XVI at Versailles.

Louis XVI was gracious to the First and Second Estate but ignored the Third completely.

The voting system was unfair because each estate voted as a block and the second and first would out number the third.

The first and second were unlikely to change the system that protected their privileges.

D. FROM ESTATES-GENERAL TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The National Assembly

The conference remained deadlocked for over a month.

The third estate asked the poorer members of the first estate for theirsupports and so the vote went into the support of the third estate.

This was the first outward act of the revolution.

CHAPTER 19: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

AND NAPOLEONSECTION 2:

REVOLUTION AND TERROR

HamWorld Studies

A. THE REVOLUTION BEGINSMain Idea:The French Revolution began with acts of

mob violence.

A. THE REVOLUTION BEGINS The storming of the Bastille

After news that several ministers that had the favor of the people had been fired, the people of France decided to take matters into their own hands.

A mob of Parisians and traitor soldiers stormed the prison and former fortress called the Bastille. They took over, stole the ammunition, and freed the prisoners.

They captured the warden and governor and beheaded them. Then they put their heads on wooden poles called stakes and paraded through them Paris

A. THE REVOLUTION BEGINS The Peasants React

News travelled of the riot in Paris and other towns followed Paris’s example. They forced people out of office and the mob governed.

In the countryside, peasants were attacking the homes of their lords, looting, burning, and often killing.

The people were not content with the slow process of the Estates-General.

B. TOWARD A NEW GOVERNMENTMain Idea:By painful steps, the new leaders of

France moved toward a new government.

B. TOWARD A NEW GOVERNMENT Declaration of the Rights of Man

and the Citizen The deputies of the national assembly

abolished the old feudal society, aristocratic privileges were gone, employment was open to all, serfdom was abolished, peasants no longer had to tithe.

On August 26, the assembly voted on the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen; this document stressed equality under the law. It provided freedom of speech, press, and religion. The laws were the true rulers of France

To be valid the laws had to apply to all. The slogan “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” was the battle cry of the Revolution.

B. TOWARD A NEW GOVERNMENT The March on Versailles

Louis XVI would not accept the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, he called in troops to stop the angry citizens who were upset at the food shortages

The women of the town banded together and demanded to see the king , he promised bread and to accompany the national guard back to Paris, and that he would sign the Declaration and a constitution that would limit his power.

On October 6, the soldiers waved the tricolor, the new flag of France, and the King and Queen were imprisoned with a few Courtiers in the abandoned palace of the Tuileries.

C. THE END OF THE MONARCHYMain Idea:

France’s King and Queen tried to escape the country. But they were captured and later executed.

C. THE END OF THE MONARCHY An attempt to escape

On a June night in 1791, Louis XVI dressed in old clothing belonging to a servant. He attempted to escape to Austria but was recognized by a postmaster and was arrested.

The National Assembly were intending to create a constitutional Monarchy where Louis had no power but remained a figure head.

After his escape attempt this was reconsidered.

C. THE END OF THE MONARCHY

The Legislative Assembly In October 1791, the National Assembly was

replaced with the Legislative Assembly. This group wanted to abolish monarchy all together. They were known to be more radical.

The aristocrats fled the country and urged Austria and Prussia to invade France to stop the revolution and restore Louis XVI to the throne.

The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria in April 1792.

C. THE END OF THE MONARCHY

The National Convention In the fall of 1792, the people

voted for another new governing body, The National Convention. These 750 people would vote on the fate of the king and write a new constitution.

The party soon divided into two groups with different political view, some voted for mercy for the King, most voted for execution.

During Louis XVI trial he admitted to no wrong-doing, he was found guilty and executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793.

D. THE REIGN OF TERRORMain Idea:The Reign of Terror threatened anyone

identified as an enemy of the Republic.

D. THE REIGN OF TERROR The Jacobins

The National convention was divided into two bodies; the Girondins and the Jacobins.

The Girondins preferred to move carefully when making changes but the Jacobins led the effort in the trial and execution of Louis XVI.

People called the sans-culottes were in favor of the Jacobins. They attacked the Girondins head quarters which and ended their party politically, and marked a step forward in the Reign of Terror.

D. THE REIGN OF TERROR Robespierre and the Committee of

Public Safety Maximilien Robespierre became the

center of the National convention which became the most powerful organization in France

It became a crime to show sympathy for “enemies of the state” and people accused of plotting against the republic were beheaded after a mock trial.

Common people were executed for voicing distaste towards the Jacobins and in 1794 the Reign of Terror ended. Robespierre was one of the last to be guillotined as a change in public opinion.

CHAPTER 19: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON

SECTION 3: NAPOLEON BONAPARTEHam

World Studies

A. NAPOLEON’S BEGINNINGSMain Idea:Napoleon

Bonaparte quickly rose to become a general in the French revolutionary army.

A. NAPOLEON’S BEGINNINGS Early Life and Achievements

Napoleon was born in 1769 on the Mediterranean Island of Corsica and he was a descendant of minor Italian nobility.

After military academy, Napoleon quickly became an officer who tried to control mobs during the Revolution.

Napoleon made an oath of loyalty to the constitution in France and was made a captain in 1792.

A. NAPOLEON’S BEGINNINGS Early Victories

In 1793 France declared war on Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Spain. They had joined Austria in hopes to defeat the revolutionary forces.

Civil wars broke out between royalist-people who supported the old form of government- and people who supported the new form.

In 1794 Napoleon urged a surprise attack on Austria, which was successful and brought him further recognition.

A. NAPOLEON’S BEGINNINGS A Whiff of Grapeshot

In October of 1794, the people of Paris formed a mob and attacked the National Convention, Napoleon used grapeshot, a rarely lethal musket ball shot out of a cannon and spread over wide distances.

It successfully stopped the mob despite many casualties.

As a reward Napoleon asked to be in charge of a campaign against Italy. By May of 1796 he successfully invaded Italy, by February of 1797 he defeated Austria and signed a treaty. He returned to Paris to create a new government.

B. RISE TO POWERMain Idea:Napoleon became

emperor of France and led many successful attacks on other European nations

B. RISE TO POWER The Directory

In 1795 people were sick of the National Convention so it was replaced by the Directory, which had two councils and 750 deputies, of which two-thirds were former convention members.

This marked the beginning of the republic, unfortunately the deputies were unorganized and unsure of how to govern.

The Directory took revenge upon the first and second estate by arresting priests and passing a law against returning power to the aristocrats.

B. RISE TO POWER Rise to First Consul

Napoleon was rewarded by making him a member of the nation’s chief association, the Institute of men's arts and letters. He looked for something more active to do.

In 1798 he decided to attack Great Britain in Egypt, which failed.

On November 9th and 10th the Directory dissolved and a body of three powerful officials, called consuls, was created. Napoleon became the first, and the only one with real power.

B. RISE TO POWER The Code Napoléon

Napoleon set up a public school system, national bank, and reorganized the Church.

The Code set forth the basic rights of the citizens: right to own property, the right to make contracts, and the equal application of the laws to all citizens.

In 1802 Napoleon was chosen as the permanent first consul and was allowed to choose an heir. There had been several attempts on his life and he wanted to secure his position. He was now the military dictator, the sole ruler. He was now Napoleon I, hereditary emperor of France for life.

B. RISE TO POWER Napoleon’s Victories

One of Napoleon’s best-known victories was the invasion of Italy in pursuit of the Austrians, he got his soldiers to march across the alps and attack them in the battle of Marengo and won in May of 1800, he captured many Austrian fortresses.

In the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon fought both Russian and Austrian forces, 25,00 Russians and Austrians died and 8,500 French died. The Battle ended in Napoleon’s favor.

The Treaty of Pressburg ended the war and did away with the Holy Roman Empire, The Confederation of the Rhine, French control, took place. Now France seemed unstoppable.

CHAPTER 19: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

AND NAPOLEONSECTION 4:

NAPOLEON’S POWER ENDS

HamWorld Studies

A. NAPOLEON’S MILITARY FALLMain Idea:Invasions of Spain and Russia brought

about Napoleon’s fall from power.

A. NAPOLEON’S MILITARY FALL Nationalism, Threat, and Unity

Thousands of troops were dying in battle so Napoleon drafted soldiers won from other countries, or conscripts. Unfortunately they lacked personal loyalty and Nationalism since France was not their land.

Napoleon gained many enemies. No one wanted France to expand power throughout Europe.

The threat of Napoleon aroused unification between nations to remove his power.

B. NAPOLEON’S MILITARY FALL The Peninsular War

Trade was the reason for this war between Spain and France in 1808; France had refused to allow goods from Great Britain to be imported into any European territory under French control.

Napoleon placed his brother on the throne of Spain. Rioting looting, and acts of violence took place.

Great Britain with the help of Portuguese and Spanish forces defeated Napoleon in France, so he directed his attention towards Russia.

A. NAPOLEON’ MILITARY FALL Invasion of Russia

In 1812 Napoleon had decided to invade Russia. Czar Alexander I did not like that Napoleon was interested in marrying his sister. They disagreed over trade and the future of Poland.

An Army of 650,000 marched to Moscow, Soldiers died by the hundreds from the heat. In September French forces faced Russia and won, but at a loss of 50,000 men and much of the ammunition. The eventually had to retreat back to France.

Allies were deserting Napoleon, in October of 1813 he led forces against Austrians, Russians, Prussians and the Swedes in the battle of Leipzig, but it was a failure. He lost 38,000 men and in April 1814 Napoleon was abdicated.

B. THE DOWNFALL OF NAPOLEONMain Idea:

Rather than accepting exile to Elba, Napoleon attempted to retake control of France and was defeated as Waterloo.

B. THE DOWNFALL OF NAPOLEON Exile and Return

Napoleon was banished to the Mediterranean island of Elba in May 1814, where his soldiers were writing to him. He was begged to take over the government , after less than a year, Napoleon made his plan to return.

In early 1815, Napoleon took control of the French government and raised an army.

The European nations acted quickly to stop Napoleon. They raised an army led by the Duke of Wellington, victor of the Peninsular war.

B. THE DOWNFALL OF NAPOLEON The Battle of Waterloo

Waterloo is near Brussels, Belgium. Wellington prepared a position overlooking the field of Waterloo, waiting for Napoleon’s troops.

The fighting went on all day and the French were defeated after the Prussians broke through the French lines.

Napoleon surrendered to the British and was banished to the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena where he died in May of 1812.