French Revolution

France….Background

• Buildup of autocracy in 15th-16th centuries

• Largely Catholic– Huguenots (Protestant) a sizeable minority– Fighting b/t Catholic and Protestant– 1598- Edict of Nantes: promoted religious

tolerance

Strengthening the Crown

• Cardinal Richelieu- advisor to French monarch– Goal: strengthen the monarchy

• Louis XIV: inherited throne at 4 yrs. Old– Reign 1643-1715– “Sun King”, “Most Christian King”, divine right– Palace of Versailles– Revoke Edict of Nantes

Strengthening the Crown

• Louis XIV– Appoints Jean Baptiste Colbert as economic

advisor• Mercantilism= need for empire• Increase empire= more resources= more wealth

– Numerous wars= debt

French Revolution

• Economic problems:– War debts– Poor taxation policies– Poor harvests– Lavish lifestyle of monarchy

• 1789- Louis XVI summoned Estates General– governing body with members from each estate– Had not met in 175 years (absolutism)

French Revolution

• Conflict between the estates at the meeting

• June 17, 1789- Third Estate declares themselves the National Assembly

• July 14, 1789- storming of Bastille

• August, 1789- Declaration of Rights of Man

French Revolution

• 1791- new Constitution ratified– Created Constitutional Monarchy; King retains

executive power

• Austrians and Prussians invade France to restore monarchy– Marie Antionette was sister of Austrian

Emperor– Unsuccessful

French Revolution

• Continued unrest= another new Constitution– Declares France a republic– Established the Convention as the new ruling

body

• 1793: Convention (led by radical Jacobins) imprison royal family and behead king and queen

French Revolution

• Reign of Terror:– Constitution once again thrown out– Committee of Public Safety created and

facilitate the revolution• Led by Maximilien Robespierre and Jacobins

– Thousands beheaded– Eventually, Robespierre too was beheaded

• 1795: yet another government established, called the Directory

Rise of Napoleon

• Directory created strong military– Napoleon Bonaparte popular military man

• 24 at the time

– 1799: overthrows Directory and declares himself First Consul

Napoleon

• Popular ruler– Many domestic reforms– Napoleonic Codes (1804)- implemented some

Enlightenment ideas and equality for men

• Begins to build a French empire in Europe– Conquers Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal,

and parts of Italy– 1804- crowns himself emperor

Napoleon

• 1810: empire at its height

• 1812: attacks Russia= mistake

• Conquered areas use this as opportunity to defeat and overthrow Napoleon– Exiled – But, disagreements about how to restore

order

Napoleon

• 1813- Napoleon returns, tries to regain power

• Defeated at Waterloo and permanently exiled to St. Helena, later dies there.

• Other nations meet to restore balance of power

Congress of Vienna

• 1815: Congress of Vienna– French territory return to pre-Napoleonic

borders– Returned rulers of areas conquered by

Napoleon– French monarchy restored, but with

Constitutional limits

France….Continued

• 1830: another republic created, lasts until Revolutions of 1848

• 1852: Louis Napoleon established a second French empire

• 1870: Louis-Napoleon overthrown and yet another republic created

• How is all that for confusing????? This is just one example of how confusing European politics can be.