the french revolution (1789-1815). i. causes of revolution 1.serious fiscal problems in france –...
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The French Revolution The French Revolution (1789-1815)(1789-1815)
I. Causes of Revolution
1. Serious fiscal problems in France
– war debts amassed in 1780s (50% of taxes to pay)– 25% of tax revenues to military
2. Leads to more radical revolution than American
– repudiation of the ancien régime
A. The Estates GeneralA. The Estates General
1. 3 Estates:
1st Estate: Catholic Clergy (1% of pop.)2nd Estate: Nobles (2%)3rd Estate: serfs, free peasants, bourgeoisie…97% of pop. & paid all taxes!
2. Estates General founded 1303 (not met since 1614)
– 1 vote per estate
97%16003rd
2%12002nd
1%12001st
Percentage of the population
Votes in the Estates General
# of Reps in the Estates General
Estateor Social Class
1. King forced to call Estates General for new taxes
– lists of complaints– conflict btw Bourgeoisie & Nobles – conflict btw church officers & parish priests
2. Estates general refused to meet 3rd Estate
3. 3rd Estate met at indoor tennis court at Versailles (“Tennis Court Oath”)
B. From Estates General to RevolutionB. From Estates General to Revolution
The Tennis Court Oath
C. July 14C. July 14thth, 1789, 1789
1. Protest of nobility forces King Louis XVI to call Estates General for new taxes, May 1789
2. 3rd Estate demands greater social change
3. June, 3rd Estate secedes
– Renamed “National Assembly”– July 14th, mob storms the Bastille (prison symbolic of
abuses of monarchy)
Storming of the Bastille
July 14th, 1789
D. Revolution – Moderate PhaseD. Revolution – Moderate Phase
1. Creation of National Assembly:
– wanted constitutional monarchy like England– King sends letters asking relatives & other
monarchs to send troops…why?
Why would the French Revolution be seen as a threat to Austria, Prussia and other European countries?
2. Rebellions in support of National Assembly:
− capture of the Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette− Declaration of the Rights of Man− limits powers of monarchy
Declaration of Rights of Man & Citizen
− August 1789 − American influence − equality of men – women NOT included:
Olympe de Gouges attempts to change this in 1791
– sovereignty resides in the people
– individual rights
II. Radicalization of RevolutionII. Radicalization of Revolution
1. “liberty, equality, fraternity”
2. National Assembly abolishes old social order
3. Seizes church lands, redefines clergy as civilians
4. New constitution retains king, but subject to legislative authority
“The Third Estate Awakens”
Sans-culotte
5. Levée en masse: conscription for war
6. Guillotine invented to execute domestic enemies– 1793: King Louis & Queen Marie Antoinette
A. Causes of RadicalizationA. Causes of Radicalization1. War with Austria, Prussia (1791)
2. Execution of King (1793) later Queen
3. “The Reign of Terror” (1793-1794)
– National Assembly dissolved…National Convention – mandatory draft– The Paris Commune (hotel where gov’t was run)– the Committee for Public Safety (led by Robespierre)– capture and execution of “traitors” in countryside
Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794)1. “the Incorruptible” leader of Committee of Public
Safety
2. Leader of Jacobin party (radical revolutionaries…)
Jean-Paul Marat
3. Churches closed, priests forced to marry
– Promoted “Cult of Reason” as secular alternative to Christianity
– Calendar reorganized: 10-day weeks, proclaimed Year 1
4. Executed 40,000; imprisoned 300,000
Robespierre
B. The Directory (1795-1799)B. The Directory (1795-1799)
1. Revolutionary enemies of the Jacobins
2. 1794 Robespierre arrested, sent to guillotine
3. Men of property take power in the form of the Directory
4. Unable to solve economic & military problems of revolutionary France
C. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)C. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
1. born from minor Corsican noble family
2. Army officer under King Louis XIV, general at 24
3. brilliant military strategist
4. overthrows Directory (1799)− coup de etat
5. imposed new constitution, named self “Consul for life” in 1802
III. Napoleonic France
1. agreement with Pope: Concordat
– France retains church lands, but pays salaries – freedom of religion, also for Protestants, Jews
2. 1804 creates Napoleonic Code
– patriarchal authority– became model for many civil codes
3. Tight control on newspapers, use of secret police4. Creates national bank5. Declared himself Emperor…
A. Napoleon’s EmpireA. Napoleon’s Empire
1. conquered Iberia, Italy, & Netherlands
2. forced Austria & Prussia to enter into alliance
3. Continental System: after defeat to British Navy at the Battle of Trafalgar (1808) Napoleon attempted an economic blockade of all trade to Britain
− policy failed…caused inflation & smuggling
Napoleon’s Empire in 1812
B. Napoleon’s DeclineB. Napoleon’s Decline1. disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812
– burned Moscow, but defeated by Russian “General Winter”
Napoléon Invades Russia: 1812Napoléon Invades Russia: 1812
614,000 French troops614,000 French troops
Napoléon’s Retreat (Early 1813)Napoléon’s Retreat (Early 1813)
Less than 40,000 survive!Less than 40,000 survive!
2. Abdication of the throne (1813): Napoleon ceded throne to Louis XVIII & sent to exile on island of Elba
3. Napoleon escaped from Elba-- took power again for “100 days”
– defeated by British at Waterloo (1815)– exiled to St. Helena (dies 1821)
C. Conservative Backlash in EuropeC. Conservative Backlash in Europe
1. “Great Powers” (Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, England) try to prevent another Napoleon
2. “Holy Alliance”
3. Social revolutions of 1848
4. Congress of Vienna (1815): European powers plan for peace
*Congress of Vienna: headed by Austria's Prince Metternich, attempted to stem the tide of nationalism sweeping across Europe
− restore legitimacy (kings)− create a balance of power
Europe after the Congress of Vienna