Chapter 6

The

French Revolution and Napoleon

General Causes Large gap between the rich and the poor Heavy tax burden on the Third Estate Large number of poor and unemployed in the cities Growth of a strong middle class (bourgeoisie) Development of Enlightenment ideas Weak leadership of Louis XVI Lavish lifestyle of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette plus

war debts had govt. deep in debt

Specific Events leading up to: Louis XVI calls a meeting of the Estates General to raise

money Louis XVI sided with the first and second Estates to meet

separately and each have one vote Third Estate declares itself to be the National Assembly Louis XVI orders Swiss mercenaries to march toward

Paris Storming of the Bastille. Free prisoners, amunitions

Phases of the Revolution

I. 1789-92 Establishment of a Constitutional Monarchy

II. 1792-93 Jacobin revolt and establish a Republic III. 1793-94 Reign of Terror IV. 1795-99 Establishment of the Conservative

Directory V. 1799-1815 Age of Napoleon

Phase I 1789-91 Louis XVI orders all three estates to negotiate together in

the National Assembly Marquis de Lafayette heads a national guard The “Great Fear” - Mob violence and threat of anarchy

encourages clergy and nobility to follow significant reforms of Third Estate (National Assembly)

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Step towards a constitutional monarchy and natural rights for all

citizens

Phase I Continued Many unhappy with the Constitution

Too far or not far enough radicals (sans-culottes) wanted true republic

Royal family moved to Paris (held hostage) French Catholic Church placed under state control Failed escape and outside monarchs threaten to intervene National Assembly declares war on Austria French rally around threat and revolution cry:

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Jacobins - radicals in the National Assembly

Phase II 1792-93 Because of the war the Jacobins were able to seize control

of the assembly and remove the King from office Jacobins kill counter-revolutionaries Radicals call the National Convention to rewrite the

Constitution National Convention abolishes monarchy and declares

France a Republic National Convention convicts Louis XVI of treason and

executes him in 1793

Phase III 1793-95 The First Coalition – European alliance against France Counter-Revolutionaries plot against the National

Convention National Convention forms the Committee of Public

Safety Deals with threats led by Maxmilian Robespierre

Reign of Terror (within) Mass Mobilization (without)

Phase III Continued

Fall of Robespierre and Committee of Public SafetyWant an end to fears and bloodshed Jacobins lose control and Reign of Terror comes to an

end Members of the wealthier bourgeoisie take control

of the National Convention

Phase IV 1795-99 The Convention puts into effect a third Constitution

Middle and upper class control Voters selects electors who select the legislative assembly who

selects the Directory

Directory – 5 man executive body Faces growing discontent Revival of the royalist Emergence of Napoleon

Age of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte starts his rise to power as a young officer

By 1804, he is the emperor of France At each step on his rise to power he held a

plebiscite (people voted him in to absolute power)

Napoleon’s Achievements

Made the central government stronger All classes supported his economic and social

reforms Napoleonic Code - Enlightenment principles

Equality and religious tolerance 1804-1812 creates a vast French empire

Questionable Decisions

Continental System - closed European ports to British goods

1812 invasion of RussiaScorched-earth policy left the French without food and

shelter through the Russian winter

A Damaged Napoleon 1813 defeated at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig

Exiled to Elba, escapes the Island and returns for 100 days British and Prussian forces crush the French at the Battle

of Waterloo (1815) Exiled to St. Helena

Revolutionary Hero or Traitor?

Congress of Vienna restores order in Europe