French Revolution1789-1815

France: A Little Background Information• The 4 C’s• Clovis• united Frankish tribes • war and religion (Christianity)

• Charles Martel• protected the Kingdom

• Charlemagne• expanded into an empire • war & religion

• Treaty of Verdun• divided empire into 3• (France, Germany + Lorraine)

• Capetians rule 300years• made monarchy stronger• Estates general established • (consisted of 3 groups: Clergy-Nobility-Rest of population)

3 Estates  

First Estate Second Estate Third Estate 

•Clergy (Church)

•Provided Social Services

•Controlled 10% land

•Collected tithes

•Did Not Pay Taxes

•Nobility

•Top jobs in Gov’t, Army, Courts & Church

•Did Not Pay Taxes 

•Rest of Population

•98% Population•Included Middle Class (lawyers, journalists, professors, skilled artisans)

•Rural Peasants

•City Workers

•Responsible for taxes

Characteristics of Absolutism

Basic Principle Monarch rules by divine right

Political Ruler = unlimited power; individuals are subjects loyalty and obedience.

Social Ruler upper classesdominate lower classes. Ceremonies symbolize ruler’s power.

Economic Ruler encourages industry and trade to strengthen the economy.

Cultural Ruler dominates cultural life either as patron of arts or by censorship.

1.Why were members of each Estate unhappy?

 • 1st Estate Clergy:• Enlightenment undermined religion and social order.

• 2nd Estate Nobles:• resented Absolutism• the rising middle class felt threatened• Jacques Necker (king’s financial advisor) suggested

taxation for nobles.• 3rd Estate:• privileges enjoyed by the other estates• Peasants suffered • from poor wages• heavy taxes• poor harvests • lack of rights.

2.What were causes of the financial crisis that

gripped France? • DEFICIT SPENDING (large debt from):• Expensive wars • Extravagant spending• Poor harvests• Economic recession • (not enough $ to buy stuff)

3. Why did Louis XVI call the Estates General in

1789, which hadn’t been summoned in 175yrs? • Verge of Bankruptcy,

• bread riots • nobles denouncing the throne.

•  King asked each estate to prepare cahiers (notebooks listing grievances)

• All insisted on reform

4. What were the results of this decision?

 • Bastille Stormed• July 14, 1789• Symbol of Freedom• French Revolution begins

• National Assembly formed• Tennis Court Oath

5.What role did the people of Paris play in the French revolution?

• Paris = capital • revolutionary center of France.

• Revolutionary factions• National Guard and the Paris Commune competed for

power in Paris.

 • Parisians marched on Versailles • for bread • insisted the royal family accompany them back to Paris.

 6. What were the results?• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen• Declared all men were equal and had natural rights to:• liberty• property• security• resistance to oppression.

• Civil Constitution of Clergy• Made bishops and priests elected and salaried officials• ended papal authority over French Church. (under state

control)

• Constitution of 1791• set up a limited monarchy • new legislative Assembly

 

7. Why did some people support the revolution?

• start of a new age for justice and equality

8. Why did other people oppose the revolution?

• Fear• violence

• Declaration of Pilnitz• European powers support monarch

Radical Days

• 1792-August 10-> King and Queen are imprisoned. • Monarchy • abolished• France = Republic

• 1793-> Mountain=Jacobins (Radicals) vs. Girondins • Jacobins Take over • Robespierre, Marat, Danton

• Committee of Public Safety formed (12 members) • Absolute control• Reign of Terror begins 

• King Louis XVI executed January • Queen Marie Antoinette executed October

1. Why did revolutionaries fear that the Revolution was in danger?

• Leaders driven to preserve and extend revolution

• France was at war w/ much of Europe. • Peasants were revolting. (Sept. massacres)• Sans-Culottes demanded relief from food

shortages and rising prices.• Counterrevolution

2. What did revolutionaries do in

response?• Set up Committee of Public Safety (enemies=death)• Committee of Public Safety = Reign of Terror

• Results: • Over 17,000 killed •  Changes in daily life (clothes), arts (classical), and

women’s rights (divorce easier, inherit property, no politics)• Church shut down• Robespierre killed• 1794-> Reign of Terror ends

• 1795-> Directory in control• Third Constitution drafted• 5 man directory• 2 house legislative elected by male citizens of property.• held power until 1799

Napoleon (1799-1815)• Rise to power-> Rapid

• Born on island Corsica• Early fame based on military victories.• Overthrew Directory (coup d’etat)• Set up Consulate (3 men) He’s #1• Eventually named himself Emperor

What did he do?• Napoleonic Code

• Reflected Enlightenment principles• Undid some revolutionary reforms (women) 

• Centralized Power• ALL men could vote (no elections after 1804)• Plebiscites (ballots for voting)

• Created Nation-wide Public School System• Primary, secondary, lycees (military), technical schools.• Stressed obedience + military values• Science and Math promoted

• Increased Currency (money)- stabilized economy• Sold Louisiana (827,000 square miles to America (T.Jefferson) for $15

million=60 Francs

And there’s more…• Improved relations w/Church

• Instituted censorship of press 

• Encouraged + strengthened military forces

• United in his empire almost whole of Europe (not since Roman Empire + Charlemagne)• Annexed lands (added Austria+ Italy)• Made Alliances (nepotism=family)• Abolished the Holy Roman Empire, renamed Confederation of

the Rhine.

 Fall of Napoleon• 1799-1815-Engaged in costly warfare causing bankruptcy

• 1805 Battled Britain (in war and economy)• Battle of Trafalgar (water)• Continental System=France• Blockade=Britain• Lead to War of 1812 w/America

• 1805 Battle of Austerlitz (France vs. Austria & Russia)-France wins Austria + N. Italy

• Annexed lands revolted-guerilla warfare in Spain.

• 1809 Battle of Wagram-Austria wants revenge-lost

• 1812 Battled Russia- • 600,000 French soldiers left for 1,000 trek to Moscow-20,000 returned• Defeated by Russia (scorched earth tactic)

• 1813 Battle of Nations (Leipzig) Russia, Britain, Austria + Prussia defeat France.

Fall of Napoleon• 1814 Napoleon abdicates (gives up power) • Exiled to Elba

• Louis XVIII named ruler (Louis XVI’s brother)• 1815 Napoleon returns for 100 days (March)• Battle of Waterloo • defeated by Britain, Russia, Prussia + Austria in 1

day• 1821• Banished and dies @ St. Helena

Congress of Vienna • Create a lasting peace: BALANCE OF POWER• Countries + Representatives • Austria-> Prince Clemens von Metternich• Russia-> Alexander I• Britain-> Lord Robert Castlereaugh• France-> Prince Charles Maurice de Tallyrand

What did they do?• Redrew map of Europe• Surround France w/ strong countries• Protect Monarchy (legitimacy) in France, Spain,

Portugal and Italian city-states• Set up Quadruple Alliance (Austria, Russia,

Prussia + Britain)• Balance of Power (Concert of Europe) met to

discuss problem within Europe to keep the peace

Phases of the French RevolutionModerate Phase National Assembly

1789-1791 Feudalism abolishedIssued declaration of rights“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”Reorganized Church (took back land)Established constitutional monarchy (1791)Included legislative assembly-replaced old provinces w/ 83 departmentsAbolished guildsEnded Church interference

Radical PhaseNational Convention“Sans-Culottes”

1792-1794 Radicals (Jacobins) take control of legislative assembly and set up national ConventionAbolish MonarchyDeclares France a RepublicSuffrage for all male citizensLouis XVI & Marie Antoinette executed (1793)Committee of Public safety set upRobespierre=Reign of TerrorGuillotine=40,000 executed

Directory 1795-1799 Moderate constitution of 1795Five-man Directory established (2 legislative bodies elected by male citizens w/ propertyDictatorialRiots suppressedCorrupt leadershipChaos threatened

Napoleon 1799-1815 Overthrows DirectoryConsulate set up (Napoleon #1)N= Consul for lifeN=Emperor of FranceEconomic reformReligious reformNapoleonic code EstablishedMilitary victories create French EmpireFrench defeat in Battle of Nations= Napoleon’s abdication and exile.

#1 Monarchy-Old Order/Estates General