French Revolution and Napoleon

French Revolution

Society Divided First Estate

ClergyOwned 10% of landRan schools, hospitals and

orphanagesDid not pay taxes

French Revolution

Second Estate Nobles

Top jobs in government, army, courts and church

Received little financial incomeDid not pay taxes

French Revolution

Third Estate Rest of France

Very diverse Bourgeoisie- middle class

Prosperous Majority were rural peasants

Landowners and farmers

French Revolution

Third Estate (cont) Urban workers

Poorest members Some members of the third estate had

more money and power than 1st or 2nd, however, could not get ahead because of their social status

Economic troubles France was using deficit spending

Spend more money than it makes Rulers were not equipped to handle the situation Jacques Necker

Hired by Louis XVI as a financial planner Suggested to reduce extravagant spending, reform

government, and abolish tariffs on trade Also suggested taxing the first and second estate

Clergy and nobles did not like this idea Made the king dismiss him

French Revolution

Estates-General called Legislative body consisting of

representatives from all three estates Had not been called for 175 years Each class gets one vote on issues 1st and 2nd estate always won the vote over

the 3rd Third estate wanted reform

French Revolution

Estates-General, not getting anywhere Third Estate claimed to represent the

people of France and formed the National Assembly

After a week of meeting, their meeting place was locked, so they met on a tennis court Tennis Court Oath

French Revolution

Reform minded clergy and nobles joined the National Assembly as well

Rumors spread that King Louis XVI sent troops to Paris to dissolve the Assembly

As the Assembly met, Parisians roamed the streets worrying about royal troops

French Revolution

Met at the Bastille (prison for political prisoners) and demanded weapons

Guards at the Bastille opened fire on the crowd and a riot ensued

The people overtook the Bastille This became recognized as the French

Independence day, Bastille day

French Revolution

Many peasant uprisings Fear of government

National Assembly acts Writes Declaration of the Rights of Man (p.

584) Creates New Constitution

Legislative Assembly formed

French Revolution

Radicals take over Legislative Assembly Declare war on other European countries Support radical uprisings in cities Executed the King and Marie Antoinette

Formed National Convention

French Revolution

National Convention creates committee of Public Safety

Held absolute power Led by Robespierre

Reign of Terror Used guillotine to punish prisoners 300,000 arrested, 17,000 executed

French Revolution

Robespierre was out of control National Convention turned on Committee

of Public Safety and executed Robespierre

French Revolution

Without a strong leader in place, officials turned to Napoleon to lead their country At first, he was only there to push through

the goals of the politicians Later he would become the Ruler of

France

Napoleon

Napoleon rose quickly in the Army Had many victories

Led expedition into Egypt Disaster

Hid losses through spies and censoring Became political leader and overthrew

weak government

Napoleon

Napoleon reforms France Plebiscite- popular vote (not really) Napoleonic Code

New laws that supported enlightenment principles

Used large army and friends to control most of Europe

Napoleon

Nationalism hurts Napoleon’s rule Leads to war with other European

countries France and Russia go to war

Napoleon led 600,000 soldiers and 50,000 horses in invasion of Russia

Russians fled East and burned the ground as they went

Napoleon

Burning left no food or supplies for French army as the Russian winter came

Cold weather killed most of the soldiers 20,000 survived

Napoleon steps down from power Exiled to Elba

Napoleon

New ruler did not do a good job Led to support of Napoleon

Napoleon returns Tried to battle with European alliance at

Waterloo Napoleon defeated in one day

Exiled to St. Helena