the french revolution and napoleon, 1789–1815

The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789–1815

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Chapter OverviewChapter Overview

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SECTION Revolution Threatens the French King1

SECTION Revolution Brings Reform and Terror2

SECTION Napoleon Forges an Empire3

SECTION Napoleon’s Empire Collapses4

SECTION The Congress of Vienna Convenes5

23CHAPTER

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Chapter Overview

Revolution leads to the overthrow and execution of the French king. After a period of instability, Napoleon takes control of France and of most of Europe. Napoleon’s thirst for power leads to his downfall, and European leaders craft a lasting peace.


CHAPTER

1789 Storming of the Bastille ignites the French Revolution.

1793 King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine.

1796 Napoleon defeats France’s enemy, Austria.

1799 Napoleon overthrows the Directory through a coup d´état.

1804 Napoleon crowns himself emperor.

1815 Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo; the Congress of Vienna creates five great powers in Europe.


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Time Line

1789 1815

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Members of the Third Estate demand a more representative government. The fall of the Bastille and the king’s removal from Versailles signal the beginning of the French Revolution.

OverviewOverview AssessmentAssessment

Key Idea

Revolution Threatens the French King

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MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW

Economic and social inequalities in the Old Regime helped cause the French Revolution.

Throughout history, economic and social inequalities have at times led peoples to revolt against their governments.

Overview


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AssessmentAssessment

• Old Regime

• estate

• Louis XVI

• Marie Antoinette

• Estates-General

• National Assembly

• Tennis Court Oath

• Great Fear

TERMS & NAMES

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Causes of Revolution

1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List the causes of the French Revolution.


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Section 1 Assessment

heavy taxes

desire for privileges

government debt

poor harvest & high bread prices

poor leadership

gap between rich & poor

Enlightenment ideas

continued . . .

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2. Do you think that changes in the French government were inevitable? THINK ABOUT

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1 Assessment

• the leadership of Louis XVI• the French national debt• Enlightenment ideas• other world revolutions

ANSWERANSWER

continued . . .

• Changes were inevitable because conditions were bad and new ideas were powerful.

Possible Responses:

• The situation in France could have been solved with better leadership, better communication, and a sharing of privileges and power.

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3. How were the economic conditions in France similar to or different from those in England and the American colonies before their revolutions? THINK ABOUT

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1 Assessment

• France’s three estates• the role of taxation• France’s national debt• conditions in England before the Civil War

ANSWERANSWER

continued . . .

• conditions in the colonies before the American Revolution

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SIMILARITIES: unfair taxes and class systemPossible Responses:

DIFFERENCES: Most American colonists were better off financially than French peasants; the colonists were not laboring to support a feudal nobility.

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The Legislative Assembly faces war and internal divisions. The king is executed, and Robespierre inaugurates the Reign of Terror. A third constitution puts power in the hands of the upper middle class.


Key Idea

Revolution Brings Reform and Terror

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The revolutionary government of France made reforms but also used terror and violence to retain power.

Some governments that lack the support of a majority of their people still use terrorism to control their citizens.

Overview


• Declaration of the

• Legislative Assembly

• émigrés

• sans-culottes

• guillotine

• Maximilien Robespierre

• Committee of Public

• Reign of Terror

Rights of Man

Safety


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1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List the main events that occurred after the creation of the Constitution of 1791.


continued . . .

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Assembly creates a constitution.

War with Austria begins when Austria offers support for Louis XVI.

War goes badly for the French, and mobs rule Paris.

Terror ends as moderates gain control.

Reign of Terror begins as radicals take over the government.

King is executed.

continued . . .


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2. After the French rejected the king’s absolute control, they struggled to create a more democratic government. However, in 1793, Robespierre became a dictator. What caused this to happen? THINK ABOUT


• the political climate prior to Robespierre’s rule• the need for a leader• Robespierre’s personality

ANSWERANSWER

War, economic problems, and struggling political factions caused confusion. People needed stability and leadership. Robespierre’s strong personality filled the vacuum. End of Section 2

Possible Responses:

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A brilliant general, Napoleon Bonaparte, becomes emperor of France and assumes broad powers. Through military victories, he establishes mastery over most of Europe.


Key Idea

Napoleon Forges an Empire

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A military genius, Napoleon Bonaparte, seized power in France and made himself emperor.

In times of political turmoil, military dictators often seize control of nations, as in Haiti in 1991.

Overview


• Napoleon Bonaparte

• coup d'état

• plebiscite

• lycée

• concordat

• Napoleonic Code

• Battle of Trafalgar


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TERMS & NAMES

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1789 1796–1799 1800

1795 1799 1804


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1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Describe the events leading to the crowning of Napoleon as emperor of France.


French Revolution breaks out.

Napoleon defeats royalist rebels.

Napoleon wins many victories.

Napoleon seizes power from the Directory.

New constitution gives Napoleon all real power.

Napoleon crowned emperor.

continued . . .

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ANSWERANSWER

Possible Responses:

• Napoleon became powerful because of his military responsibilities and the political chaos after the Terror.

• Napoleon’s strong personality would have dominated no matter the circumstances.

2. There is an old question: “Do the times make the man, or does the man make the times?” In your opinion, was Napoleon the creator of or the creation of his times?THINK ABOUT

• the government after the Terror• Napoleon’s defense of France• Napoleon’s popularity

continued . . .

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ANSWERANSWER

• Internal unrest was most important, because division and chaos at home would have made military success impossible.

Possible Responses:

• Victory against external enemies would have led to union within France.

3. To keep his empire together, Napoleon had to deal with forces both inside and outside the French Empire. In your judgment, which area was more crucial to control? THINK ABOUT

• the length of the period of civil unrest in France• the power and activities of the other European nations

End of Section 3

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Napoleon makes political and military mistakes as he tries to increase his power. He is defeated, returns, is defeated again, and finishes his life in exile.


Key Idea

Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

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Napoleon’s conquests aroused nationalistic feelings across Europe and contributed to his downfall.

In the1990s, nationalistic feelings contributed to the breakup of nations such as Yugoslavia.

Overview


• blockade

• Continental System

• guerrilla

• Peninsular War

• scorched-earth policy

• Waterloo

• Hundred Days


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TERMS & NAMES

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Napoleon’s Mistakes Effect on Empire

1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List Napoleon’s three disastrous mistakes and the effects that each one had on his empire.


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continued . . .

Continental System

Peninsular War

Russian invasion

Weakening of France

Great loss of life and prestige

Loss of much of army


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ANSWERANSWER

2. What were the main reasons people in other European countries resisted Napoleon? THINK ABOUT

• why some of his own allies refused to abide by the Continental System

• why the Spanish fought a guerrilla war for several years


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• why the Russians destroyed their own crops and cities

• Nationalistic feelings caused resistance to French control. Possible Responses:

• Invaded countries did not support Napoleon’s drive for power.

• Russians did not want French rulers.

End of Section 4

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Following the plan of Metternich, the Congress of Vienna reestablishes stability in Europe after the defeat of Napoleon.


Key Idea

The Congress of Vienna Convenes

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After exiling Napoleon, European leaders at the Congress of Vienna tried to restore order and reestablish peace.

International bodies such as the United Nations play an active role in trying to maintain world peace and stability today.

Overview



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• Congress of Vienna

• balance of power

• legitimacy

• Holy Alliance

• Concert of Europe

• Klemens von

Metternich


TERMS & NAMES

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Problem Solution

METTERNICH’S PLAN

1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List the ways in which the three main goals of Metternich’s plan at the Congress of Vienna solved a political problem.



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French aggression

Power struggles between countries

Lack of legitimate leaders

Surrounding France with strong countries

Creating a balance of power so that no country can dominate others

Restoring royal families to their thrones

continued . . .

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ANSWERANSWER

• The French would have considered the decisions fair because as a defeated country, France could have had its territory divided among the victors. Instead, its original borders were left intact.

Possible Responses:

• France lost all that it had gained.

2. From France’s point of view, were the decisions made at the Congress of Vienna fair? THINK ABOUT

• Metternich’s three goals• France’s loss of territory• the fears of the rest of Europe

continued . . .

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ANSWERANSWER

• Liberals, mostly of the Third Estate, wanted a more representative government and more power for the common people.

Possible Responses:

• Conservatives feared the common people and wanted to preserve royalty and privilege, viewing change as dangerous and frightening.

3. Why do you think liberals and conservatives differed over who should have power? THINK ABOUT

• Old Regime privileges• attitudes toward change• Enlightenment ideas

End of Section 5

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the french revolution and napoleon, 1789–1815

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