The French Revolution & The French Revolution & Napoleon 1789 - 1815Napoleon 1789 - 1815

The CausesThe Causes In 1789 French Society was very unequalIn 1789 French Society was very unequal There were 3 main classes of people. (Estate system)There were 3 main classes of people. (Estate system) 11stst Estate Estate

Priviledged ClassPriviledged Class Clergy of the Catholic ChurchClergy of the Catholic Church Owned 10% of the land in FranceOwned 10% of the land in France Consisted of less than 1% of the populationConsisted of less than 1% of the population

22ndnd Estate Estate Priviledged ClassPriviledged Class Rich NoblesRich Nobles Owned 20% of land in FranceOwned 20% of land in France Consisted of 2% of the population Consisted of 2% of the population

Both Estates rejected Enlightenment ideas. Why?Both Estates rejected Enlightenment ideas. Why?

Causes cont.Causes cont.

The Third EstateThe Third Estate Consisted of 98% of populationConsisted of 98% of population Had no power to influence the Had no power to influence the

governmentgovernment *Embraced Enlightenment ideas *Embraced Enlightenment ideas

Causes Graphic Causes Graphic OrganizerOrganizer

The Estates GeneralThe Estates General The Estates General – was a The Estates General – was a

meeting of representatives meeting of representatives from all three estates.from all three estates.

Each estate met separately Each estate met separately with each group having one with each group having one votevote 11stst and 2 and 2ndnd Estate had 300 Estate had 300

delegates eachdelegates each 33rdrd Estate had about 600 Estate had about 600

delegatedelegate

In 1789 Louis XVI called a In 1789 Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates meeting of the Estates General to discuss the poor General to discuss the poor French Economy and Raise French Economy and Raise taxes.taxes.

Estates General of 1789Estates General of 1789 During the meeting the 3During the meeting the 3rdrd estate voiced estate voiced

their concerns about the unfairness of their concerns about the unfairness of the system and proposed setting up a the system and proposed setting up a constitutional government.constitutional government.

June 17, 1789 the 3June 17, 1789 the 3rdrd Estate voted to call Estate voted to call itself the National Assembly and draft a itself the National Assembly and draft a constitution without the support of the constitution without the support of the king or the other two estates.king or the other two estates.

By doing this they proclaimed an end to By doing this they proclaimed an end to absolute monarchy and the beginning of absolute monarchy and the beginning of a representative government a representative government

Commoners save the dayCommoners save the day Tennis Court Oath – Members of the third Tennis Court Oath – Members of the third

estate moved to a tennis court after they estate moved to a tennis court after they found that they had been locked out of found that they had been locked out of their buildingtheir building

They promised not to leave until a new They promised not to leave until a new constitution was written constitution was written

The BastilleThe Bastille Storming the Bastille Storming the Bastille

– July 14 – The king – July 14 – The king threatens to use force threatens to use force on the third estate on the third estate Until a mob Until a mob overwhelms the kings overwhelms the kings forces at the Bastille – forces at the Bastille – a prison that a prison that stockpiled gunpowderstockpiled gunpowder Became a great Became a great

symbolic act of the symbolic act of the revolutionrevolution

July 14 = July 4 in the July 14 = July 4 in the U.S.AU.S.A

The Great FearThe Great Fear The Great Fear – a The Great Fear – a

wave of panic that wave of panic that spread throughout spread throughout France because of France because of widespread peasant widespread peasant rebellionsrebellions Commoners broke Commoners broke

into Nobles homes – into Nobles homes – pillagedpillaged

The King and Queen The King and Queen left Versaillesleft Versailles

Declaration of RightsDeclaration of Rights Declaration of the Declaration of the

Rights of ManRights of Man Reflected Enlightenment Reflected Enlightenment

ideas and the Declaration ideas and the Declaration of Independenceof Independence

““Men are born free and Men are born free and equal in rightsequal in rights

Political associations Political associations should protect rightsshould protect rights

““Liberty, Equality, and Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” became a Fraternity” became a slogan of the slogan of the Revolution. Revolution.

France became a France became a constitutional constitutional monarchy.monarchy.

Spreading RevolutionSpreading Revolution

Because neighboring countries were Because neighboring countries were scared that revolution might spread to scared that revolution might spread to their countires, Austria went to war their countires, Austria went to war with Francewith France

France was defeatedFrance was defeated The rise of the Sans- Culottes – literally The rise of the Sans- Culottes – literally

mean “without Breeches”, but actually mean “without Breeches”, but actually referred to those without fine clothes.referred to those without fine clothes.

This signaled a more radical and This signaled a more radical and violent stage of the revolution.violent stage of the revolution.

Execution of the KingExecution of the King

After the King tried to escape After the King tried to escape France, he was arrested and held France, he was arrested and held prisonerprisoner

In Sept. of 1792, The National In Sept. of 1792, The National Assembly became the National Assembly became the National Convention – which did not share Convention – which did not share authority with the Kingauthority with the King

On Jan. 21 1793 Louis XVI was On Jan. 21 1793 Louis XVI was beheaded on the Guillotinebeheaded on the Guillotine

The GuillotineThe Guillotine

Invented by Invented by FrenchmenFrenchmen

Killed Quick and Killed Quick and “humanely”“humanely”

During the Fr. Rev During the Fr. Rev tens of thousands tens of thousands were executed at were executed at the guillotinethe guillotine

Other methods of Other methods of Execution? Torture?Execution? Torture?

The Committee of Public The Committee of Public SafetySafety

The Committee of Public Safety – was a 12 The Committee of Public Safety – was a 12 member body who was created by the National member body who was created by the National Convention to protect the young republicConvention to protect the young republic

Maxmilian Robespierre - Controlled the Maxmilian Robespierre - Controlled the government by dominating the COPSgovernment by dominating the COPS

Reign of Terror – term used to describe Reign of Terror – term used to describe Robespierre’s reign because so many were Robespierre’s reign because so many were executed (40,000)executed (40,000)

Robespierre himself was sent to the Guillotine Robespierre himself was sent to the Guillotine on July 28on July 28th, th, 1794 1794

Directory takes over – an Executive body of Directory takes over – an Executive body of 5men5men

Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte Born in 1769 – Island of Born in 1769 – Island of

CorsicaCorsica Went to a French military Went to a French military

school at the age of 9school at the age of 9 Joined the army during the Joined the army during the

revolutionrevolution Became a national hero after Became a national hero after

he defended the National he defended the National Convention from Royalist – Convention from Royalist – support the kingsupport the king

In 1796 the Directory placed In 1796 the Directory placed him in charge of the French him in charge of the French militarymilitary

Nov. 9Nov. 9thth 1799 Napoleon 1799 Napoleon staged a Coup de tat – staged a Coup de tat – overthrow of the government.overthrow of the government.

Assumed dictator statusAssumed dictator status

Napoleon’s contributionsNapoleon’s contributions Napoleonic Code – A uniform Napoleonic Code – A uniform

set of laws for France that set of laws for France that eliminated a lot of injustices eliminated a lot of injustices under the monarchyunder the monarchy Set up more fair tax systemSet up more fair tax system Set up national bankSet up national bank Created lyceesCreated lycees

Selling of Louisiana to the Selling of Louisiana to the U.S.AU.S.A Sold the territory for 15 Sold the territory for 15

millionmillion Wanted to focus on EuropeWanted to focus on Europe Stronger U.S.A. would rival Stronger U.S.A. would rival

Britain’s powerBritain’s power

Napoleon’ s GoalNapoleon’ s Goal He wanted to create a He wanted to create a

French controlled French controlled European empire and European empire and spread the revolution. spread the revolution.

At the battle of At the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon Austerlitz, Napoleon crushed the 1crushed the 1stst coalition coalition of Britain, Russia, of Britain, Russia, Austria, SwedenAustria, Sweden

After Austerlitz After Austerlitz Napoleon controlled the Napoleon controlled the largest European Empire largest European Empire since the Romans. since the Romans.

Napoleon’s 3 mistakesNapoleon’s 3 mistakes

1.1. The Continental System – The Continental System – purpose was to make purpose was to make continental Europe more continental Europe more self sufficient and hurt self sufficient and hurt Britain’s economy.Britain’s economy.

Called for a Blockade – Called for a Blockade – forcible closing of portsforcible closing of ports

Problems -smugglers, Problems -smugglers, allies disregarded allies disregarded ordered, Britain in turn ordered, Britain in turn ordered blockade of ordered blockade of FranceFrance

Hurt Napoleon more b/c Hurt Napoleon more b/c Britain’s navy was Britain’s navy was strongerstronger

Napoleon’s 3 mistakesNapoleon’s 3 mistakes

2.2. Peninsular WarPeninsular War 1808 – 18131808 – 1813 Napoleon invaded Portugal b/c it was Napoleon invaded Portugal b/c it was

ignoring the Cont. Systemignoring the Cont. System Spanish protested so, Napoleon Spanish protested so, Napoleon

removes Spanish king and puts his removes Spanish king and puts his brother on the throne.brother on the throne.

Spanish guerillas attack the French Spanish guerillas attack the French Army for 5 yearsArmy for 5 years

Napoleon lost 300,000 men and it Napoleon lost 300,000 men and it severely weakened the French armyseverely weakened the French army

Napoleon’s three Napoleon’s three mistakesmistakes

3.3. Invasion of RussiaInvasion of Russia Russia retreated Russia retreated

towards Moscow and towards Moscow and practiced the Scorched practiced the Scorched Earth Policy – burned Earth Policy – burned grain fields and livestock grain fields and livestock so that the French so that the French couldn’t live off of couldn’t live off of Russian resourcesRussian resources

Winter sets in and then Winter sets in and then Russians attackRussians attack

Disaster for Napoleon’s Disaster for Napoleon’s armyarmy

Left Russian with 10,000 Left Russian with 10,000 soldiers out of 400,000soldiers out of 400,000

Napoleon’s FateNapoleon’s Fate The third Coalition of The third Coalition of

Britain, Austria, Russia Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia defeated and Prussia defeated France.France.

Napoleon was exiled to Napoleon was exiled to Elba.Elba.

He Escapes…He Escapes… Battle of Waterloo…. Battle of Waterloo….

Duke of Wellington..Duke of Wellington.. Exiled to St. HelenaExiled to St. Helena Died of a stomach Died of a stomach

ailment in 1821. ailment in 1821.

Revolutions: French vs. Revolutions: French vs. American American

The American revolution was more The American revolution was more about political rights and self about political rights and self governmentgovernment

The French Revolution on the other The French Revolution on the other hand, was more about equality of the hand, was more about equality of the masses – more a social revolutionmasses – more a social revolution

Both significantly changed World Both significantly changed World HistoryHistory