UNIT 5THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND

NAPOLEON (1789-1815)CHAPTER 23

PART 1 – REGENTS NOTES

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION • Under the Old Regime in France, the burden of taxation fell mostly

on the commoners making it highly unequal • Before the Revolution, the people of France were divided into Three

Estates based on social class • Many people felt the monarchy and government were denying basic

human rights and failed to meet the needs of the people • The French Revolution challenged the power of the monarch • The bourgeoisie (educated middle class) resented their lack of

political power under the Old Regime; hey made up a large part of the Third Estate

OLD REGIME

EFFECTS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION • It was a turning point in global history because it inspired other

nations to seek democracy and independence • Power shifted to the bourgeoisie, so the middle class gained

influence • After Napoleon’s downfall in 1815, nationalistic feelings were

stimulated in Europe and Latin America • The Revolution allowed radical political groups like the Jacobins to

come to power

REIGN OF TERROR • French dictator Robespierre took power after Louis XVI was

abdicated (taken out of power)• He ushered in the Reign of Terror• Anyone perceived to be an enemy would be executed by the

guillotine• He executed members of every class in France

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE • One major effect of his rule was that he restored political stability• The French people supported him because they hoped he would

provide stability for the nation • He failed to expand his empire into Russia because of the country’s

size and climate (cold, harsh weather)

CONGRESS OF VIENNA • In 1815, this organization of European nations wanted to

restore old monarchies and regimes to power • The Congress established a balance of power in Europe

after the defeat of Napoleon

PART 2 – CHAPTER 23 NOTES

THE OLD ORDER • Old Regime—social and political system in France during the

1770s• Estates—three social classes of France’s Old Regime• First Estate - Catholic clergy—own 10 percent land, pay few taxes• Second Estate - rich nobles—2 percent population, own 20 percent

land• The Third Estate - 97 percent of people are peasants, urban

workers, middle class, have few privileges, pay almost all of the taxes, want change

FRENCH NUNS (CATHOLIC CHURCH)

FRENCH PEASANTS

THE FORCES OF CHANGE • Bourgeoisie – middle class group who embraced Enlightenment

idea • High taxes and rising costs damage economy by 1780s• King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for

extravagance; Louis doubles nation’s debt• He calls Estates-General on May 5, 1789 - meeting of

representatives from all three estates to approve a new tax he wanted to impose on the Second Estate

• First time Estates-General met in 175 years

ESTATES-GENERAL

BOURGEOISIE (MIDDLE CLASS)

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY • June 17, 1789 • Delegates, who represented the Third Estate, proclaimed the end of

absolute monarchy and the beginning of a representative government

• Tennis Court Oath—delegates decide to write new constitution for France

BASTILLE DAY • July 14, 1789 • Rumors spread in Paris that Louis was going to use military force to

suppress the National Assembly• Mob attacks and seizes the Bastille (French prison); they killed

guards in an effort to steal gunpowder to defend Paris • Event known as “Storming the Bastille”• Symbolic act of the revolution; national holiday

STORMING THE BASTILLE

GREAT FEAR • Rumors and panic spread throughout France• Attacks by peasants taking place across France• Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system• In October 1789, Parisian women revolt over rising price of bread• They demand action, forcing Louis to return from Versailles to Paris

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN • National Assembly adopts Declaration of the Rights of Man and

of the Citizen• Revolutionary leaders use the slogan, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”• The document stated that “men are born and remain free and equal

in rights”• Document guaranteed freedom of speech and religion

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN

CHANGES IN THE CHURCH • National Assembly seizes church lands and turns clergy

into public officials• This caused the new government to lose the support of

peasants

NEW GOVERNMENT • In September 1791, Assembly finishes new constitution • Legislative Assembly—new body created to pass laws • Major problems, including debt, food shortages remain• Assembly split into Radicals, Moderates, Conservatives

JACOBINS • Jacobins - radical political organization behind 1792

governmental changes• Louis XVI is found guilty of treason and beheaded • Guillotine—machine designed during the Revolution to

behead people

LOUIS XVI IS EXECUTED

ROBESPIERRE • Maximilien Robespierre—Jacobin leader rules France

for a year in 1793 • Becomes leader of the Committee for Public Safety and

a dictator• The Committee for Public Safety imposed his “Reign of

Terror”

REIGN OF TERROR • Robespierre’s rule, which includes killing many opponents• Thousands die during the Terror, including former allies and Marie

Antoinette• 85 percent of those who die during the Terror are middle or lower class but

no one was safe from the guillotine • In July 1794, Robespierre arrested, executed by his fellow revolutionaries • Two-house legislature and five-man Directory restore order and lead the

new government

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE • He was a military genius who seizes power in France and made

himself emperor• In 1795, Napoleon defeats royalist rebels attacking National

Convention and was declared a military hero • Napoleon wins stunning victories in Italy, gaining popularity• In November 1799, he carries out a coup d’état (seizure of power)

and overthrows the Directory

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

NAPOLEON RULES FRANCE • In 1800, a new constitution is approved through a plebiscite (vote of the

people)• To fix economy, he sets up national banking system, efficient tax collection,

and a fairer tax code • Establishes government-run public schools to train officials• Signs concordat—agreement—with pope restoring Catholicism in France• Creates Napoleonic Code—uniform system of laws • Napoleon did not expand freedom of speech for the French • In December 1804, Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France

NAPOLEONIC CODE

NAPOLEON CREATES AN EMPIRE • Sells the Louisiana Territory to United States for $15 million in

1803 to raise money, cut his losses in America, and to increase America’s power as a British rival

• Britain, Russia, Austria, Sweden join forces against Napoleon• Napoleon conquers a large portion of Europe by crushing enemy

forces in several brilliant battles• Napoleon forces Austria, Russia, Sweden to sign peace treaties

NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE (1810)

NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE (1812)

THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR• In 1805, British win Battle of Trafalgar which ensures British naval

superiority• Using a brilliant and bold maneuver, British Admiral Horatio Nelson

split up the French fleet into smaller groups and then attacked them • This defeat forces Napoleon to give up his plan to invade Britain

NAPOLEON RIDES INTO BATTLE

THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM • Napoleon strikes Britain through blockade (forced closing of ports)• Continental System - economic plan to strengthen Europe,

weaken Britain• Smugglers and uncooperative allies make France’s blockade fail• Britain responds with blockade of its own, led by its stronger navy

THE PENINSULAR WAR • In 1808, Napoleon sends troops across Spain to attack Portugal in

an effort to enforce his Continental System • Napoleon makes his brother king of Spain, making things worse• Spanish fight as guerrillas (small groups that attacked and then

fled into hiding)• British aid Spanish guerrillas • Napoleon loses 300,000 soldiers during this war • Nationalist rebels fight the French in other conquered territories

THE PENINSULAR WAR

THE INVASION OF RUSSIA • Relations with Russia break down so Napoleon decides to invade• In June 1812, Napoleon’s Grand Army marches into Russia with 420,000

men• Czar Alexander I used a scorched-earth policy (destroying crops and

livestock) so French would starve • Russians retreat from Moscow after being defeated at Battle of Borodino• Napoleon’s forces move on to Moscow; Alexander burned the city rather

than surrender it to the French • Napoleon eventually retreated after losing thousands of soldiers to Russian

raiders, starvation, and cold weather

NAPOLEON RETREATS FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA

CZAR ALEXANDER I

NAPOLEON’S DOWNFALL • Britain, Prussia, Sweden, Russia, Austria join forces against

Napoleon• Napoleon raises another army, but meets quick defeat by allied

powers• April 1814 - Napoleon finally surrenders and is exiled to island of

Elba

THE HUNDRED DAYS • Louis XVIII, new king, is soon overthrown and Napoleon returns

from exile• Battle of Waterloo - British and Prussian forces led by the Duke of

Wellington defeat Napoleon’s army in June 1815• This defeat ends the Hundred Days which was Napoleon’s last

attempt at power • British send Napoleon to the island of St. Helena where he

eventually died in 1821• Freed European countries began to establish a new order

BATTLE OF WATERLOO

BATTLE OF WATERLOO

DUKE OF WELLINGTON

NAPOLEON IS EXILED

CONGRESS OF VIENNA • Series of meetings that reshape Europe during the winter of 1814-

1815• Klemens von Metternich - foreign minister of Austria who was an

influential leader at Congress• He wanted to restore a balance of power so that no one country

would be a threat to others • Main goal = establish security and stability for the nations of

Europe • Important effect = nationalistic feelings grew in countries that were

placed under foreign rule (ex: Latin American countries)

CONGRESS OF VIENNA