French Revoluti

on

Brutality in one’s own country, against one’s own countrymen.Storming of the Bastille

Causes of the French Revolution

1) French Social Divisions

– 1st Estate: Clergy– 2nd Estate: Nobility– 3rd Estate: Commoners

(middle class and worker class)

– The 3rd Estate paid most of the taxes What does this cartoon

show about French society prior to the revolution?

Causes of the French Revolution

2) Enlightenment Ideas– 3rd Estate was

unwilling to accept the divine right of kings

– 3rd Estate did not accept the privileges of the clergy and nobility

– Liberal clergy and nobles supported Enlightenment ideas

The Awakening of the 3rd Estate

What message is the author of the picture trying to convey?

Causes of the French Revolution

3) Financial Crisis– France’s tax system was

unequal across the classes and country

– France borrowed a lot of money to fight Great Britain

– In 1787 the King suggested that the nobility pay off the debts

– Nobles called for an Estates general or “national assembly” with all 3 classes represented

How did the King’s actions lead to the call for a National Assembly?

The Estates General

• The 3rd Estate had twice as many delegates to the Estates General than the other 2 classes

• The 3rd Estate took over the meeting and called themselves the

National Assembly.• The king tried to forcefully stop them, but

they stormed the Bastille and the king stopped and recognized the National Assembly How did the 3rd Estate

become the most powerful class?

National Assembly– Abolished hereditary

privileges.• No more freebies just

because of your bloodline.

– Issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

• Similar to the American Declaration of Independence

– Wrote a new constitution turning France into a constitutional monarchy.

• Just like England

The Revolution Takes a Radical Turn

• At first, the king tried to accept the new government… but that did not last.

• In 1791 he tried to escape France, he was caught, and was executed in 1793.

• France became a republic in which every male citizen could vote.

The Revolution Takes a Radical Turn• A Committee on Public Safety was

created to stop those rebelling against the new government.

• The revolution leaders were inspired by the ideals of Rousseau from the Enlightenment.– “Civilization is evil.”– “Abolish the nobility.”

• A “Reign of Terror” began as the group arrested and executed anyone opposed to them. – Used the guillotine– Led by a man named Robespierre.

• 40,000 nobles, priests, and others were killed.

What does this event say about unchecked power?

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1943485

The Revolution Takes a Radical Turn• France was at war with other

European countries.– All male citizens were forced to join

the army

• This turned the tide of war and France began to win.

• After the threat of war ended, French revolutionaries turned against their own leaders, and the leaders of the “Reign of Terror” were rounded up and executed.– Including Robespierre

How does the French Revolution show the delicacy of democracy?

Impact of the French Revolution

• Challenged the ideas of divine right and privileges of nobility

• Removed feudal restrictions from France which helped capitalism to grow

• Introduced democracy and social equality

• Served as a model for other countries seeking political change

How were the American and French Revolutions similar?

How were they different?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyZsLYxaIuM

Freakin’ Awesome Cartoon

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1_2NwmIobU

Napoleon Bonaparte 1769-1821

The Rise of Napoleon• In 1799 Napoleon seized power in France and negotiated

peace with all France’s enemies.• Napoleon introduced new legal reforms• He Came to peace with the Catholic Church• He consolidated his power• Crowned himself emperor in December 0f 1804

How did making peace with his enemies help him rule France?

War with Europe

• By the end of 1805, Napoleon had conquered all of Europe except for Britain

• He placed his relatives and friends in charge of many of the European countries

The Fall of Napoleon

• Problems:– Could not invade Britain– His boycott of British goods led to economic

problems– French rule was unpopular and the people sought

freedom

Why do people oppose rule from another country, even if it is a good ruler?

The Fall of Napoleon• 1809: Spain revolted• 1812: Napoleon invaded Russia and won. But the winter and

lack of supplies destroyed much of his army and he retreated.• Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria joined together to fight

Napoleon.• They invaded France and reinstalled the old French royal

family. (Louis XVIII)

Why would the foreign invaders put the old king’s family back on the throne?

The Fall of Napoleon

• Napoleon was exiled.• He returned to power in 1815. • June 1815 he was defeated at the Battle of

Waterloo.• He was imprisoned and died in 1821.

The Impact of Napoleon• Law code created stability in France• Ended feudal restrictions in most European countries• Sparked a growth of nationalism • Sold Louisiana Territory to USA• Weakened Spain and allowed for Latin American Revolutions

Was the rule of Napoleon a good thing or a bad thing for Europe?

Restoring the Old Order

• Congress of Vienna: – Restored former

rulers and European borders from before the war

– Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria made all the decisions

– Sought a balance of power to keep France from doing this again

– Abolished slave trade

William Wilberforce was the driving force for the abolishment of slavery in Europe.

Restoring the Old Order

• Nationalism:– Idea that each ethnic group should have its own

government and homeland– French Revolution promoted the idea of popular

sovereignty– Congress of Vienna did not address this new idea

What future problem might arise because of nationalistic feeling in Europe?

The Revolutions of 1848

• French Republic was restored this year• Revolutions occurred in Italy, Germany,

Austria, and Hungary.• Except for France all revolutionary regimes

failed.

What affect did the French and American Revolutions have on Europe?