The French RevolutionPhase 1 – the Old Regime and Rebellion

Governments of

France

1789-1799

King Louis XVI

French society on the Eve of the Revolution

• inequality

French Economy on the Eve of the Revolution• Increasing deficit

French Economy on the Eve of the Revolution• Increasing deficit

Why?

Costly Wars

Lifestyle of Monarchs

Disparity in Wealth

Deficit spending

Loss of credit

Poor harvests

Unseasonably wet or dry

weather

French Economy on the Eve of the Revolution• Increasing deficit

• Inflation and rising costs

Costly Wars

Lifestyle of Monarchs

Disparity in Wealth

Deficit spending

Loss of credit

Poor harvests

Unseasonably wet or dry

weather

The Estates General of 1789

Little used

assembly of

delegates that

advise the king

when called…

Delegates

represented each of

the three estates

The Estates General of 1789

Little used assembly of

delegates that advise the

king when called…

Refused to meet by

traditional means. 1

estate = 1 vote

Declare themselves the

National Convention

The Estates General of 1789

Tennis Court Oath:

delegates of 3rd Estate

gather and demand a

constitution!

Declare themselves the

National Convention

Meanwhile in Paris….• The fall of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)

• Sans-culottes: poor urban workers

A British view of

sans-culottes

In the rural areas….• The Great Fear

• Public records targeted

October 1789• Angry crowd, mostly women march to Versailles, demand

the king and royal family return with them to Paris.

Notable Achievements

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

• Constitution of 1791 creates a constitutional monarchy

The French RevolutionPhase 2– the Radical Phase

Louis XVI attempts to flee the Austrian Netherlands. • What message does that send to supporters of both the revolution

and the new constitutional monarchy?

• Does King Louis XVI really support the revolution?

Now how do the French see their King?

Violence in Paris (1792)

Riots threaten the king and his family

Royal palace attacked

“September Massacres”

Imprisoned nobles and clergy are killed

Radical politics• 3 examples

• Marat, Danton, and Robespierre

War

Austria, Prussia,

and England declare

war against France

The National Convention (1792-1795)

• Democratic reforms

• Abolishes monarchy (No more king)

• New Constitution

Universal male suffrage

What to do with Louis XVI?

•Charged and convicted of treason

•Executed by guillotine

A Republic Established

• Monarchy and nobility are abolished – Louis Capet (Louis XVI) is put on trial for treason

• Louis Executed in January, 1793

• Marie Antoinette Executed that October

Threats to the Revolution?

• Rebellion

• “Enemies of the Revolution”

French Expansion• France tries to expand territory and spread ideals of the Revolution

The Rise of Napoleon

The Committee of Public Safety and the Terror

• Committee created by the National Convention that had almost complete control

• Led by 12 men

• Goal = Stabilize the Revolution

• Led by Robespierre

The Fate of Robespierre?

The Directory• 1795 = New constitution

Only male property owners can vote

• Bicameral Legislature

• The Directory (1795-1799) 5 man executive branch (co-presidents)

Very weak, very corrupt

The French RevolutionPhase 3 – Napoleon and Imperial France

Napoleon’s Reforms

• Public works projects

• More religious freedom

• Civil service open to all qualified

• Napoleonic Code – Uniform law code, stressed equality

• Government school system

Concordat of 1801

•Catholicism was declared the religion of the majority of Frenchmen.

•Papal acceptance of church lands lost during the Revolution.

•Bishops subservient to the regime.

Emperor Napoleon

• 1804 crowns himself emperor

Revolution in Haiti: 1792-1804

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Napoleon’s Continental System

Napoleon’s Empire Grows

• Conquerors most of Europe through warfare and diplomacy

• Continental System – closed European ports to British trade Why would he do this?

Why would many European leaders object to this??

How do you think the people of Europe felt about the French ruling and influencing them?

Problems Napoleon Must Face

• Resistance to the Continental System

• The rise of nationalism

Invasion of Russia1812

• Russian Czar Alexander I withdraws from Continental System

• Napoleon and over 600,000 troops begin the invasion (400,000 actually invade in August)

What could this chart represent?

General Famine and General Winter

• Begins retreat in October

• About 10,000 troops of the Grand Army return

The End?

• 1813 – Napoleon abdicates, is exiled to Elba

• Louis XVIII is named king of France

• Napoleon then escapes with a ship and his personal guard. He reclaims control in France

Napoleon’s 100 Days

• June 18, 1815 – Napoleon’s army meets Allied (English, Prussian, Netherlands) army.

• Napoleon is defeated, abdicates, and is exiled to St. Helena

Legacy?

•Did he solidify the revolution or destroy it?

•Armies spread revolutionary ideas

Congress of Vienna

• Meeting of European leaders

• Goal = establish the balance of power in Europe

• Led by Clemens von Metternich

Decisions Made

• Map of Europe is redrawn – France surrounded by stronger kingdoms (Buffer States)

Napoleon’s Empire Crumbles

Decisions Made

• Map of Europe is redrawn – France surrounded by stronger kingdoms

• European monarchs are given back their thrones

• Quadruple Alliance – pact between Austria, Russia, Prussia and Great Britain to stop any revolutionary activity.