The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Chapter 18

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Louis XIV - The Sun King
• Louis XIV was an absolute ruler and domineering
  personality
• He ruled during Frances Golden Age
• His palace of Versailles was the envy of Europe

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Versailles
• exemplified the opulence with which the French
  Royalty lived.
• Succeeding Monarchs lacked Louis XIV personality
  and would bear the brunt of his extravagance.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Structure of French Society Old Regime
• Estates
• First Estate consisted of the clergy who ran the
  schools, recorded births and deaths and managed
  church affairs. They paid no taxes.
• Second Estate French Nobility less than 2 of
  population and only they could serve as officers
  in the Army or hold high posts in government.
• Third Estate majority of French citizens were in
  this estate. Included poor peasants and wealthy
  bourgeois merchants

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Underlying Economic and Social Problems
• Poor harvests led to problems in feeding Frances
  growing population 18m in 1715 to 25m in 1789.
• Ancient customs duties inhibited trade and
  commerce within France adding to existing
  inflation.
• Huge government debt because of Frances wars.
  French support for the colonists during the
  American Revolution nearly doubled the debt.
• Skyrocketing inflation one loaf of bread a
  months wage.
• In a desperate attempt to raise money, Louis XVI
  called the Estates General Parliament into
  session for the 1st time since 1614.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• From Estates General to National Assembly
• Voting based on Estate, 1 vote each.
• Louis XVI rejected a plan to let all estates meet
  together.
• Members of the 3rd Estate then declared
  themselves a National Assembly and prepared to
  write a constitution.
• Louis XVI banished them from their meeting hall.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Oath of the Tennis Court On June 20, 1789
  members of the Third Estate met on a Tennis Court
  and agreed to not disband until a constitution
  for France was written. Many Nobles and clergy
  decided to join the National Assembly.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Economic Crisis and Revolt
• Summer of 1789 inflation was skyrocketing,
  drought, food shortages and taxes were
  overburdening the people.
• Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 French
  Peasants storm the French prison as an act of
  rebellion against the old regime.
• Peasants attacked their landlords and destroyed
  their tax records and deeds of debt.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The National Assembly Responds
• Reforms
• abolished tax exemptions for Nobles
• made all male citizens eligible for government
  and church positions
• ended most feudal custom duties inhibiting
  commerce
• Declaration of the Rights of Man stated
  democratic principles would be the basis of
  French government and called for equality of all
  citizens.
• Civil Constitution For The Clergy Abolished
  special privileges of the church, put church
  affairs under the control of the government and
  began selling off church land to raise money.
• Metric system, begun under Louis XVI, was adopted
  in 1791.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Louis XVI Prisoner in His Own Country
• October 1789 Parisians marched on Versailles
  forcing Louis and his family to stay at the
  palace in the city.
• Marie Antoinette, the Queen, incurred the wrath
  of French citizens. They resented her
  indifference to their struggles and her lavish
  lifestyle.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Constitution of 1791 Stage 1
• made France a Constitutional Monarchy limiting
  the power of the King.
• Legislature made the laws, the King would carry
  them out or veto them. The legislature could
  override his veto.
• A new judicial system was created.
• Guaranteed equal rights to all citizens forever
  abolishing feudalism.
• Very similar to the American system except it
  retained the Monarchy.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Louis XVIs Great Mistake
• Louis XVI attempts to flee to Austria in hopes of
  raising an army to defeat the Revolution but is
  caught at the border..
• Louis and family are returned to Paris under
  house arrest and Louis is forced to accept the
  new Constitution.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Frances First Revolutionary Government
• Legislative Assembly was internally divided and
  the seating arrangements would have long lasting
  effects.
• Right Wing Girondins were moderate
  revolutionaries who sought to preserve a
  constitutional monarchy
• Left Wing Jacobins were radical revolutionaries
  who sought to overthrow the monarchy and make
  France a Republic

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• France Reacts With War
• Monarchs throughout Europe Austria in
  particular were afraid the Revolution would
  spread to their country and began preparing to
  use force if necessary to restore Louis XVI to
  his throne.
• April 1792, the Legislative Assembly declares war
  on Austria. Prussia comes to the defense of
  Austria.
• The war initially is disastrous for France.
  Prussia and Austria threatened Paris and
  scapegoats are needed. Many believe Louis XVI is
  aiding the enemy.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The National Convention Stage 2
• Paris Commune, August 1792, revolution breaks out
  in Paris. Sans-Culottes, revolutionaries, take
  over city government, calling themselves the
  Commune, and storm the Kings Palace.
• Writings of Jean-Paul Marat encouraged the people
  to take violent action.
• Revolutionaries call for elections based on
  universal male suffrage to create a National
  Convention and demand a new Constitution.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Republic Stage 2, the Radical State
• September 1792 the National Convention abolishes
  the Monarchy and declares France a Republic.
• Evidence of the Kings attempt to plot with
  émigrés and foreign enemies leads to Louis XVIs
  trial for treason. He is found guilty and
  executed on January 21, 1793.
• October 16, 1793 Marie Antionette is executed for
  treason as well.
• Liberty, Equality, Fraternity became the rallying
  cry of the French Revolution.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• France At War
• March 1793 Disgusted with the September
  Massacres, Great Britain, Dutch Netherlands, and
  Spain join Austria and Prussia in a war against
  France.
• French armies struggle as the Prussians and
  Austrians threaten France.
• Desperation sets in and the National Assembly
  creates A Committee for Public Safety.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Reign of Terror July 1793-July 1794
• Committee of Public Safety had virtual
  dictatorial powers
• Led by Maximilien Robespierre
• Put France on a Military Preparedness Schedule by
  raising new armies and creating conscription
  where all men were eligible for military service.
  By 1794 Frances Army was 1,169,000.
• Prices restrictions were put on food and wages.
• All class distinctions and titles were
  eliminated, everyone was referred to as Citizen.
• New Calendar and clock were created, attempted to
  supplant the influence of Christianity.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Reign of Terror
• To combat internal enemies the Committee for
  Public Safety set up tribunals. From July 1793
  to July 1794 during The Reign of Terror about
  30,000 people were executed for treason against
  the Republic.
• Eventually, France repulsed her enemies and the
  need for a reign of terror ended. Robespierre
  was executed on July 28, 1794.

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The National Razor

• Guillotine
• Method of execution made every equal in death
• Considered humane and therefore not cruel or
  unusual punishment similar to the demand made in
  the English Bill of Rights and the US 8th
  Amendment.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Directory 1795-1799 Third Stage
• New Constitution of 1795 created and legislative
  body and executive branch with 5 directors.
• Successes
• France had the largest Army in Europe and was
  able to pursue an aggressive foreign policy
• Failures
• Lifted price controls which led to inflation and
  riots.
• Directory was inefficient and corrupt.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
• born of Italian descent on the Island of Corsica
• By age 27 rose to the rank of General
• Between 1795-1797 Napoleon won major victories
  against the Austrians in Italy.
• Invasion of Egypt and Defeat of the British led
  to him becoming a national hero.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Consulate Napoleon as First Consul
• 1799 Napoleon returned to Paris and led a revolt
  against the Directory with help of 2 sitting
  Directors.
• New Constitution was written with the Republic
  run by a Consulate. 3 Consuls served as heads of
  State with Napoleon as First Consul.
• By a plebiscite in 1802 Napoleon was named Consul
  for Life and in 1804 years later named himself
  Emperor.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Napoleons Domestic Achievements
• Napoleonic Code brought about the reforms of the
  revolution into a single unified code of laws in
  existence to this day.
• All men are created equal before the law turned
  back earlier revolutionary equality for women
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of enterprise to work in any occupation
• Re-drew the boundaries of France making for
  efficient government

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Napoleons Domestic Achievements
• Finance Economics
• Taxation all citizens must pay, no exemptions.
• National Bank of France
• Issued paper currency
• Education
• Government run schools called Lycees were the
  first steps toward public education
• Religion
• Concordant of 1801 With Rome
• recognized Catholic faith as the faith of the
  majority of French citizens in return Pope would
  not demand the return of church land seized
  during the revolution.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Napoleons Foreign Policy 1800-1807
• Wars of Conquest Aggression
• Napoleon chose to attack Frances enemies rather
  than passively defend
• Through cunning tactics and diplomacy Napoleon
  was able to subdue his enemies
• 1805 He defeated the Austrians and Russian at
  Austerlitz
• 1805 Naval Defeat at Trafalgar ends his plan for
  invading England
• 1806 he defeated the Prussians at Jena and at
  Friedland in 1807.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Europe Under Napoleons Rule 1807-1812
• System of Alliances
• Controlled France and Netherlands directly
• Spain, Italy and the Confederation of the Rhine
  were satellite states run by Family members.
• Austria and Prussia were forced allies
• Only Britain and Russia remained as enemies
• Reforms
• Spread the ideals of the French Revolution
  abolished serfdom, religious toleration, and the
  Napoleonic Code

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• France vs Britain
• Cape Trafalgar British Naval victory ending
  Napoleons attempt to invade Britain.
• Continental System Napoleons blockade of
  British trade with the continent of Europe
• forbid European nations to trade with Britain
• Britain replied by seizing any ship trying to
  trade with France
• Led to American dispute with Britain and the War
  of 1812

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Rise of Nationalism
• nations began to despise French rule and longed
  for the day they ruled their own countries
• Nationalism
• an intense feeling of commitment or loyalty to
  ones own nation or culture
• Uprising in Spain
• Spaniards were the first to revolt using
  guerrilla warfare tactics to harass French troops
  

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Napoleons Attack on Russia
• Tsar Czar Alexander I decided to ignore
  Napoleons continental system and resumed trade
  with Britain in 1812.
• Napoleon invaded Russia in June of 1812 with
  500,000 troops. Napoleon defeated the Russians
  but his supplies line were over extended. He
  withdrew and faced harassment from Russian
  troops. Thousands of French troops starved and
  froze to death. Less than 100,000 escaped Russia.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Europe Revolts
• Napoleons defeat in Russia encouraged Prussia
  Austria to join Britain and Russia in attacking
  France.
• By March 1814, Napoleons efforts to rebuild a
  new army failed and the Allies captured Paris.
• Napoleon was forced into exile on the Isle of
  Elba.
• Louis XVIII, brother of executed Louis XVI was
  returned to the throne of France.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• Napoleons Return The Hundred Days
• Many French were dissatisfied with the return of
  the old monarchy.
• Napoleon escaped from Elba in March of 1815,
  organized an Army, marched on Paris and forced
  Louis XVIII into exile.
• The Allies responded quickly. In June of 1815, a
  joint British Prussian army under the Duke of
  Wellington defeat Napoleon at Waterloo.
• Napoleon is again exiled to St. Helena in the
  South Atlantic where he dies in 1821.

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The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

• The Legacy
• I am the Revolution Napoleon Bonaparte
• In what ways was Napoleon the embodiment of the
  Revolution?
• In what ways did Napoleon turn back the clock on
  the Revolution?