The French Revolution

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The French Revolution Napoleon 1789 - 1815
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The Causes

• In 1789 French Society was very unequal
• There were 3 main classes of people. (Estate
  system)
• 1st Estate
• Priviledged Class
• Clergy of the Catholic Church
• Owned 10 of the land in France
• Consisted of less than 1 of the population
• 2nd Estate
• Priviledged Class
• Rich Nobles
• Owned 20 of land in France
• Consisted of 2 of the population
• Both Estates rejected Enlightenment ideas. Why?

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Causes cont.

• The Third Estate
• Consisted of 98 of population
• Had no power to influence the government
• Embraced Enlightenment ideas

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Causes Graphic Organizer
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The Estates General

• The Estates General was a meeting of
  representatives from all three estates.
• Each estate met separately with each group having
  one vote
• 1st and 2nd Estate had 300 delegates each
• 3rd Estate had about 600 delegate
• In 1789 Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates
  General to discuss the poor French Economy and
  Raise taxes.

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Estates General of 1789

• During the meeting the 3rd estate voiced their
  concerns about the unfairness of the system and
  proposed setting up a constitutional government.
• June 17, 1789 the 3rd Estate voted to call itself
  the National Assembly and draft a constitution
  without the support of the king or the other two
  estates.
• By doing this they proclaimed an end to absolute
  monarchy and the beginning of a representative
  government

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Commoners save the day

• Tennis Court Oath Members of the third estate
  moved to a tennis court after they found that
  they had been locked out of their building
• They promised not to leave until a new
  constitution was written

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The Bastille

• Storming the Bastille July 14 The king
  threatens to use force on the third estate Until
  a mob overwhelms the kings forces at the Bastille
  a prison that stockpiled gunpowder
• Became a great symbolic act of the revolution
• July 14 July 4 in the U.S.A

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The Great Fear

• The Great Fear a wave of panic that spread
  throughout France because of widespread peasant
  rebellions
• Commoners broke into Nobles homes pillaged
• The King and Queen left Versailles

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Declaration of Rights

• Declaration of the Rights of Man
• Reflected Enlightenment ideas and the Declaration
  of Independence
• Men are born free and equal in rights
• Political associations should protect rights
• Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity became a
  slogan of the Revolution.
• France became a constitutional monarchy.

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Spreading Revolution

• Because neighboring countries were scared that
  revolution might spread to their countires,
  Austria went to war with France
• France was defeated
• The rise of the Sans- Culottes literally mean
  without Breeches, but actually referred to
  those without fine clothes.
• This signaled a more radical and violent stage of
  the revolution.

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Execution of the King

• After the King tried to escape France, he was
  arrested and held prisoner
• In Sept. of 1792, The National Assembly became
  the National Convention which did not share
  authority with the King
• On Jan. 21 1793 Louis XVI was beheaded on the
  Guillotine

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The Guillotine

• Invented by Frenchmen
• Killed Quick and humanely
• During the Fr. Rev tens of thousands were
  executed at the guillotine
• Other methods of Execution? Torture?

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The Committee of Public Safety

• The Committee of Public Safety was a 12 member
  body who was created by the National Convention
  to protect the young republic
• Maxmilian Robespierre - Controlled the
  government by dominating the COPS
• Reign of Terror term used to describe
  Robespierres reign because so many were executed
  (40,000)
• Robespierre himself was sent to the Guillotine on
  July 28th, 1794
• Directory takes over an Executive body of 5men

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Napoleon Bonaparte

• Born in 1769 Island of Corsica
• Went to a French military school at the age of 9
• Joined the army during the revolution
• Became a national hero after he defended the
  National Convention from Royalist support the
  king
• In 1796 the Directory placed him in charge of the
  French military
• Nov. 9th 1799 Napoleon staged a Coup de tat
  overthrow of the government.
• Assumed dictator status

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Napoleons contributions

• Napoleonic Code A uniform set of laws for
  France that eliminated a lot of injustices under
  the monarchy
• Set up more fair tax system
• Set up national bank
• Created lycees
• Selling of Louisiana to the U.S.A
• Sold the territory for 15 million
• Wanted to focus on Europe
• Stronger U.S.A. would rival Britains power

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Napoleon s Goal

• He wanted to create a French controlled European
  empire and spread the revolution.
• At the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon crushed the
  1st coalition of Britain, Russia, Austria, Sweden
• After Austerlitz Napoleon controlled the largest
  European Empire since the Romans.

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Napoleons 3 mistakes

• The Continental System purpose was to make
  continental Europe more self sufficient and hurt
  Britains economy.
• Called for a Blockade forcible closing of ports
• Problems -smugglers, allies disregarded ordered,
  Britain in turn ordered blockade of France
• Hurt Napoleon more b/c Britains navy was stronger

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Napoleons 3 mistakes

• Peninsular War
• 1808 1813
• Napoleon invaded Portugal b/c it was ignoring the
  Cont. System
• Spanish protested so, Napoleon removes Spanish
  king and puts his brother on the throne.
• Spanish guerillas attack the French Army for 5
  years
• Napoleon lost 300,000 men and it severely
  weakened the French army

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Napoleons three mistakes

• Invasion of Russia
• Russia retreated towards Moscow and practiced the
  Scorched Earth Policy burned grain fields and
  livestock so that the French couldnt live off of
  Russian resources
• Winter sets in and then Russians attack
• Disaster for Napoleons army
• Left Russian with 10,000 soldiers out of 400,000

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Napoleons Fate

• The third Coalition of Britain, Austria, Russia
  and Prussia defeated France.
• Napoleon was exiled to Elba.
• He Escapes
• Battle of Waterloo. Duke of Wellington..
• Exiled to St. Helena
• Died of a stomach ailment in 1821.

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Revolutions French vs. American

• The American revolution was more about political
  rights and self government
• The French Revolution on the other hand, was more
  about equality of the masses more a social
  revolution
• Both significantly changed World History