Download The French Revolution and Napoleon

Unit 6
The French Revolution and Napoleon
Objectives:
1. To understand the causes of the
French Revolution
2. To be able to trace the stages of the
French Revolution
3 .To understand the rise of Napoleon
and the changes that he brought to
France and Europe
_________________________________
Needs – Documents – revolution Art –
Flight of the King – VHS on French
Revolution- Executioner book- skit
readings for Safety committee- topic of
explain how to stop the revolution
without war or blood
1789-1799 The French Revolution was
the first effective and successful
challenge of monarchies on the continent
it gave rise to popular sovereignty and
nationalism. Not only would it radically
change France but also it would have a
ripple change affect on all European
Monarchies, as reforms would be put in
place as a result of the French. For
France it would be a break and a solution
to the old ways and usher in a modern
government and society a complete
break from the past.
At the time of the Revolution France
was ruled by an absolute monarchy
(always attempted despotism) Louis
XVI in his 20’s did not like ruling liked
being rich-hunting-dancing-and taking
apart watches and clocks married to
Marie-Antoinette 1755-1793 an
“Austrian Whore” as French nobility and
commoner referred to her. She hated
France and her Husband and had
numerous affairs. Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II was her brother.
The Old Regime Crumbles and Long
term causes of the revolution
Louis XVI would be forced to call The
Estates General something that had not
been called in over 150 years- a
declining economy – coupled with
economic privilege for the nobles and
clergy (leaving the cost to the poor) –a
literate population influenced by the
writings of the Enlightenment – and
social unrest forced the King to give into
public opinion and demand. For the
nobility the poor and rising bourgeoisie
wee out of control and had to be
appeased rather than punished for fear of
violence.
The old nobility was enraged at he
Nuevo-Rich from 1774-1789 the king to
collect money sold titles of nobility and
positions in the government to 2,500
families– all of which became exempt
from taxes. By 1789 there were 50,000
tax-exempt offices. This caused a
power shift in the ranks of the nobles it
went from sword to robe.
Rising prices on all goods from 17701780 and a series of bad harvests 1775
1787 1788 dramatically affected the
living conditions of the poor masses
whose population was doubling with
birth rates.
Landlords and nobles raised rent and
took back the common lands for
themselves leaving the poor with very
little to farm and raise livestock.
Financial Crisis the Short term cause
For more than a century France had been
in a financial draining state of war with
Britain and Europe as well as funding
the later half of the American Revolution
which defaulted on its loan and became
economically tied to the British. 75% of
the monarchies budget went to funding
the Army, Navy and the debt from 3
previous wars.
Taxes were not effectively collected –
peasants by law could only be taxed so
much and nobles and clergy and their
lands were exempt from taxation.
Jacques-Necker 1732-1804 Swiss
Protestant Banker and Financial minister
to Louis XVI hated by Marie and
Nobles. Was able to secure loans for the
crown by his financial reports on the
crown that showed more money was
coming in than was being spent however
in1781 this was not enough and banks
and nations refused credit to the French
Monarchy. Necker warned Louis XVI
that he was living beyond the means of
the crown Marie hated him for this. He
told the crown that unless they did
financial reforms and recommended
taxing the nobles and clergy creditors
would not be loaning any money to
France. Necker was fired at Marie’s
request.
Charles-Alexandre de Calonne 17341802 replaced Necker – he simple
pleased Marie and spent more money
and put he country deeper in debt as
creditors pounded on the palace doors.
The parliaments distrusted Calonne and
believed he would soon ax the land.
Calonne to avoid parliament convinced
the king to call an Assembly of
Notables handpicked individuals from
the three estates who would push
through land taxes on everyone – They
did the opposite and did not support this
concept as it would equalize and upset
the social structure of France. April 8
1788 Nobles forced the king to fire
Calonne and replace him with EtienneCharles de Lomenie de Brienne the
archbishop of Toulouse.
He tried to convince the parliaments
that corruption and overspending by the
crown was under control and that taxes
need to be raised. The Parliaments of
France would not listen. The assembly
of Notables considered taxes if the Ling
would agree to call the Estates General
at regular times. (1614 was the last).
Louis to control this needed to reduce
noble privileges by their choice so as not
to appear to be a despot and he needed to
gain public trust. He did not want to give
up power either real or perceived.
First Stage of Revolution
The noble revolt started the French
Revolution – The Paris Parliament and
the provincial parliaments protested the
king’s new taxes – and demanded that
the Estates General be called (last one
1614) This was not a revolt against the
monarchy but rather a revolt against
attempted despotic rule by the monarch
– and his abuses of power. Brienne was
forced to withdraw the taxes on new
lands and the stamp tax but the income
tax would remain. Paper money would
now be used backed only by royal
decree to pay the nations debts. The
Duke of Orleans (Kings Cousin)
challenged Louis XVI that this too was
illegal – the King simply crossed the line
into despotism by claiming his will is the
law.
1788 Louis XVI arrested two of the most
outspoken members of the Parliament of
Paris and disbanded the parliaments
again in their place he put provincial
courts controlled by the crown. – The
Assembly Clergy then protested this act
followed by riots in Grenoble. On Aug
8th 1788 Louis was forced to call The
Estates General and reappoint Necker.
This was the first act of the French
Revolution begun by the nobles and it
unified public opinion against the
Crown.
Voting now became an issue The Estates
General was mad up of members of the
three estates – Clergy, Nobility –who
were against any reforms and the
peasants who wanted reforms – Would
the assembly vote by Estates 1 vote per
estate which would guarantee clergy and
noble victory or would it be a vote of 1
vote per member which would give he
peasants the victory. On Sept 25 the
parliament of Paris voted it would be by
Estate 3 votes total. This would unify
and enrage the peasants and multiple
writers began to write for the Third
Estate, One group of “old Money”
nobles The Group of Thirty (included
the Marquis de Lafayette) supported
better representation for the third estate.
Make up of the Estates General
2/3rds of the first estate (clergy) were
parish priests who hated the privileges of
the Bishops. ½ of the nobles to the
second estate were liberal and open to
change. 2/3rds of the third estates were
lawyers. Dec. 1788 the king doubled the
number of the third estate hoping to gain
their support but held to the 1 vote per
estate He also asked for a list of
Grievances that would be discussed at
the meetings. These were wide spread
grievances from sheep breath to political
reform.
January 1789 Father Emmanuel
Joseph Sieyes (peasant priest) became a
spokesman for the third estate when he
posted three questions to the peasants –
What is the third estate? Everything –
What has it been heretofore in the
political order? Nothing – What does it
demand? To become something therein.
May 5th 1789 1,200 members met 600
were of the third estate. The king met
with the 1st and 2nd estates all day then
spoke at the 3rd – Sieyes then called the
Third Estate its new title – The National
Assembly. This new title now gave the
third estate the self proclaimed
sovereignty of the nation and authority
over the crown.
June 20 1789 – the king orders the
rooms in which the third estate meets to
be “locked for repair” President JeanSylvain then had them meet in the
Tennis Court – and had the third estate
take the Tennis Court Oath - a promise
not to disband until the monarch and
France were brought under a
Constitution. The King said this was
invalid and not recognized by the
Crown.
June 22 1789 Necker fired again – but
public pressure by the nobles and clergy
did not allow it and several nobles and
clergy left the 1st and 2nd Estates and
joined the peasants in the 3rd.
June 23 1789 Louis XVI announced
reforms – The Estates General would be
called on a regular basis – abolish the tax
on land – abolish the labor tax –
eliminate internal tariffs and allow The
Estates General to vote by head count on
all maters not of tradition. – It was too
little to late for the now radical third
estate.
June 27 1789 The king dissolved the 1st
and 2nd estates and ordered all nobles
and clergy into the 3rd estate and he
renamed it The National Constituent
Assembly
July 1789 – food shortage – resulted in
the bulk of the population believing that
the nobility and “hoarders” were causing
it – and the Crown moved an Army
around Versailles. On July 11 Louis XVI
again fired Necker. This resulted in
massive attacks in Paris against the
custom gates at the entrance of the city
and the seizure of a military hospital for
weapons and on July 14 1789 thousands
of “san Culottes” artisans, tradesmen and
wage earners stormed the Bastille, more
symbolic than strategic. Was a royal
prison but by 1789 held only 9 people
200 attackers were killed and the captain
of the guard head was cut off and
paraded through the streets of Paris.
Louis removed part of the Army as he
was not sure who was loyal and was
forced to recognize a new government of
Paris led by Bailly. The city controlled a
National Guard lead by Lafayette and
the Tri Color Flag was flown in place of
the royal imperial flag. Louis came to
Paris in the Red White and Blue colors
recognizing the flag of rebellion.
Peasant Revolt
July 19-Aug for The rumors of noble
and hoarder conspiracy caused the
masses throughout France to attack
nobles and large farms believe food was
being kept from them in order to stare
out the revolution. Townspeople
throughout France took to arms to
protect their towns and to raid
government food stores. Lawyers and
merchants lead the riots and gained a
power they had no recently enjoyed –
leadership and a roll in politics of the
time.
To end the violence and to keep control
of the people and prevent the monarchy
from trying to use force the National
Assembly met on Aug 4th and dissolved
the concept of feudalism and servitude
by the peasants. In one night the
Assembly striped the nobility of a
century of lifestyle. Nobles could no
longer force work – or punish the
peasants on their land. They further
opened all hunting grounds to all people
of France, and guaranteed the right to
freedom of religion. Nobles were not
compensated and had to privileges left.
This was the beginning of the End of
the OLD REGIME. This destroyed
absolutism in France and redifind the
relationship between King and People.
THE NEW REGIME
Drawing from the American Revolution,
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of
Independence, the assembly created the
Declaration of the Rights of Man and
Citizen (a major human rights
accomplishment) on Aug. 26th 1789 – all
people were to be equal before the law.
French people were now members of a
nation not a social class and mobility
was based on citizenship. This allowed
the assembly to begin to create a new
form of government –but it allowed the
talented intellectual to stay in power.
Wealth became power not blood lines or
birth. This document also only called for
the rights of Man not Women – thus
indirectly spawning the women’s
movement in France.
The Estates General became the
National assembly but Louis XVI still
held the power to approve the
Assembly’s actions and proposals of
law.
It also made the Catholic Church a
national church thus making all of the
Church property part of the government
and forced the clergy to swear allegiance
to the government and ended tithe
payments to the church, and auctioned
off church land for peasant use. The
Constitution of the French Clergy
denounced by the pope those priests who
did not take the oath could not hold
services or give sacraments.
Next was to create a Constitution.
The Baker, the Baker’s wife and the
Bakers little boy – (Louis XVI Marie
and Louis XVII- responsible to
provide bread)
Marie Antoinette hated France and the
people of Paris and thought her husband
to be a weak monarch. Her comments
and action brought a mob to Versailles
Government reform that the King did not
like – the writing of Jean Paul Marat
and a bread shortage coupled with
inflation caused 10,000 women to march
on Versailles hoping to convince the
king to change.
Oct 5th 1789 the King and Queen were
forced to move to Paris and become
prisoners of Paris. Paris was becoming
radical and dangerous for the royalty.
The Constitution of 1791
Created a constitutional monarchy but
power still lay in the hands of the
privileged wealthy class as tax paying
determined govt. position. This was
attacked by Marat and Georges
Jacques Danton
Under this National assembly religious
freedom was granted to Jews and
Protestants. Free trade was guaranteed
by ending guilds and unions and it
outlawed slavery in France but not its
colonies, which would lead to Toussaint
L ‘Overture’s revolt in Hispania. In Sept.
1792 The National Assembly was
replaced by the National Convention,
which abolished slavery in the colonies.
This made Haiti a free black state.
1791 Olympia Gouges – approached the
assembly for women’s rights. 1. the right
to an education 2. Control property
within a marriage 3. Initiate divorce. She
did not demand full political rights.
The revolution splinters in 1791 – over
5000 political clubs were formed
including Royalists – militant Catholics
– the Jacobins – the Cordeliers – Women
Club of Knitters and what would become
the largest and most effective in the
revolution the Sans-culottes (the people)
supporters of the revolution. Their
symbol became the Phrygian cap
everyone was addressed as citizen
The Kings Flight to Varennes
Marie despising the revolution and the
actions of her perceived weak husband
convinced the King to flee to Austria
and the aide of her brother King
Leopold II in June 1791 they were
stopped in the border city of Varennes
by a soldier who recognized Louis from
a coin in his pocket. Radical groups
returned the family to Paris under guard
and demanded the formation fo a
republic the assembly feared a civil war
and declared martial law in Paris. The
National Guard of Paris was commanded
by Lafayette (American Revolution
Washington’s friend). Louis XVI was
forced to accept a New Constitution on
Sept 14 1791.
Europe’s Response
This caused Prussia and Austria to grow
militarily concerned and demanded that
the French King be “re-throned” This
caused a war between the French
Republic and Austria and Prussia as the
Republic called for an end to all
monarchies in Europe. This caused
Prussia and Austria to put aside
competition for control of central Europe
– caused Austria to ignore it’s internal
problems with Hungary that wanted
freedoms within the Austrian Empire –
caused Britain to focus on Europe and
make an alliance with Russia. In
England it caused arguments in
Parliament Edmund Burke attacked the
Revolution as Thomas Paine supported
it. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote the
Vindication of the Rights of Women first
book to demand women’s rights in
England (mother of Mary Shelly) – the
threat of a French Invasion on England
to spread the revolution strengthened
English Nationalism.
Radical Phase the Jacobins
Danton, Marat, and a lawyer Maximilien
Robespierre would lead France into the
most radical and bloody part of the
Revolution and open the door for
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Robespierre demanded that the enemies
within France be dealt with first before
the enemies outside of France be warred
upon. He lost this argument as General
Charles Francois Dumouriez declared
war on Austria. Which lead to a war
with Prussia. It was a disaster for the
French Army.
The Second Revolution
Defeat – Inflation – no bread – and
suspicions of catholic and royal
sympathizers in France lead to the end of
the monarchy. July 11 1792 the
Assembly declared a state of emergency
for France and the Republic the
Marseillaise became the national
anthem.
Brunswick Manifesto passed by Prussia
and Austria to guarantee the safety of the
French royal family.
The Commune of Paris took control of
the local government and called for the
death of the king – the Royal family fled
to the Legislative Assembly, which
placed them under arrest. Sept 2nd
Prussia invaded and captured Verdun.
Fear gripped Paris and the Paris crowds
executed 1200 suspected royalist. The
Prussian Army was stopped outside of
Paris by an Army of Sans-Culottes and
the National Convention was formed by
universal male suffrage in Paris.
By Dec 1792 France took over Austrian
Netherlands and granted them the rights
of the revolution. Britain and the Dutch
republic saw this as a threat and in Feb
1793 found themselves at war with
France.
The First Coalition against France –
Britain- Dutch republic-Spain – and the
Kingdoms of Sardinia and Naples
Letters from Louis XVI to Leopold II
were discovered and the King was
placed on trial for treason the
Convention sentenced him to death.
January 21st 1793 Louis XVI was
guillotined.
The Girondins and the Jacobins
sought power in Paris. The difference
the Girondins believed the Revolution
had gone far enough and needed to end
the Jacobins backed by the Sans-culottes
believed it was just starting.
General Dumouriez betrayed the
revolution by threatening to march on
Paris and place Louis XVII on the throne
– forced to flee to Austria. Jacobins “ If
you are not wit the Revolution then you
must be against it”
Counter Revolution
March 1793 – heavy Catholic areas of
France began to turn on the Revolution
known as the Vendee’ In Aug.1793 the
Govt. declared mass conscription which
also met with heavy resistance to the
revolution.
Terror
The Jacobins centralized and controlled
the Govt. of France lead by Robespierre
(the Incorruptible) they instituted the
Terror against anyone thought to be
counter revolutionary – all were subject
to trial by the Committee of Public
Safety under the Jacobins the state
economy was controlled by govt.
Girondins wanted free market and
became a target for the terror.
Marat was stabbed to death in the
bathtub by Charlotte Corday.
Sept of 1793 Say the Guillotine in full
use Olympe de Gouges and most of the
Girondins as well as Marie Antoinette
lost their heads. In Oct a new calander
was created for France Day 1 Year one
of the French Republic. In Year 2
France did away with religion they dechristianized France. The terror claimed
11-18,000 lives imprisoned 300,000
thousands more were killed in the
Vendee area of France.
June 1794
The French Armies are successful on the
battle fields of Europe and are securing
French borders. Committee of Public
Safety turned on itself and Robespierre
ordered Danton to be executed. The
Jacobins hen turned on anyone who
might be against the Jacobins – The
Revolution began to eat itself- out of
fear a Directory was created with in the
Jacobins but was instable and while they
would gain power it would be short lived
as Abbe Sieyes and Napoleon Bonaparte
would overthrow it.
The Thermidor – the Revolutionary
tribunal of Paris sent 1376 people to the
guillotine in June. Paris had had enough
On July 27th 1794 (9th of Thermidor
new calendar) Robespierre was arrested
and executed followed by a hundred of
his closest supporters -without trial and
the Terror was over. By Nov. it was
against the law to be a Jacobin.
1795 The Thermidorian govt. created a
new constitution and a bicameral govt. A
legislative body and the directory Inside these two bodies were the Council
of Ancients and the Council of 500 who
elected the 5 directors of the Directory.
Instability and gap between the rich and
poor widened paper money printed in the
revolution became worthless. In June
Louis XVII was killed in prison. Peace
was achieved with Prussia. In Oct
royalist supporters attempted to
overthrow the Govt. and were put down
by Napoleon. Who was then given
command of the Army in Italy as a new
Constitution was written in 1795.
Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo
Formio giving France control of Italy.
May 1798 Napoleon invaded Egypt and
a 2nd coalition formed to defeat the
Army of France. Russia Austria and
Britain. The Irish rebellion in Britain
helped to save the French Army I
Europe as it was starting to loose against
the 2nd coalition.
Nov 9th 1799 Sieyes and Napoleon
overthrew the directory based on a
perceived Jacobin threat his brother
Lucien paved the way for napoleon to be
successful.
The French Revolution
- helped shape the modern world
- abolition of feudalism
- end of clergy privilege
- centralized govt.
- spread of the concept of
Nationalism – result of French
invasions.
From Long live the King to Nationalism
– the French and the American
Revolution set the stage for the
development of independent competitive
nation states each with its own sense of
righteousness and believed destiny
THE BEAST –Napoleon Bonaparte
A brilliant General and Statesman
terrible at Economics and Naval
Warfare. He changed the ways in which
wars were fought and how rank was
achieved. He understood war.
He was almost British – Born on the
island of Corsica his father was part of a
rebellion, which freed Corsica prior to
French occupation and most of the
rebellious leaders fled to England the
Bonapartes stayed.
The Conquest and Road to Empire
1793 Napoleon saved the port of Toulon
from being taken by the British thus
launching his military career.
Oct 6th 1795 he married Josephine de
Beauharnais.
1796 The Directory made him
commander of the Army.
1798 He took 35,000 soldiers and
scientists and historians to invade Egypt
called it a “civilizing mission” He found
the Rosetta Stone and laid the
groundwork for Egyptology. He
captured Malta and defeated the
Egyptian Army at the Battle of the
Pyramids – His fleet was destroyed by
British Admiral Lord Nelson at the
Battle of the Nile. His supply was cut off
so he invaded Syria and destroyed
several Turkish villages before returning
to France.
Nov 9th 1799 Napoleon, his Brother and
Sieyes overthrew the Directory creating
a Govt. called the Consulate with a new
constitution that napoleon helped write
as First Consul (by plebiscite)
Under the Consul Napoleon sought to
expand the French empire and influence
in Europe and stayed in a constant state
of war with Austria, Prussia, Russia and
Britain. All of which were driven into
loose alliances to contain and defeat
Napoleon.
As first Consul Napoleon centralized
government power by appointing
prefects to control each of France’s
districts (states) and he brought the
Catholic Church under government
control. 1799 Pope Pius VI died (hated
the revolution) Pope Pius VII worked
with Napoleon and by 1801 Catholicism
was the religion of the majority of the
citizens. The Pope had no control in
France. The Church became a political
instrument of Napoleon – Catholic
doctrine had to be approved by him
before it could be read in church and
govt. doctrine had to be read in church
by priests. And the church was on the
govt. payroll. (a turn from the past
influence of church over state in Europe
– Enlightenment)
He needed Religion to control the
people and establish morals as well as
keep the poor in check by simply using
“Gods Will” Also it was political as it
the Monarchist wanted the church back
in power Napoleon simply cut that off
by allowing the church back into France.
Protestants and Jews were granted rights
as well.
1802 he became Consul For Life (by
plebiscite)
Haiti 1802 at the request of French
Sugar Planters Napoleon returned the
Island to French control and reinstated
slavery in all French colonies. He sent
French troops and captured L’Ouverture
and brought him to France rebellion
ensued and the British cut off The
French from the island the troops on the
island died from disease and in 1804
granted Haiti its independence. To
recoup the loss of Haiti and to help
finance his European wars in 1803
Napoleon sold Louisiana to the
Americans
1804 (by plebiscite) He was crowned
Emperor (by himself) he did not allow
the Pope to crown him (Pius VII)
1805 Third Coalition against France
Britain, Russia, Austria. Wanting to
invade England the French fleet was
defeated at the battle of Trafalgar (Lord
Nelson was killed winning the battle)
Far more successful with his Army he
defeated the Austrians at ULM and later
the Austrians and Russians at Austerlitz.
Austria made peace by giving up most of
its Italian territories. This battle also kept
Prussia from joining the coalition against
France.
1806 Napoleon created the
Confederation of the Rhine 16 German
states not including Prussia. (Eventually
help lead to German unification under
Prussia) This was done to destroy what
was left of the Holy Roman Empire. He
then attacked Prussia (Fredrick
William) at Jena and captured Berlin
(Prussian Capitol)
1807 he attacked the Russians in Poland
and won and met with Tsar Alexander I
to discuss peace Treaty of Tilsit
Napoleon created from the Prussian state
the Kingdom of Westphalia and the
Grand Duchy of Warsaw and made an
alliance with the kingdom of Saxony. He
made a loose alliance with Russia
allowing it to take fight the Ottomans
with French help and Russia cut off
trade routes to the British.
1809 back to war with Austria and
Napoleon captures Vienna (Hapsburg
capitol) also took control of the Papal
States and arrested the Pope (Pius VII)
Europe was now at peace with Napoleon
only England stood against Napoleon.
The Empire – An enlightened absolute
ruler - Napoleons conquests brought a
change to politics, society and warfare in
Europe. Where France went new
governments were created all centralized
and all with a strong central legal
system social mobility was based on
service to the state not an old bloodline.
He established a national Bank of
France and got ride of Revolution
currency (much like Alexander Hamilton
in post American revolution)
He created a tax base and tax system for
France
Created Public School to promote
secular education, which promoted
nationalism. 1808 Public Universities
were created
Civil Code of 1804 became the
Napoleonic Code – 2000 articles
granting freedom of religion and
equality before the law.
Penal Code 1810- Freedom to work –
workers had to answer to employers not
unions or guilds.
Women and children remained
subordinate to men patriarchal societywomen could not buy property or
business without husband approval and
money was left to sons not wives.
Divorce was legal but hard to obtain.
He ended the rights of the eldest son to
inherit – and this slowed the birthrate in
France.
1804 he created the Legion of Honor an
ornate cross given to those who did well
at public service (control feel good
trophy that people wanted) and he
restored royal titles (that really meant
nothing and held no true weight in
society outside of a feel good trophy).
Britain – his mortal enemy – to bring
Britain to its knees Napoleon created the
Continental System – it closed Europe
to British trade (hard to enforce but did
keep the Industrial Revolution out of
Europe and allowed England to
economically and technologically
surpass Europe) England created the
Orders of Council which required all
trade ships to register with England and
be subject to British search – This upset
the U.S. who was trading with both
England and France (lead to
impressments and the war of 1812)
Napoleon responded with the Milan
Decree right to seize any ship that traded
with England lead to quasi war with
France and U.S
1808-1813 the Peninsular War with
Britain. Napoleon want Portugal already
had parts of Spain under Charles IV until
is death and succession by Ferdinand VII
who was replaced by Joseph Bonaparte
Napoleon’s brother as King of Spain.
Spanish nobles, Catholic Church,
Portuguese and the British now warred
with Napoleon. British lead by Arthur
Wesley the Duke of Wellington who
won massive victories in Spain.
Nationalism becomes a double edge
sword.
As France conquered Europe and the
ideas of the French Revolution went
with it – it unified the peoples of
conquered Europe against the tyrant rule
of France. Napoleons ideas encouraged
nationalism to form in the conquered
territories and would lead to a unified
German and Italy and the end of the
Austrian Empire
Prussia adopted Napoleon politics and
tactics it got rid of serfdom promoted
education and allowed peasants to own
land and become officers in the military
based on merit.
Decline of the French Empire
Napoleon needed an heir to his throne
annulled the marriage with Josephine
wanted to marry the Tsar of Russia
daughter (refused) Married MaryLouise daughter of the Austrian
Emperor Francis I who gave him a son
“Boots”
Russia – reopened trade with Britain
after the marriage to Mary-Louise.
Napoleon forced an alliance with Prussia
and Austria and in June of 1812 invaded
Russia with his Grand Army of 600,000
– most were foreign conscripts as his
Army was fighting Wellington in Spain.
The Russians simple pulled Napoleon
into mother Russia and let Nature
destroy Napoleon. He did capture a
burned abandoned Moscow and was
forced to retreat back to France in the
dead of winter – the Russians and the
Russian winter slaughtered the Grand
Army all the way back to Europe. Of the
600,000 only 40,000 made it back to
France.
AUG 1813 6th coalition seeing Napoleon
weakened by Russia – Prussia and
Austria joined Russia along with Britain
to liberate Europe of Napoleon. He lost
the Battle of Nations and Leipzig forcing
him back into France. His army was
driven from Spain by Wellington.
200,000 troops now marched against
Napoleon and entered France.
1814 Tsar Alexander I and King
Fredrick William III rode into Paris.
On April 6th 1814 the French senate lead
by Talleryand and Napoleon’s own
General staff had Napoleon Abdicate he
attempted suicide by poison but failed.
The Treaty of Fontainebleau exiled
Napoleon to the Mediterranean island of
Elba. Where he kept is 1000 old
guard/imperial guard and kept the title
Emperor
The Bourbon Monarchy
Louis XVI’s brother was crowned King
of France as Louis XVIII – May 30th
1814 Frances borders were returned to
its 1792 standing in Europe. A new
constitution was written – Catholicism
became the religion of state and the tricolor was replaced 14,000 officers of the
Army were retired. Napoleons right hand
General Ney now served the Bourbon
King.
100 Days
March 1815 Napoleon and his Guard
escape Elba and land in Southern France
–Ney promised to bring him back in an
Iron Cage – By June Ney and the French
Army joined Napoleon 200,000 troops.
Europe sent an army of 700,000 to crush
him.
June 18 1815 while moving toward
Prussia Napoleon was defeated by
Wellington and the Prussians at
Waterloo. Following the defeat
Napoleon surrendered again on the
French coast while trying to Escape to
America (New Orleans) England took
him prisoner after he once again
abdicated and sent him by himself to the
Island of St. Helena – He died on May
5th 1821. Louis XVIII returned to the
throne.
Legacy of Napoleon
-Napoleonic Code
-“Career open to talent”
-Turned nationalism into a secular
religion for countries
-Opened the door for other Nations to
adopt nationalism and unification
-The Napoleonic wars killed 1 in 5
Frenchmen
-2 million served 1.5 million were
casualties from 1805-1814
-Rumors and want of his return to
France lasted another 50 years.
“Death is nothing, but to live defeated
and without glory is to die every day.”