Download Advanced Placement European History UNIT # 7 French Revolution

Advanced Placement
European History
UNIT # 7
French Revolution/ Age of
Napoleon
1789-1815
Mr. Mansor
French Revolution / Napoleonic Age
Years: 1789-1815 (The Napoleonic Age was from 1799-1815)
Definition: A time of revolution in France when people wanted limits on absolute monarchy of
Louis XVI. It would be a long process. Dictator, Napoleon, would rise to power first before a
Constitutional Monarchy would emerge.
Historic Reasons for the French Revolution
1. Economic crisis since previous century – over – spending, wars, and Louis XV’s “Bubble
Era.” Also, helping America with its revolution in 1770’s also drained the economy.
2. Little voice for the people in French politics. Kings were Absolute Monarchs. The
Estates-General (Parliament) had not been permitted to meet in 175 years.
3. Commoners paid all the taxes, while the non-tax paying clergy and nobles lived lavishly.
4. Repeated bad harvests.
Four Phases of the French Revolution
1. Moderate Phase – National Assembly begins turning France into a Constitutional
Monarchy, which limited the kings power/ (1789-1791)
2. Radical Phase – Led to the Reign of Terror. (1792 – 1794)
3. Reaction against Extremism – known as democracy. (1795 – 1799)
4. Age of Napoleon – warfare. (1799 – 1815)
12 Changes of the French Government – 1789 to 1815
1. Louis XVI
2. Louis XVI & Estates-General (3 Estates)
3. Louis XVI & National Assembly (Commoners)
4. Louis XVI & Legislative Assembly (Radical)
5. The National Convention (executes monarch)
6. The Committee of Public Safety (12 men)
7. The Directory (5 men)
8. The Consulate (3 men)
9. First Consul (Napoleon I)
10. The French Parliament (constitutional monarchy under Louis XVIII)
11. Napoleon I (again – his famous 100 days)
12. Louis XVIII again
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General Background Information
Monarch was Louis XVI. His wife was Marie Antoinette, famous for not caring for the
poor – said to “Let them find cake to eat.” (Cake is merely Breadcrumbs).
Estates General is the 3 house French Parliament (not Parlement, which is the courts).
Estate #1 = Clergy (2% of population)
Estate #2 = Nobles (2% of population)
Estate #3 = Commoners (96% of population)
Two of the 3 estates had to agree – estates 1 & 2 always went against commoners
This parliament began meeting again during Louis XVI’s reign. He began reigning in
1774.
The population of France at this time was 25 million.
The King and queen also had a son, Louis XVIII
Phase One (1789-1791): Moderate Phase
1789: Due to discontent and rioting, the Estates-General was summoned by Louis XVI
for the first time in 175 years. The Estates-General becomes the National Assembly with
the 3rd estate (commoners) playing a greater role.
June 20 – 27: Tennis Court Oath – The king, clergy, and nobles locked the National
Assembly out of the meeting room at Versailles Palace. So, the commoners (3rd estate)
met at the palace’s tennis court and vowed not to disband until a constitution was created.
Louis XVI finally gave in.
July 14, 1789: Storming at the Bastille – became a symbol of French Revolution.
Bastille was a prison housing political prisoners in Paris. After much protest from
commoners about living conditions, the prison was stormed to free them and look for
weapons the government was hiding (though none were found). There were several
deaths.
July & August, 1789: The Great Fear – Political problems and terrible famine set this
off. Nobles’ homes and lands were attacked, but it did die down. It was known as the
Great Fear due to rumors of aristocrats planning to attack peasants
August 4, 1789: National Assembly ends feudalism’s remnants (the feudal privileges of
the nobles).
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August 26, 1789: Publication of “Declaration of the rights of man,” It was a step toward
a Constitution that was based on the USA’s “Declaration of Independence.” Called for
male equality, fair tax system, and freedom of religion.
October 5, 1789: Women’s March on Versailles – this furthered the cause of the
Revolution. The King & Queen were living at Versailles (10 miles from Paris). Women
marched to Versailles demanding food and a better life. Also demanded the King’s
support of the “Dec. of Rights of Man” and cheap bread in Paris. They wanted Royal
Family to return to Paris to hear the daily complaints. The royal family did & spent the
next 3 years at Tuilieries Palace.
November, 1789: National Assembly confiscated all Church property; the land was sold
to raise money
February, 1790: Suppression of religious orders and monasteries
July 12,1790: “Civil Constitution of the Clergy” written. The state now had the right to
influence all religious matters. Convents and monasteries were abolished, the clergy was
elected by the citizens and paid by the state, the clergy was forbidden to accept allegiance
to the Pope, and the clergy had to take an oath of loyalty to the French government
June 21, 1791: Flight to Varennes – Royal Family tries fleeing in disguise to friendlier
neighboring nations. They recognized and sent back to Paris to help the needy. Royal
Family also thinking of starting a counter-revolutionary army in Varennes.
June, 1791: Declaration of Pillintz – Austria and Prussia express their willingness to
intervene in France. They feared revolts would spread to their nations. The Austrian
king even encouraged overthrowing the French king to being about order.
Enirgres – nobles, clergy, and others who fled France and tried to stir up other countries
to fight France.
Sans-Culottes – working class people who made the revolution more radical. They
wanted a “Republic” – government without a king.
The National Assembly permitted Jews and Protestants freedom to worship. Catholic
Church property and monasteries confiscated to use all collateral for a new paper
currency known as “Assignat.” It was to help put France on a more Solid economic track.
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October, 1791: National Assembly replaced with the Legislative Assembly due to
increased economic and revolutionary problems. Girondins in control, but Jacobins make
their presence felt.
Girondins – wanted to go from a Constitutional Monarchy to a “Republic” – no king.
Rural peasants supported them.
Jacobins – Radicals against an absolute Monarchy, but did want a Constitutional
Monarchy with a weak king and a strong central government (supported by Paris mobs).
They moved away from the catholic Church with a new non-Christian calendar, used the
metric system, and established price limits on grain.
The Mountain – Another name for the Jacobins since they sat on high chairs at the rear of
meeting halls.
Phase Two (1792 – 1794): Radical Phase
1719: Olympe de Goughes, a feminist, wrote her own “declaration of the rights of
Women.” Women were to be equal to men and laws must reflect it. Free
communications and all other rights must be adhered to.
April 1792: France declares war on Austria and Prussia. Leaders of these nations were
influenced by émigrés. Thus, the “Wars of Revolution” began.
Sept 2-6, 1792: September Massacres – citizens attacked and killed the clergy and nobles
in prisons accused of political offenses.
Sept 20, 1792: New ruling body is the national Convention with more radical Jacobins in
control. The right to vote is extended to all males (suffrage), not just property owners.
Sept 21, 1792: Abolition of Monarchy! France is now a republic. Abolition of all
nobility claims, titles, and lands of nobles. It is often referred to as the second
Revolution.
Oct 25, 1792: All émigrés are banished for life
Jan 21, 1793: Execution of king Louis XVI by way of guillotine. Note that his son, Louis
XVII, remained uncrowned and died in a dungeon of unknown causes.
Feb 1793: National Convention under siege: France at war with more nations like
Austria, Prussia, Britain, Netherlands, and Spain.
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April 1793: National Convention replaced with the committee of public safety with 12
members. “Republic of Virtue” proclaimed to de-christianize France.
Maximilian Robespierre (1 of the 12 in leadership) stood out. He was a Jacobin that
believed terror was needed to punish traitors. He also abolished slavery in colonies.
June 1793: The Girondins are overthrown
July 1793-Jul 1794: Reign of Terror: Led by Robespierre and 40,000 people were killed,
including many clergy and nobles. The guillotine had been created to make executions
easier. Things became uncontrollable, so Robespierre was executed for being so extreme
on July 28, 1794. This was known as the Thermidorian Reaction (Thermidorian was the
new calendar month of Julyaaa0. Apart of this reaction was to return moderates to
government (August 18 to Sept 16). It was the reassertion of authority by the respected
bourgeoisie.
Oct 16, 1793: Execution of Queen Marie Antoinette
Dec 1794; Girondins reenter the government
Phase Three (1795-1799): Reaction Against Extremism
1795: New Constitution drawn up. Also a five man leadership now takes over known as
the Directory, replacing the Committee of Public Safety. Also, a 2-house Legislature
(1795-1799) was created. The problem now was government corruption.
A military hero, Napoleon Bonaparte, was to help the Directory rule. He would backstab
them.
Oct 1795: Amnesty for political detainees
Amnesty – freedom from jail for those being detained by the former King.
Nov 1795: Until 1799, the Directory suppressed the sans-culottes.
1799: Napoleon’s Coup d”etat (violent overthrow of the government). He got rid of the
Directory. Napoleon was born in Corsica, which then belonged to Italy. France
possessed Corsica when Napoleon was only one year old.
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Phase Four years (1799-1815): Napoleonic Age
Nov 9, 1799: Three Man Consulate that include Napoleon takes over, them Napoleon
ruled solo as the First Consul. Napoleon then called himself “emperor.”
Dec 1799: Plebiscite in which French a new (4th) constitution. Plebiscite is a ballot held
for voters. Napoleon used this to gain support and stop the street fighting. (Don’t
confuse this Constitution with the upcoming Napoleonic code).
1800: Organization of Bank of France as a centralized economic system
Feb 1801: France defeats Austria and at the Treaty of Luneville, and France gets Italian
and German territory that Austria had.
July 1801: Concordat of 1801 - Napoleon (an atheist) made peace with the Catholic
Church. He allowed Catholics more freedoms that he originally restricted. This was
signed with Pope Pius VII and overturned the “Civil Constitution of the Clergy”
1802: Treaty of Amiens – Signed with Britain. War-weary British were constantly
beating the French. They felt that they were beating Napoleon alone. So, in this treaty for
peace, France remained in control of Holland, Austrian Netherlands, parts of the German
States, and parts of Italian peninsula.
Plebiscite – another vote makes Napoleon consul for life with 3.5 million “yes” to 8,300
“no.” That is 99% yes!
1804: Napoleonic Code – All male citizens equal, so women lost rights and were
considered servants to their husbands and fathers. Religious toleration was granted.
Achievements helped citizens advance in government and military ranks instead of
nepotism (acquired rank based on family connections, etc.). The Napoleonic Code
embodied enlightenment thought.
Creation of the Legion of Honor. It was a merit system with rewards for military and
civilians.
Monarchist Plot! Execution of the Duke of Enghien for trying to be king.
Dec 1804: Napoleon crowns himself as Emperor
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1805-1815: Napoleonic Wars – Napoleon invaded many European and North African
nations and put his own hand-selected leaders in charge – often relative. This was called
Grand Empire. The one nation that he could not conquer was Britain, but he conquered
almost all of East Europe. Napoleon abolished feudalism.
1805: Battle of Trafalgar – Naval battle in which Britain and Spain beat France under
British admiral Lord Nelson. Shows that Britain is going to be hard to beat.
Battle of Ulm – knocked Austria out of the war with France as a solo nation fighting
France. Note that Whenever Austria is mentioned, it is actually the dual monarchy of
Austria-Hungary.
Battle of Austerlitz – in this December battle Napoleon’s Army battled Ruccia and
Austria. Considered Napoleon’s greatest victory. Here he reorganized the German
states, which leads to the German Confederacy and the end of the Holy Roman Empire
(from about 300 states down to about 30).
1806: Berlin Decree – Answer to the British blockade by Napoleon. Claiming
blockading commercial ports was against the law, the retaliation put British Isle against
trade. He initiated the Continental System, which enabled shifting alliances. He coerced
Russia (a temporary ally) to join him, defeated Prussia, and used neutral Denmark and
Portugal to blockade European ports important to the British. The goal was to defeat
Britain economically.
1806: Battle of Jena – France defeats Prussia and continues moving eastward
1807: Battle of Friedlamd – Russia loses a major battle moving eastward.
Treaty of Tilsit – This confirmed Napoleon as the dominant power in Europe. Russia
was forced to sign an acceptance of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and Danzig as free
states no longer under Russia control.
“Decree of the Civil Status of the Jews” – Frenchman wanted to convince Napoleon that
Jews were not a nationality, but a religion, and could be faithful citizens. He allowed it,
and about 6% of France was Jewish.
1810: Annexation of numerous cities and nations in Europe, including Rome. Napoleon
had plans for his son (born in 1811) to be the future King of Rome. This son was born to
his second wife Marie Louise.
By now there were many challenges in his Empire:
1. There was much resistance in Europe.
2. “Guerilla Warfare” began, especially in Spain, to discourage Napoleon from
occupation with swift and surprising attacks.
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1812: Food riots lead to price controls of grain.
June 24, 1812: Invasion of Russia (Alex I). Russian plan was to keep retreating and
destroying all crops so France would go hungry. It was a successful plan.
Winter 1812: Retreat from Moscow and the destruction of the Grand Army. The Russian
plan of scorching the earth and retreat forced Napoleon into the harsh Russian winter
with no food and diminishing supplies.
Grand Army – Napoleon’s Army of French soldiers and other nationalities loyal to him.
1/3 of it was French.
1813: Battle of Leipzig – took place in the German States. Napoleon was defeated by the
Grand Alliance (multiple nations – NOT the quadruple alliance) from Western Europe.
Napoleon rejected the Frankfurt Proposals after his defeat, which proposed to keep him
on the throne but withdrew him from foreign soil.
1814: Quadruple Alliance (or the Congress of Europe, consisting of Britain, Austria,
Prussia, Russia) enters France. Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba in May, 1814.
Louis XVIII now on the French throne (Louis XVI’s brother) under a constitutional
monarchy.
Treaty of Chaumont: this treaty confirms the Quadruple Alliance, or Congress of Europe,
for 20 years.
March 1, 1815 – June 18, 1815: Napoleon escapes Elba and comes back to power in
France during his famous “100 days.” He starts to re-conquer Europe. His final defeat is
by the Quadruple Alliance at The Battle of Waterloo, Belgium, by British General
Wellington. This time he’s exiled to St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. He died there from
cancer in 1821 and Louis XVIII restored the throne.
Changes in Daily Life Under Napoleon
1. Changed the old social order (no more privileges for the clergy and nobles).
2. Nationalism booms! Aggressive devotion to France.
3. Social reform as schooling is set up for boys. Slavery is abolished in the colonies.
Religious toleration.
4. Grand Classical Style of art (like Ancient Roman art).
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Congress of Vienna (September 1814 – June 1815)
European heads of state met for 10 months. The main person, Austrian Foreign Minister
Clemens von Metternich, influenced European politics during this period. The map of
Europe was re-drawn and the original heads of state were put back into power, replacing
Napoleon’s choices. New nations formed around France to keep a check on its power.
Metternich favored conservative (absolutist) monarchies in Europe. He was also against
any unification attempts of the German & Italian States. He wanted them weak to ensure
a strong Austria. His main goal was to have a balance of power with strong neighbors
around France. However, this would lead to future problems with nationalism as some
ethnic groups did not get nations.
Overall Important of the French Revolution
Absolutism in France is now gone and a Constitutional Monarchy comes into being.
Enlightenment Influences on the French Revolution (In Hindsight)
Period of Montesquieu – (pre-1789 to the abolition of the monarchy in 1792)
Montesquieu argued for a Constitutional Monarchy and a more liberal government. He
wanted a division of powers between nobles, monarchy, and representatives of the cities’
governments. He wrote Spirit of the Laws and “Declaration of the Rights of Man.”
Period of Rousseau – (Sept. 1792 to Nov 1799 . . . The French Republic) Rousseau wrote
The Social Contract which said that people must control their own government for
freedom to happen. He said that Christianity was not to be the sole religion and the
“general will” of the people is to be enforced by a strong government. (These ideas were
adopted by the Republic and the Committee of Public Safety).
Period of Voltaire – (1799- 1815 . . . Napoleon) Voltaire argued for Enlightened
Absolutism and a “scientific” government. Although he opposed Napoleon’s wars, he did
support the reduction of the Church’s power and the limited power of the Parlements.
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