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French Revolution
• In France, economic misery, hunger and
a lack of individual rights led to a
revolution (revolt) against the absolute
monarchy in 1789. Periods of chaos and
reform were followed by the rise of
Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Discussion: Why do people rebel against
their governments? What are they
deprived of?
Impact of American
Revolution
• The American republic stood as a symbol of
freedom to both Europe and Latin America
• The United States Constitution created the
most liberal government of its time. Other
nations would copy the ideas in this document.
• The success of the American Revolution would
soon inspire major global changes as other
peoples challenged the power of absolute
monarchs.
The French Revolution Begins
• Soon after the American Revolution, a
major revolution broke out in France.
Starting in 1789, the French Revolution
had a deep impact on France, Europe
and other areas of the World. The
French Revolution went through many
stages in leadership and shifts in power.
• Discussion: How might a revolution in
one country effect other countries?
Causes of the
French
Revolution
Absolute Monarchy
• Absolute Monarchy – France was an absolute
monarchy. Under absolutism most people in
France were denied basic rights and any say in
government. Absolute Monarchs like King
Louis XIV and his grandson Louis XVI both
believed they held the divine right to rule.
• Discussion: Why did Thomas Hobbes think
believe absolute monarchs should rule people?
Social Inequality
• People in France belonged to social classes
called estates. The clergy were the First
Estate; the nobility composed the Second
Estate. These two classes held enormous
wealth, did not have to pay taxes and held
other privileges. The Third Estate made up
most of French Society and included the
bourgeoisie (middle class), poor city workers
and rural peasants. This was by far the
largest group. The Third Estate resented the
fact that they had to pay all the taxes and
had few to no political rights.
• Discussion: Why would the Third Estate
resent (hate) the First and Second Estates?
French Social Structure
French Society
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate
French Social Pyramid
1st Estate 0.5%
2nd Estate 1.5%
Economic Injustices
• The situation in France became worse because
of economic conditions. The government with
its lavish court and expensive wars spent
more money than it earned. The added tax
burden was placed on the Third Estate. Bad
harvests and the rise of food prices left
people without enough to eat and they would
riot demanding bread.
Discussion: How did an unequal distribution of
wealth and an unfair tax burden contribute to
unrest in France?
I may not
Enlightenment
believe in what
you say, but I’ll
defend to the
death your right
to say it
People have
the natural
rights of life
liberty and
property
• The Enlightenment thinkers were
critical of France's absolute monarchy
and called for democratic reforms.
Enlightenment ideas led people to
question the traditional social order. It
was not reasonable, they felt, for the
First and Second Estates to have
privileges at the expense of the Third
Estate.
List Three Factors that Led to the
French Revolution
1.
2.
3.
English and American Examples
• England’s Glorious Revolution provided an
example of how existing authority could be
challenged. In addition, the French were
inspired by the American colonies successful
fight for liberty and equality in the American
Revolution. Ironically Louis XVI heavily
supported the American Revolution
• Discussion: What is the irony of King Louis
the XVI supporting the American’s in their
fight for independence.
The French
Revolution
Begins
The Revolution Begins
• As conditions grew worse in France
demands for reform increased. In 1789,
King Louis XVI finally called the Estates
General, a body made up of
representatives of all three estates, into
session. After this change came swiftly.
• Review: What conditions brought about
the call for the Estates General?
The National Assembly
• The Third Estate, the only elected group in
the Estates General, declared itself the
National Assembly. The National Assembly
vowed to write a new constitution for
France.
• Review: What kind of people made up the
Third Estate?
Declaration of the Rights of Man
• The National Assembly abolished the
privileges of the First and Second Estates
and adopted the Declaration of the Rights
of Man and the Citizen. Based partly on
the Declaration of Independence, it
contained many Enlightenment ideas.
Declaration of the Rights of Man
•Written in 1789
•Uses American Declaration of Independence as a model
•States that all men have natural Rights
•Declares the job of government to protect the natural rights
of people
•Guarantees all male citizens equality under the law
•Sates that people are free to practice any religion
•Promises to tax people according to how much they
can afford
Seizure of the Bastille
• Working-class people, already rioting over
the price of bread, stormed a prison called
the Bastille on July 14th 1789 to free
political prisoners and get gun powder.
Fighting broke out through the city and
countryside. In a period known as the
Great Fear, peasants attacked nobles
throughout France.
A Limited Monarchy
• In 1791, the National Assembly wrote a new
constitution to the purpose of government. It
outlined:
• A limited (constitutional) monarchy
• It stated that people had natural rights and that
the government must protect these rights
• It put the state under church control
Discussion: How was the English monarch limited
under The English Magna Carta and English Bill
of Rights?
The Rest of Europe Watches
Events in France with Concern
• As news of the revolution spread across Europe, rulers
of the other nations feared these revolutionary ideas
would spread into their nations. They threatened to
intervene with military force and put the King back on the
thrown of France. In 1792 the French decided on a
preemptive strike on its enemies and declared war on
Austria. Soon Prussia and Great Britain joined the fight
against France. France at this time was also
experiencing civil war as well as the attacks by foreign
powers.
• Discussion: How can revolution in one country affect
other countries?
Radicals Take Control of France
• The war was going bad for France. Soon
radicals took control of the National Assembly,
abolished the monarchy and declared a French
Republic. In 1793 the King was executed for
treason, which was followed by an era in France
known as the Reign of Terror led by Maximilien
Robespierre. During this time tens of thousands
of people were executed by the guillotine. Within
a year; however, the violence turned on
Robespierre himself when he met the guillotine.
Moderates Return
• Beginning in 1795 a five
man “Directory” supported
by a legislature held power
in France. This government
was weak and inefficient.
Rising bread prices brought
the threat of riots. Into this
chaotic situation stepped an
ambitious military leader,
Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Discussion: Why do you
think the French people
wanted a more moderate
government after the reign
of Robespierre?
Napoleon’s Rise to Power
• When the Revolution started, Napoleon was a
only an artillery captain with big dreams.
Napoleon rose through the ranks and won
important victories against the Austrians and the
British. In 1799, Napoleon helped overthrow the
directory in a coup d’ etat or revolt by military
force. He put himself in charge of the
government and crowned himself Emperor. The
French people hoping for stability, supported
Napoleon taking charge.
Napoleon’s Achievements
• Economy – Napoleon controlled prices, supported new
industry and built roads and canals
• Education – Napoleon established a government public
school system
• Napoleonic Code – The Napoleonic Code was a legal
code that included many Enlightenment ideas, such as
the legal equality of citizens and religious toleration.
• Discussion: What other law codes have we learned
about?
• Discussion: How do you think Napoleon controlled
prices?
Napoleon’s Empire
• From 1804 to 1814, Napoleon ruled an empire.
He had defeated most of Frances enemies on
the battlefield and conquered much of Europe.
• Only Britain and Russia remained beyond
Napoleons reach. Britain was safe in being an
island and having a strong navy. The Russians
believed their countries large size and harsh
weather would protect them.
• Napoleon’s biggest problem was the British
Royal Navy that was blockading French ports
and sinking his ships. The British navy defeated
Napoleon’s navy at the Battle of Nile and the
Battle of Trafalgar
The French
Empire
Napoleon’s Fall
• People in most conquered countries look at Napoleon’s
armies as oppressors. Inspired by nationalism people
revolted against French rule.
• In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia. As the Russians
retreated they practiced a scorched earth policy in which
they burned crops and villages leaving nothing for
Napoleon’s army to use for food or shelter as they
marched further and further into the vast country. Most of
Napoleons army was destroyed during the long Russian
winter as they made a long retreat back to French
territory.
• Discussion: How did nationalism help Napoleon to build
his empire? How did it eventually lead to his defeat?
Napoleons Last Stand
• A year after Napoleons disastrous retreat from
Russia, an alliance of Russia, Britain, Austria,
and Prussia defeated Napoleon, forcing him to
step down in 1814. Napoleon returned to power
in 1815, but the British and Prussians defeated
him at the decisive Battle of Waterloo. This battle
ended Napoleon’s reign, and he lived the rest of
his life in exile.
• Why do you think the French people welcomed
Napoleon back in 1815?
Effects of French Revolution
The French Revolution and Napoleon’s reign had
a deep impact on France, the rest of Europe and
Latin America.
• Nationalism – Revolution in France and the
conquests of Napoleon inspired national pride
and identity that replaced old allegiances to local
authorities and monarchs. Napoleon’s conquests
increased these feelings throughout Europe and
his weakening of Spain led to Latin American
Independence movements.
Effects of the French Revolution
• Democratic Ideas – As Napoleon’s armies
spread across Europe they also spread
democratic ideas. People wanted liberty
from absolute monarchs and unjust
governments. Soon many other European
countries would begin to struggle for
equality and liberty.
Congress of Vienna
• After Napoleon’s defeat, European
delegates met at the Congress of Vienna
to create a peace settlement. The main
goal of the participants was to restore
order and stability to Europe.
Views of Participants at Congress
of Vienna
Diplomats from Austria, Russia, Britain and Prussia brought
differing ideas about the aims of the Congress
• Clemens von Metternich of Austria was the dominant
figure at the Congress and wanted to restore Europe to
the way it was before the French Revolution
• Alexander I of Russia wanted to create an alliance of
Christian monarchs to prevent future revolutions
• Lord Castlereagh of England wanted to prevent France
from rebuilding its military forces.
• Maurice Talleyrand of France wanted to obtain equal
footing for France with the rest of the nations.
Peace at Last?
• The Congress of Vienna made a lot of progress.
The main goals were to create a balance of
power in Europe. In their opinion France was too
strong and needed to be surrounded by
countries that were powerful enough to stand up
to it. They also wanted to restore the monarchs.
What they did not do was punish France by
making them give up large territory or pay large
sums of money to the victors.
• Discussion: Why didn’t the peace makers at the
Congress of Vienna want to punish France for
the Napoleonic wars?