World historyunit 5:

The French Revolution1786-1815

I.Events Leading Up to Revolution in FranceA. The Protestant Reformation, 1500’s

1) Luther challenges the powerful RCCB. The Scientific Revolution, 1600’s 1) Scientists begin to challenge old ways of

thinking a) Nicolaus Copernicus – theorized

heliocentric universeb) Galileo Galilei – developed telescope

that proved heliocentric universe- charged w/ heresy by RCC,

tortured, threatened w/deathc) Isaac Newton – theory of gravity,

calculus

C. The Enlightenment, 1700’s 1) Political Philosophers – Locke, Montesquieu,

Voltaire, Rousseaua) believed that people are essentially

good b) government should not have absolute

powerc) government should be separated into branchesd) common people have natural rights –

life, liberty, property, happinesse) the power of human reason could

explain humanity and be used to better society

“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”

~ Jean Jacques Rousseau

D. The American Revolution, 1776

1) Declaration of Independence

a) Americans fight against British

monarchy for freedomb) Americans win, form

new democratic gov’t w/ $$ support from French monarchy

II. The Monarchy of FranceA. King and Queen ruled France for ages andsociety was divided in 3 parts1) First Estate – 1% of pop, RCC clergy, didn’t pay taxes2) Second Estate -- 2 % of pop, nobles, rich elites, didn’t pay taxes3) Third Estate – 98% of pop., taxpayersa) bourgeoisie – bankers, merchantsb) peasants – farmers, land workers

“Tax collectors are bloodsuckers of the nation who drink the tears of the unfortunate from goblets of gold.”

~Members of the Third Estate

B. What causes revolution?DISCONTENT1) The third estate in 1770’s- resented the other estates- is struggling from poor harvest- high $$ of bread - had been reading Enlightenment ideas- had heard of the American Revolution- national treasury is depleted, taxes- they began protesting, demanding liberty, equality, fraternity

“What is the Third Estate?EVERYTHINGWhat has it been in the political

order up to now?NOTHINGWhat is it asking for? To becomeSOMETHING.

LIBERTÉ, EGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ!”

~French pamphlet

C. How to restore the national treasury?

1) Jacques Necker (financial advisor)

recommends taxing 1st + 2nd Estates

2) Necker is fired = more discontent!

Jacques NeckerKing Louis XVI

III.The Revolution Begins A) King calls meeting of Estates-

General a) hasn’t met in 175 yrs

b) Each Estate has 1 vote

c) First and Second out-vote the Third

B) May 5, 1789–Third refuses to vote

C) Third Estate calls Tennis Court Oath

1) “A new National Assembly will write a new French Constitution”2) King calls his troops to stop the National Assembly

D) July 14, 1789 – National Assembly advocates Storming of the Bastille

1) Bastille – old prison w/debtors and weapons

2) Chaos erupts throughout Paris

IV. National Assembly assumes power in France (Moderate Phase 1789-1791)A. Constitutional Monarchy

1) tithe tax, estate system to be abolished2) Louis XVI is still King but must

accept new constitution3) 1789 – “Declaration of the

Rights of Man” a) ideas of the

Enlightenment = freedom of speech, press, religion, etc.

V. Women March to Versailles PalaceA. Changes are slow in coming

1. Bread prices still high2. Queen Marie seems

disinterestedB. Oct 5, 1789 -- 12 mile march in rainstorm C. Women would not leave Versailles until the King and Queen came to ParisD. Louis and Marie reluctantly agree

E. Louis and Marie Escape Paris1. “The Flight to Varennes”

a) June 1791-Marie convinces Louis to flee

- The 2 disguise themselves

- They are discovered and sent back to Paris

- Louis was now seen as a traitor

2. What to do with Louis and Marie?

VI. The Constitution of 1791A. Enlightenment Ideas included in

it 1) 3 branches of gov’t 2) weak, limited monarchy 3) a new Legislative Assembly

(LA) would hold the most power

- Girondins -- moderates, conservatives -- “Revolution is complete!”

- Jacobins -- radicals – “Revolution has just begun!”

Jacobin Leader – Maximillien Robespierre

VII. The Declaration of Pilnitz = War?A. Emperor of Austria (Marie’s brother) and King of Prussia

1. demand monarchy be restored in France

B. Sans-culottes and Jacobins1. demand the monarchy be abolished completely

C. LA declares war on Austria, Prussia, Britain –a preemptive strike D. LA votes to officially end the office of king

VIII.The Convention(The Radical Phase1792-1794)

A. The Radical Jacobins lead the Convention

1. Marat, Danton, Robespierre are loud Jacobins

2. Nobles stripped of their land 3. King Louis XVI tried

as a traitor “The crimes of Louis XVI are all too real; they are consistent, they

are notorious. Do we even have to ask the question whether a nation has the right to judge, and execute its highest ranking official… when HE, instead of using the authority to protect his countrymen, he used it to crush the supporters of the Revolution?”

- -Jean-Paul Marat

4. Jan. 21 1793 -- Louis XVI found GUILTY and sentenced to the guillotine

Other EuropeanMonarchs feared the French Revolutionmight spread to theircountry.

IX. The Reign of Terror (1793-1794)A. “Threats” to the Revolution are everywhere

1. war w/ Austria, Prussia2. nobles and clergy are

rebelling3. The Convention is being

challenged by Girondins4. July 1793 -- Marat is

assassinated by a Girondin

The Assassination of

Jean-Paul Marat

-------------------------------------------

“The Martyr of the Revolution.”

B. The Committee of Public Safety (CPS)1. 12 Convention members who will

“Save the Revolution”2. Constitution of 1791 is

suspended3. De-Christianization is enacted - “the goddess of reason”4. led by Robespierre- believed a republic of “virtue”

could only be achieved through “terror.”

“Liberty cannot be secured, unless criminals lose their heads.”

~ Robespierre

“Terror without virtue is disastrous. Virtue without terror is powerless.”

~ Robespierre

5. By July 1794 – 300,000 “enemies of the revolution” were arrested

6. 17,000 were beheaded by the guillotine: “the national razor”

7. Robespierre has Danton executed

8. CPS arrests Robespierre and he is executed

Danton

X. The Directory (Moderate Phase 1795-1799)A. The Constitution of 1795

1. moderate 5 man leadership system called “The Directory”

2. a 2 house legislature3. unsure, weak, corrupt,

and unpopular with the people

The Age of Napoleon

XI.The Age of Napoleon Begins (1799-1815)

“He was like an expert chess player, with the human race for an opponent, which he proposed to checkmate.”

~ description of Napoleon Bonaparte

A.Young Napoleon1. 20yrs old when revolution

started, ambitious military lieutenant

2. supported the Jacobins, very outspoken

3. became a successful military leader, ambition and drive to succeed

B. 1799 -- Napoleon Under the Directory 1. France was in chaos under weak Directory gov’t2. He wanted a 3-man governing group made up of disciplined military men3. Directory is overthrown peacefully 4. N writes new Consulate Constitution5. 1802 -- Names himself First Consul

C. Napoleon’s Popularity1. “order, security, efficiency” replaces “liberty, equality, fraternity”2. plebiscite – voters can say yes or no to an issue3. careers should be chosen based on talent4. Napoleonic Code – laws of the Enlightenment5. Overall though, N valued order over ind. rights6.1804 – names himself Emperor of Fr

D. Napoleon: Emperor of Fr (1804-1812)1. Sought security

a) conquered nearby territories “Napoleon’s presence on the battlefield was worth 40,000 troops.”

b) forced alliances 2. 1812 - almost all of Europe bowed to Fr

3. Fr pride soars

4. Britain, Russia resisted Fr domination5. The Continental System

a) plan to defeat Britain economically

b) hurt all of Europe6. Spain, Austria citizens resist Fr influence 7. 1812 - N wanted “Madrid to Moscow”

a) 600,000 Fr troops to Russia

8. Russians retreat Eastward “scorched earth” policy9. Oct 1812 – Fr arrive w/few supplies 10. 1000’s of Fr die while retreating 11. 20,000 troops return to Fr12. Fr army is weakened

13.Russia,Britain defeat FrE. N steps down

1. N exiled to Elba2. Louis XVIII (brother of Louis XVI) takes over as King of Fr3. Fear of old monarchy causes riots in Fr

F. March, 1815 -- N returns 1. Louis XVIII, fearful for his life, flees Fr2. N is welcomed back3. Battle of Waterloo -- Britain and Prussia again defeat Fr

G. N steps down again1. sent to live in exile in St. Helena2. 1821 -- poisoned to death?

XII.Congress of ViennaA. European nations (monarchies) come together to create peaceB. Charles X (brother of Louis XVI and XVIII) is “constitutional monarch” w/little power