Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 The French Revolution

2. Section 1

3. Focus Question • What ends the American Revolution?

4. Focus Question • Recall some ideas of the Enlightenment, predict how these ideas might influence peasants and the middle class in countries with absolute monarchs, such as France.

5. French Society • 1789 unrest explodes at a Paris factory. • Riots did not bother the rich, who thought that they were untouchable • Thought taxes should be increased for the poor • French Society Divided • Had an outdated social class system • Divided into three estates • First-clergy • Second-nobility • Third-everyone else

6. Social Classes • Clergy • Owned 10% of the land in France • Lived lavish lives • Did not pay taxes • Condemned the Enlightenment for undermining religion • Nobles • Did not have to pay taxes • Owned 70% of the land • Held the highest ranking jobs • Landholders

7. Social Classes • Third Estate • Bourgeoisie (middle class) • Doctors, lawyers, bankers • Rural peasants • farmers • Urban workers • Worked in industry • The third class was burdened with 95% of all French taxes • The enlightenment led people to question their place in society

8. Financial Troubles • Louis XIV left France deeply in debt • Seven years war and the American Revolution strained the treasury • Inflation was killing Frances economy • Louis XIV’s heirs were not the right men to help France • Louis XV- Spent too much money • Louis XVI- weak king • Hired Jacques Necker (forced to be dismissed by nobility)

9. Unrest in France • The wealthy demanded the king summon the estates general (the legislative body) • The estates general had not been called for 175 years • Louis XVI called the estates general • Riots broke out, bread was a whole months pay • Louis XVI had the estates create cahiers (grievances) • Tennis Court Oath • Delegates of the third estates were elected but you had to own land • The first and second estates bullied the third estates • National Assembly created • Took the Tennis Court Oath • First and second estate joined them

10. The Bastille • July 14, 1789 800 Parisians gathered outside the Bastille • The people thought that weapons and ammunition was stored there • The guards opened fire on the crowd killing many • The crowd stormed into the Bastille and set free the prisoners, but found no weapons • This represented the repression that the French were feeling • Since 1880 the French have celebrated July 14 (Bastille Day) as their national independence day.

11. Final Thoughts • What three factors led to the start of the French Revolution?

12. Section 2

13. Focus Question • What was significant about the storming of the Bastille?

14. The French Revolution • The French Revolution is broken up into 4 phases • 1. Moderate Phase (1789-1791) • 2. Radical Phase (1792-1794) • 3. Directory (1795-1799) • 4. Age of Napoleon (1799-1815)

15. Political Crisis • Famine was the worst it had ever been in France • People were dying of starvation • 75% of all children born did not live until their 5th birthday • People were spending as much as 90% of their pay on bread • Rumors spread causing panic • Peasants began stealing • Burning homes (nobles, clergy) • Killing nobles and Clergy • Paris becomes the revolutionary center

16. National Assembly Acts • The peasants storming of the Bastille and rising up in revolt led to the national assembly ending their own privileges. • Now they paid taxes • Were no longer exempt from public affairs • Abolished famine • Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens was written by the Assembly • Laid out everyone's rights as a human • Modeled on the declaration of independence • Proclaimed everyone was equal • Freedom of religion • Taxes evenly distributed

17. Women • Women were left out of the declaration of the rights of man and citizen • October 5, 1791 over 6,000 women marched from Paris to Versailles to demand equality and food for their children • Angry at the French Queen Marie Antoinette • Angry that they and their children were starving • Refused to speak with the peasants which sparked a riot • Out of anger the people of France took Louis, Marie and the royal children back to Paris and held them as prisoners. • People resented the royal family • Disliked the Austrian born Queen

18. National Assembly Presses Onward • Moved to Paris to be closer to the imprisoned Louis • Assembly worked hard to pay off debts and to try to make the poor population happy. • Placed the church under governmental control • Constitution of 1791 Established a New Government • Limited monarchy • Legislative assembly • Abolished old provisional courts and laws

19. Radicals Take Over • Enlightened Rulers turn against France • The city was ridden with assassination attempts • Prussia and Austria threaten war with France • October 1791Legislative assembly took office • Lasted less than a year • Sans Culottes and the Jacobins were fighting • April 1792 war Erupted between France and Europe • France declared war on Prussia, Austria, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands • The war ended up lasting from 1792-1815

20. Section 3 Radical Days of the Revolution

21. Focus Question • Why did the People dislike Marie Antoinette?

22. The Monarchy is Abolished • 1793 the Revolution enters the Radical Phase • Loyalist were deserting the French army • Since Louis XVI was no longer in charge of the Nation • France is being controlled by the Sans Culottes and the Jacobins • Peasants are still outraged over their living conditions • They don’t have a lot to lose

23. The Radicals take over • Radicals take over • Took over the assembly • Established a new legislative body • Abolished the monarchy • Louis and his family are in danger • Established a republic • Tried the King and his family for Treason • Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are executed • Their sons dies while imprisoned • Their daughter was released and forced into hiding in Europe

24. Terror in France • The convention creates the Committee of Public safety • Made each citizen pay to help the war debt. • Committee of Public Safety was created • 12 member board • Had complete control • Prepared France for war • Trial and execution overseers • Led by Maximillian Robespierre

25. The Reign of Terror Begins • Lasted from 1793-1794 • People who resisted the revolution became the targeted population • 300,000 were imprisoned • 17,000 executed • 10,000+ died in prison from diseases and starvation • Guillotine was put to use • Killed people much quicker • More accurate • Public festival

26. Reign of Terror Ends • Terror consumed those who initiated it • Robespierre became out of control • Robespierre was arrested and executed • Beheaded in the town square • The Revolution enters its third stage • The directory is created • 5 man directory • 2 house legislature (chosen by electors) • 1795-1799 • Émigrés and Catholics hurt the Directory

27. Revolution Brings Change • By 1799 France was dramatically different • Monarchs had been executed • Church was under government control • 500,000 people have been imprisoned, starved, or executed • Out of desperation politicians turn to Napoleon Bonaparte • A strong military strategist • War enters the last and Final Stage

28. Section 4

29. Focus Question • What was the significance of the Guillotine?

30. Age of Napoleon • From 1799-1815 Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France and dominated Europe • The final phase of the revolution begins and ends with Napoleon • Overthrew the directory • Set up the consulate • 3 man ruling body • 1802 named himself consul (ruler) • 1804 Napoleon declared himself emperor of France

31. Rise to Power • At each step on his rise to power he held a Plebiscite(election) • Napoleon Reforms France • Napoleon consolidates his power by strengthening the central government • Strict government control • Made peace with the Catholic Church • Won support from all classes • Open jobs based on merit and skill not class • Created the Napoleonic Code • Embodied Enlightenment • Equality, religious toleration, and merit • Women lost some rights with the code • Was ok at the time because life was improving as a whole

33. Building an Empire • Napoleon was a military man; was constantly fighting for land, power, and prestige • Because of Napoleons power he redrew the map of Europe • Annexed Netherlands, Belgium, Parts of Italy and Germany • Abolished the Holy Roman Empire • Created a 36 member confederation of the Rhine under French protection • Napoleon Placed his friends on the thrones of Europe • Placed his brother Joseph on the throne for Spain • Napoleons success boosted Nationalism

34. Napoleon Strikes Britain • Britain alone remained outside Frances control • 1805 France prepared to fight England • Decided to cut off commerce • Closed all European ports to British goods • Britain began a blockade • The war of 1812 was started because of the blockade • American ships were fired upon. • Napoleons plan failed to bring Britain down

35. Napoleons Empire Faces Challenges • 1812 Napoleon continued his pursuit of world domination and Invaded Russia • Nationalism works against Napoleon • Many people saw Napoleon as foreign oppressors • Felt France should leave everyone alone • Spain • Devoted to the church and their old King • Led guerrilla warfare on the French • Austria • Austria lost the battle of Wagram and had to give up large amounts of land in 1809

36. Focus Question • What is Nationalism?

37. War with Russia • Tsar Alexander I of Russia was once an ally of Napoleon. • Problems with Napoleon • Grand Duchy of Warsaw • Nationalism • Napoleon creates the Grand army and prepares for war with Russia. • August1812 Napoleon invades Russia • 600,000 men • Russia retreated eastward using scorched earth policy/slash and burn • The French did not take into account the Russian winter • Fewer than 20,000 men made it home on the 1,000 mile retreat

38. Napoleon Falls From Power • The Russian disaster made the rest of Europe Stronger • Quadruple alliance of Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria is formed • 1813 Napoleon is defeated at the battle of Leipzig • In 1814 Napoleon abdicates power and is exiled to Elba. • Louis XVIII comes to Power • Louis XVI’s brother • Restoration Period • Many people feared a return to old order • Napoleon wants to regain power • Escapes Elba and returns to Paris • Louis XVIII flees in fear

39. Last 100 Days • Napoleon Escapes Elba and returns to France • He only last 100 Days as Emperor • The Quadruple Alliance are outraged • June 18, 1815 opposing armies gathered near Waterloo (Belgium). • Opposing forces were led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussians • France was crushed in a 1 day battle • Napoleon was forced to abdicate • Exiled to St. Helena • Died there in 1821of arsenic poisoning

40. Napoleons Legacies • Sparked nationalism in Europe • Sold the Louisiana Purchase to the United States • Congress of Vienna met to restore stability of Europe • Met for 10 months • Goal was lasting peace • Peacemakers redrew the map of Europe • Principles of Legitimacy were restored • Louis XVIII was placed back on the throne • Rightful rulers put back on the thrones of Europe • Quadruple alliance remains dominate power

41. Focus Question • What was one of Napoleons successes and failures?