The French Revolution

1. The French Revolution Liberty Equality Fraternity

2. The Old Regime • Louis XVI ruled like those before him, using his Divine Right. He was married to Marie Antoinette, daughter of Austria’s king. It helped to ease long-time tension w/ Austria • Financial crisis caused by Amer. Rev. and poor management. May, 1789Louis called the Estates-General (reps from 3 estates)to convene for advice. First time in 175 yrs.

3. The Three Estates

4. Tennis Court Oath • The 3 estates have a dispute on the voting process. Traditionally, each estate got one vote (1st & 2nd could outvote 3rd). The third estate wanted more. King refused new system. • June 17893rd estate declared themselves the National Assembly, they were locked out of mtg. room, went to nearby tennis court. They vowed not to leave ‘til a Constitution.

5. The Storming of the Bastille • July 14, 1789 A riot broke out in Paris. They rushed the bastille (a prison and weapons armory). It symbolize the oppression of the regime. People armed themselves and controlled the city. • The Great Fear-Nobility fled Paris and many estates all over the country for fear of peasant uprisings > Emigres

6. The Declaration of the Rights ofMan and the Citizen August 26, 1789 • Influenced by Eng. Bill of Rights, Dec. of Ind., Amer. Constitution. All men equal, all taxed, leaders based on talent (not birth). • Olympe de Gouges wrote Dec. of Rights of Women & Female Citizen. She was ignored.

7. Women Protest Food Shortage • Thousands of women march to Versailles to demand bread (poor weather led to bad wheat crops). • Louis had refused to accept Nat’l Assembly. Women forced him to accept and took him back to Paris

8. A New Constitution • 1791 A limited monarchy, the Legislative Assembly would make laws. Still a weak gov’t. b/c too many groups (radical to mod.) • Louis tries to flee France. Gets caught at border. Leads to his downfall. • 1792 Leg. Assem. Declares wars on Austria figuring they would try to rescue Marie Antoinette and foil the revolution.

9. Paris Commune • Spring 1792 Angry, hungry citizens known as sans-cullottes (w/o fine pants), took the king captive and forced Leg. Assem. to suspend monarchy. It was led by Georges Danton. Word was spread by Jean-Paul Marat who published Friend of the People. • Commune demands new National Convention, new constitution.

10. National Convention Splits, into two factions • Jacobin (Mountain) from cities, wanted king dead • Girondin from rural areas, want to save king • The king is beheaded in January, 1793 by the Guillotine.

11. National Convention creates the Committee of Public Safety • CPS handles domestic and foreign crises • 12 Members led by Maximilien Robespierre • They began the Reign of Terror. Anyone who threatened current policy would be sent to guillotine. • Cities all over France executed over 40,000

12. The CPS creates Republic of Virtue • Citizen and Citizeness replace Mr. Mdme. • Education for all • Abolished slavery in colonies • Policy of De-Christianization, churches were pillaged and closed, “Saint” taken off street names, 9/22/1792=New Years. • Many of these policies were not widely implemented

13. End of Terror • CPS raises large army, gains control in war • Robespierre’s aggression leads people to act against him. He’s killed July 28, 1794. Jacobin lose power, terror ends. • The National Convention turns moderate

14. The Directory • A more conservative Nat’l Conv. reopened churches & created new constitution. • The Directory was the exec. branch of new gov. It had 5 members chosen by legis. • The new legislature had two houses (Counsel of 500 & Counsel of Elders) • New gov. last 1795-1799. It was weak: corruption, pol. enemies, econ. problems

15. Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte Born in Corsica (an Italian island under French control). He went to military school, made officer in French army. CPS makes him general. • Brilliant military leader, loved by troops. • Napoleon takes power from Directory. His success leads to coup d’etat, 1799. New gov. called consulate. 1802 He appointed him-self Consul for life, 1804 Emperor Napoleon I

16. Napoleonic Code (Civil Code) • Allowed for most enlightenment freedoms except free press. Also censored mail. • Made peace with Catholic church, Pope • Abolished peasantry, appointed staff by ability, not birthright (aristocracy used to get gov. positions)

17. Fall of Napoleon • His Empire includes Prussia, Austria and Russia. His brothers are appointed leaders • He attempts Continental System-blockade British ships to control trade for France. • Naval defeat at Trafalgar to British forces him to give up against British Navy 1805 • Nationalism (pride in one’s country) makes it difficult to hold other nations

18. Failure in Russia • Russians revolted, used a scorched earth policy (burned wheat, killed livestock). French troops had nothing to eat. 1000s died on retreat to France, army weakened • Other countries take advantage, wage war • Napoleon is exiled to Elba Is. Louis XVIII made king 1814 (brother of Louis XVI, his son XVII died in prison)

19. Return from exile • Louis XVIII quickly becomes unpopular, especially with peasants. Napoleon takes advantage, escapes Elba, returns a hero. • Napoleon raises army, fights British and Prussian forces at Waterloo. France loses, Britain ships Napoleon to small island in south Atlantic taking no chances for another return. March-June 1815

20. Congress of Vienna • In the fall of 1814, kings from Europe met in Vienna, Austria. Klemons von Metternich, the Austrian foreign minister led meeting • Goals: Principle of Legitimacy, restore many previous kings to their thrones. Maintain a Balance of Power (no threats from other countries, contain France) • Conservatism - return to old ways, obedient to authority, religion crucial to order, resist civil liberties and representative government

21. Concert of Europe • Conservatives were concerned about the legacy of French Rev. Principle of Intervention, allowed foreign armies to invade revolting countries. The Concert of Europe was an alliance among nations to ensure others would help if revolts occurred.