The French Revolution and Napoleon PDF

The French Revolution -​ 1789-1799 -​ Political and social uprising. Overturned monarchy -​ Established republic Redefined French society The French Revolution - Causes 1.​ Social 2.​ Economic 3.​ Political 4.​ Idealogical Social - Inequality -​ 1st and 2nd estates...

The French Revolution -​ 1789-1799 -​ Political and social uprising. Overturned monarchy -​ Established republic Redefined French society The French Revolution - Causes 1.​ Social 2.​ Economic 3.​ Political 4.​ Idealogical Social - Inequality -​ 1st and 2nd estates -​ Largely exempt from taxes -​ Dominated high-ranking government, military, and judicial positions -​ Enjoyed luxury and social prestige -​ 3rd estate -​ Bore heavy tax burden -​ Excluded from meaningful political influence -​ Lived in poverty (peasants), or faced high costs of living (urban workers) Ideological - The Enlightenment -​ Created “ideological context” for revolution -​ Philosophes challenged social hierarchies/highlighted inequalities -​ Promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity -​ Fueled demand for new social order Idealogical - The American Revolution -​ American success over English -​ Demonstrated the possibility of overthrowing on oppressive regime -​ French soldiers fought in America. Bring back Revolutionary ideas/values (see: Lafayette) Economic - Debt -​ France engaged in major wars between 1689-1815 (See: seven years war (1756-1763)) -​ Conflict -> large war debt -​ Resentment of England leads to French support of American Revolution (1756-1791). Exacerbates debt Economic - Food prices -​ Bread = food prices -​ Series of bad harvest in France due to severe weather (see: drought, harsh winter 1788) -​ Grain supplies fell, bread became scarce and expensive -​ Hunger and malnutrition spread Political - Ineffective Leadership -​ King Louis XVi -​ King of France -​ French Born -​ Inherited the throne at the age of 20 -​ Perceived as immature/indecisive. Lacking the confidence to rule -​ Marie Antoinette -​ Queen of England -​ Austrian born -​ Married at the age of 14. Union to solidify the political alliance between France and Austria -​ Perceived as extravagant and detached / out of touch Towards Revolution: The Meeting of The Estates General -​ Estates General = Legislative body of ancient regime -​ Called to address the financial crisis (May 1, 1789) -​ Comprised of deputies (representatives) from all three estates -​ Cahier de Doleances -​ List of Grievances -​ Customarily presented to King -​ Differing grievances/demands betweens estates -​ Estates historically voted by body (i.e. 1 vote for each body) -​ Voting structure debated / challenge -​ 3rd estate demanded “one man one vote” -​ 1st estate and 2nd estate resist, fearing loss of privileges Declaration of the National Assembly -​ 3rd estate declared itself the National Assembly -​ Claimed to represent the “common people” -​ Demand economic/social references -​ Joined by some clergy and nobility Tennis Court Oath -​ National Assembly locked out of meeting hall by king -​ Gather in a nearby tennis court -​ Swear an oath to continue meeting until drafting a new constitution for France Towards Revolution: The Storming of The Bastille ( July 14 1789) -​ State prison, Centre of Paris -​ Held political prisoners -​ Symbol of oppressive order -​ Stormed by revolutionaries -​ Thought to hold weapons / ammunition  -​ Inspirational victory -​ Symbolic start of French Revolution The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen ( August 26, 1789) -​ Marquis de Lafayette - Principal author, Thomas Jefferson consult -​ Summarize the ideals of the French Revolution -​ Basis of future French Constitution/ state The Women’s March on Versailles - October 5-7th, 1789) -​ Women-led protest march against high prices of food (see: bread) -​ Starts in Paris market, Ends at Versailles -​ Mob forces King and Queen to relocate to Paris Emigres- individuals who fled France throughout the French Revolution -​ Disproportionately aristocrats/clergy -​ Sought refuge in neighbouring European countries (see: Sweden) -​ Wanted return of Old Regime The Flight to Varnes - June 20-21, 1791 -​ Royals under house arrest (see: Tuileries palace, Paris) -​ Attempt to flee France to Montmedy (present-day Belgium) -​ Acted by royalist sympathizers (see: Count Arel von France) -​ Border with the Austrian Netherlands -​ Significant military & royalist presence -​ Aimed to rally support and plan counter-revolution French Revolution To The King’s Flight -​ Captured and returned to Paris as traitors -​ Increased calls for the abolition of monarchy/establishment of a republic -​ Leads to the trial and execution of the King / Queen Declaration of French Republic - (September 21, 1792) - 1st Republic The Trial of King Louis XVI -​ King tried for conspiracy -​ Convicted -​ Executed January 21, 1793 Revolutionary Names and Symbols -​ Efforts to eradicate all signs of the Old Regime -​ Churches renamed to reflect secularization of society -​ Changes in measurement / time presented as more rational Example: The Revolutionary Calendar -​ 12 months, 3 x 10-day weeks -​ Months named to reflect the rhythm of the seasons (Ex: January -> Nivose (The month of snow) -​ Days named for mathematical regularity (see: Primidi, Doudi, etc) -​ Start time = September 22, 1992 (Year 1) Challenges to the Republic -​ Coalitions of European monarchies determined to crush the revolution / restore monarchies -​ Counter-revolutionary uprising (see: Vendee revolution) -​ Intense rivalry and power struggles with the revolutionary government. Rival Poitical Groups - Girondians -​ Moderate political group with provincial and middle-class (bourgeois) support base Rival Political Groups - Jacobins -​ Radical political group with urban and working-class support base Maximillain Robespierre -​ Lawyer/Politician -​ The leading figure of the Jacobins club -​ Used violence to achieve political aims The Terror, Sept 1793 - July 1794 -​ State terrorism -​ Carried out by the Commitee for Public Saftey -​ Aimed to “preserve the Revolution” The Committee of Public Saftey -​ Established April 6, 1793 -​ 12-member body -​ Controlled the military, judiciary, and police The Committee of Public Saftey - Law of Suspect -​ Broadly defined “counter-revolutionary activity” -​ Thousands arrested and tried with little evidence -​ Revolutionary tribunals expedited convictions and executions Public Executions -​ Guillotines used to execute “ counter-revolutionaries” -​ Public spectacles -​ Designed to instill fear and maintain control. The Death of Robespierre - July 27, 1794 -​ Robespierre announces upcoming purge of enemies -​ Fearful deputies vote to have Robespierre arrested, later executed -​ End of “the Reing of Terror” The Directory 1795-1799 -​ Centrist government -​ New Constitution - “Constitution of Year iii” -​ 5 directors chosen by 2 houses of parliament -​ Proves weak and ineffective