Causes of French Revolution Absolute monarchy Corrupt leadership Unfair land distribution Unfair tax code Rigid Social Class Structure Privileges of The First and Second Estate Spread of Enlightenment Ideas Government Debt-> deficit financing Poor harvests Inflation Failure of Louis XVI to accept reforms Formation of National Assembly Storming of the Bastille

Positive Effects of French Revolution Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen France adopts its first written constitution Monarchy abolished Feudalism is abolished Estates are abolished National public schools are set up Huguenots ( French Protestants) are granted equal rights Jews are granted equal rights

Negative Effects of the French Revolution Women gain at first, but then lose rights under Robespierre and Napoleon Slavery in the colonies is abolished under Robespierre, but the allowed again under Napoleon Napoleon uses a secret police force to track down his enemies Napoleon censors the press Napoleon allows police to use torture to extract confessions People who are enemies of Napoleon are imprisoned without trial (no habeas corpus)

Stages of French Revolution Absolute Monarchy National Assembly Legislative Assembly The Convention The Directory

Stages of French Revolution Absolute Monarchy (Louis XVI) National Assembly (Constitutional Monarchy) Legislative Assembly (Republic) The Convention (Military Dictatorship) The Directorate (Aristocracy) Absolute Monarchy (Napoleon)

Napoleon Becomes a hero during the Revolution by crushing rebels opposed to the National Assembly and by defeating France’s enemies Overthrows the corrupt Directory and ends the bloody Revolution Sets out to capture most of Europe, minus Britain and Russia

A Self-Made Emperor On December 2, 1804, Napoleon crowned himself the Emperor of France. The Pope presided over the ceremony, but Napoleon made sure that he would crown himself. Why?

Effects of Revolution Outside of France Napoleon conquered much of Europe. Some areas were added to France, while others were put under the control of his relatives (nepotism) He abolished the Holy Roman Empire He defeated Austria, then married the Austrian Princess Marie Louise his family could now claim royal lineage

Did he go to far? Napoleon brought many revolutionary reforms to areas outside of France, but many saw him as a foreigner trying to push his will on them. Nationalist revolts were unleashed across Europe

Napoleon's Invasion of Russia Russians trick the French forces under Napoleon by luring them deeper and deeper into Russia as the long, cold winter set in Russians practiced what is known as “scorched-earth policy”- they burned everything as they retreated, leaving no food or shelter for the advancing French Army See page 491

Downfall of Napoleon Napoleon defeated in Russia Russia, Britain, Austria and Prussia form alliance defeat France at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig Napoleon abdicates (gives up) throne and is exiled to Elba Louis XVIII becomes King, but economic chaos revives Napoleon’s popularity Napoleon escapes Elba and returns to retake France

Napoleon’s rule lasts only 100 days his enemies (the Alliance of Britain and Prussia,) came back to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo Napoleon was exiled again, this time to St Helena; he would never return

Legacy of Napoleon: Hero or Traitor to the Revolution? See page 490

Congress of Vienna After Napoleon is exiled for good, the leaders of the royal families of Europe meet to restore the status quo bring back the former monarchies of Europe Led by Austrian foreign minister, Prince Clemens von Metternich, cousin of Napoleon’s wife Goals- create a lasting peace by restoring the monarchies and establishing a balance of power– Was it too little too late?