French Revolution

Prior to the revolution New views of power and authority Bad weather destroyed harvests Financial bankruptcy of the government

Estates 1 st : Clergy Owned 10% of the land Paid no taxes Tithe

Estates 2 nd Nobility Considered privileged Some were not as wealthy as some members of the 3 rd estate 2% of the population controlled 20% of the land

Estates 3 rd estate: 3 groups Bourgeoisie (Middle class, merchants, bankers, artisans) Wealthy but paid very high taxes. Workers Peasants 80% of population. ½ of income went to taxes.

Louis XVI Extravagant spending Inherited debt “Madame deficit” Rather than help the situation he put off the problem until there was no money left

Estates General Louis tried to fix the problem by raising taxes 2 nd estate forced the king to call the estates general Estates general: an assembly of representatives from all three estates. 1 st meeting in 175 years 1 st and 2 nd estate could always out vote the less privileged 3 rd estate

3 rd Estate Always outvoted. Demanded change Formed the National Assembly (An assembly of the 3 rd estate) 3 days later locked out of meeting room. Tennis court oath Storming of the Bastille hated-prison fortress

Fear Scared kings Peasants arm Women march on Versailles Peasants attack nobility and church officals

Reforms Nobles join the national assembly Declaration of Rights of Man: “Men are born free and equal in rights” Feudal privileges are swept away. Church Louis XVI felt like he was in danger. Tried to escape.

Divisions National assembly completes new constitution King reluctantly approved and is stripped of most power. Legislative assembly is created: Created laws Approved or rejected wars King still had the power to enforce laws old problems remained

Solution 3 groups: Who sat in 3 parts of the hall Radical: Left Moderate: Moderate Conservatives: Right

War & Execution Monarch’s across Europe alarmed! King put in prison Radical pressure forces the assembly to be dissolved and called for a new election of legislature National Convention: The new government body Abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic

Terror Jacobins: Radical political organization. The national convention made the king a prisoner they called for his death. Guillotine Robespierre: Leader of the Jacobins. Elimination of a traces of the past. Reign of terror (40,000) All types of people were beheaded

End Fearing for own safety national convention turns on Robespierre Reign of terror ended when he went to the guillotine New plan of government two house legislative directory moderates

Napoleon seizes power General of the French army Rebels march on the new government. Was able to get the attackers to run away in minutes. Hero! Savior of the French Republic. Multiple victories Upon return seized the government Government was dissolved and then changed

Napoleon 1 st pretended to be a constitutionally chosen leader. Kept many revolutionary changes Napoleonic code 1804 makes himself emperor

Creates an empire Wanted all of Europe Louisiana Purchase (Now focus all on Europe) England, Russia, Austria joined to fight against him. He crushed them. Only one enemy was left. England Mastery over Europe England Sweden Portugal Ottoman Empire

Empire Collapses Continental system: Blockade that backfired Peninsular War: Spain

Empire collapses Invasion of Russia Scorched earth policy Battle of Borodino Moscow

Napoleon’s downfall Enemies take advantage of weakness Napoleon wanted to continue fighting but generals refused 4/1814 surrendered and gave up the throne. banished to Elba Louis XVIII took the throne (Brother) Napoleon escaped from Elba returns to France. Crowds love him. Emperor again within days

Napoleon Waterloo St. Helena Dies in 1821