1. UNIT 5 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON (1789-1815) CHAPTER 23

2. PART 1 – REGENTS NOTES

3. CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Under the Old Regime in France, the burden of taxation fell mostly on the commoners making it highly unequal
Before the Revolution, the people of France were divided into Three Estates based on social class
Many people felt the monarchy and government were denying basic human rights and failed to meet the needs of the people
The French Revolution challenged the power of the monarch
The bourgeoisie (educated middle class) resented their lack of political power under the Old Regime; hey made up a large part of the Third Estate

4. OLD REGIME

5. EFFECTS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
It was a turning point in global history because it inspired other nations to seek democracy and independence
Power shifted to the bourgeoisie, so the middle class gained influence
After Napoleon’s downfall in 1815, nationalistic feelings were stimulated in Europe and Latin America
The Revolution allowed radical political groups like the Jacobins to come to power

6. REIGN OF TERROR
French dictator Robespierre took power after Louis XVI was abdicated (taken out of power)
He ushered in the Reign of Terror
Anyone perceived to be an enemy would be executed by the guillotine
He executed members of every class in France

7. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
One major effect of his rule was that he restored political stability
The French people supported him because they hoped he would provide stability for the nation
He failed to expand his empire into Russia because of the country’s size and climate (cold, harsh weather)

8. CONGRESS OF VIENNA
In 1815, this organization of European nations wanted to restore old monarchies and regimes to power
The Congress established a balance of power in Europe after the defeat of Napoleon

9. PART 2 – CHAPTER 23 NOTES

10. THE OLD ORDER
Old Regime—social and political system in France during the 1770s
Estates—three social classes of France’s Old Regime
First Estate - Catholic clergy—own 10 percent land, pay few taxes
Second Estate - rich nobles—2 percent population, own 20 percent land
The Third Estate - 97 percent of people are peasants, urban workers, middle class, have few privileges, pay almost all of the taxes, want change

11. FRENCH NUNS (CATHOLIC CHURCH)

12. FRENCH PEASANTS

13. THE FORCES OF CHANGE
Bourgeoisie – middle class group who embraced Enlightenment idea
High taxes and rising costs damage economy by 1780s
King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for extravagance; Louis doubles nation’s debt
He calls Estates-General on May 5, meeting of representatives from all three estates to approve a new tax he wanted to impose on the Second Estate
First time Estates-General met in 175 years

14. ESTATES-GENERAL

15. BOURGEOISIE (MIDDLE CLASS)

16. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY June 17, 1789
Delegates, who represented the Third Estate, proclaimed the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of a representative government
Tennis Court Oath—delegates decide to write new constitution for France

17. BASTILLE DAY
July 14, 1789
Rumors spread in Paris that Louis was going to use military force to suppress the National Assembly
Mob attacks and seizes the Bastille (French prison); they killed guards in an effort to steal gunpowder to defend Paris
Event known as “Storming the Bastille”
Symbolic act of the revolution; national holiday

18. STORMING THE BASTILLE

19. GREAT FEAR Rumors and panic spread throughout France
Attacks by peasants taking place across France
Peasants destroy legal papers binding them to feudal system
In October 1789, Parisian women revolt over rising price of bread
They demand action, forcing Louis to return from Versailles to Paris

20. DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN
National Assembly adopts Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Revolutionary leaders use the slogan, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
The document stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights”
Document guaranteed freedom of speech and religion

21. DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN

22. CHANGES IN THE CHURCH
National Assembly seizes church lands and turns clergy into public officials
This caused the new government to lose the support of peasants

23. NEW GOVERNMENT In September 1791, Assembly finishes new constitution
Legislative Assembly—new body created to pass laws
Major problems, including debt, food shortages remain
Assembly split into Radicals, Moderates, Conservatives

24. JACOBINS
Jacobins - radical political organization behind governmental changes
Louis XVI is found guilty of treason and beheaded
Guillotine—machine designed during the Revolution to behead people

25. LOUIS XVI IS EXECUTED

26. ROBESPIERRE
Maximilien Robespierre—Jacobin leader rules France for a year in 1793
Becomes leader of the Committee for Public Safety and a dictator
The Committee for Public Safety imposed his “Reign of Terror”

27. REIGN OF TERROR
Robespierre’s rule, which includes killing many opponents
Thousands die during the Terror, including former allies and Marie Antoinette
85 percent of those who die during the Terror are middle or lower class but no one was safe from the guillotine
In July 1794, Robespierre arrested, executed by his fellow revolutionaries
Two-house legislature and five-man Directory restore order and lead the new government

28. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
He was a military genius who seizes power in France and made himself emperor
In 1795, Napoleon defeats royalist rebels attacking National Convention and was declared a military hero
Napoleon wins stunning victories in Italy, gaining popularity
In November 1799, he carries out a coup d’état (seizure of power) and overthrows the Directory

29. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

30. NAPOLEON RULES FRANCE
In 1800, a new constitution is approved through a plebiscite (vote of the people)
To fix economy, he sets up national banking system, efficient tax collection, and a fairer tax code
Establishes government-run public schools to train officials
Signs concordat—agreement—with pope restoring Catholicism in France
Creates Napoleonic Code—uniform system of laws
Napoleon did not expand freedom of speech for the French
In December 1804, Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France

31. NAPOLEONIC CODE

32. NAPOLEON CREATES AN EMPIRE
Sells the Louisiana Territory to United States for $15 million in to raise money, cut his losses in America, and to increase America’s power as a British rival
Britain, Russia, Austria, Sweden join forces against Napoleon
Napoleon conquers a large portion of Europe by crushing enemy forces in several brilliant battles
Napoleon forces Austria, Russia, Sweden to sign peace treaties

33. NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE (1810)

34. NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE (1812)

35. THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
In 1805, British win Battle of Trafalgar which ensures British naval superiority
Using a brilliant and bold maneuver, British Admiral Horatio Nelson split up the French fleet into smaller groups and then attacked them
This defeat forces Napoleon to give up his plan to invade Britain

36. NAPOLEON RIDES INTO BATTLE

37. THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
Napoleon strikes Britain through blockade (forced closing of ports)
Continental System - economic plan to strengthen Europe, weaken Britain
Smugglers and uncooperative allies make France’s blockade fail
Britain responds with blockade of its own, led by its stronger navy

38. THE PENINSULAR WAR
In 1808, Napoleon sends troops across Spain to attack Portugal in an effort to enforce his Continental System
Napoleon makes his brother king of Spain, making things worse
Spanish fight as guerrillas (small groups that attacked and then fled into hiding)
British aid Spanish guerrillas
Napoleon loses 300,000 soldiers during this war
Nationalist rebels fight the French in other conquered territories

39. THE PENINSULAR WAR

40. THE INVASION OF RUSSIA
Relations with Russia break down so Napoleon decides to invade
In June 1812, Napoleon’s Grand Army marches into Russia with 420,000 men
Czar Alexander I used a scorched-earth policy (destroying crops and livestock) so French would starve
Russians retreat from Moscow after being defeated at Battle of Borodino
Napoleon’s forces move on to Moscow; Alexander burned the city rather than surrender it to the French
Napoleon eventually retreated after losing thousands of soldiers to Russian raiders, starvation, and cold weather

41. NAPOLEON RETREATS FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA

42. CZAR ALEXANDER I

43. NAPOLEON’S DOWNFALL
Britain, Prussia, Sweden, Russia, Austria join forces against Napoleon
Napoleon raises another army, but meets quick defeat by allied powers
April Napoleon finally surrenders and is exiled to island of Elba

44. THE HUNDRED DAYS
Louis XVIII, new king, is soon overthrown and Napoleon returns from exile
Battle of Waterloo - British and Prussian forces led by the Duke of Wellington defeat Napoleon’s army in June 1815
This defeat ends the Hundred Days which was Napoleon’s last attempt at power
British send Napoleon to the island of St. Helena where he eventually died in 1821
Freed European countries began to establish a new order

45. BATTLE OF WATERLOO

46. BATTLE OF WATERLOO

47. DUKE OF WELLINGTON

48. NAPOLEON IS EXILED

49. CONGRESS OF VIENNA
Series of meetings that reshape Europe during the winter of
Klemens von Metternich - foreign minister of Austria who was an influential leader at Congress
He wanted to restore a balance of power so that no one country would be a threat to others
Main goal = establish security and stability for the nations of Europe
Important effect = nationalistic feelings grew in countries that were placed under foreign rule (ex: Latin American countries)

50. CONGRESS OF VIENNA