The French Revolution and Napoleon

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The French Revolution and Napoleon
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I. Beginning of Revolution

• Throughout the Middle Ages, people of France
  divided into three estates, or social classes
• First estate clergy, owned 10 of land, paid
  very few taxes
• Second estate nobles, owned 20 of land, paid
  almost no taxes
• Third estate everyone else, broken into three
  groups
• Bourgeoisie bankers, business owners, merchants
  paid high taxes
• Urban workers low wages, high taxes
• Peasants half of income paid to various taxes
• The King oversaw/controlled everything
• Enlightenment ideas forced change
• Scholars called for changes in government,
  religion, economy
• Rousseau, Voltaire fathers of French Revolution

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I. continued
CHALLENGE QUESTION!

• Economic problems further ideas of revolution
• High taxes no profits for middle class
• Crop failures food shortages, high prices for
  peasant class
• Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were big spenders
• France was deep in debt
• Third Estate revolts
• Began at meeting of Estates-General assembly
  of Estate representatives
• 3rd Estate called for reform, end of absolute
  monarchy
• Formed National Assembly, pledged Tennis Court
  Oath draw up new constitution, limit power of
  monarchy
• Storming of Bastille (July 14, 1789) signified
  beginning of Revolution

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I. continued

• Great Fear
• Peasants afraid of retaliation by king and nobles
• Stormed/destroyed nobles homes
• Riots over price of bread

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II. Revolution In Full Force

• Declaration of the Rights of Man
• men are born and remain free and equal in
  rights
• liberty, property, security, and resistance to
  oppression
• Revolutionary ideas did not apply to women
• Reforms
• Catholic church under state control
• Devout Catholic peasants opposed these reforms
• New Constitution
• Limited power of king
• Created new legislative body Legislative
  Assembly
• Create laws, approve war
• Disagreements created factions, disorganization

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II. Continued

• Reign of Terror
• Maximilien Robespierre slowly gained control in
  chaos following fall of monarchy, war with
  Prussia
• Set out to erase traces of Frances medieval past
• Closed all churches in Paris, remade calendar (no
  Sundays)
• Period of rule called Reign of Terror
• Eliminated all enemies of terror
• Extensive use of the guillotine 40,000 people
  executed
• peasants, nobles, clergy alike
• Was beheaded in 1794 after members of own
  government feared for their lives

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EXIT TICKET!

• Answer the following questions, using complete
  sentences
• What were the three estates in France during the
  Middle Ages? Describe them.
• Why were people upset in France right before the
  Revolution? Describe two reasons.
• What reforms took place after the Revolution?
  Describe two examples.

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III. Rise and Fall of Napoleon I

• Napoleon Bonaparte brilliant military leader,
  rose quickly up the ranks
• Led French forces during war with Prussia
• Seized power during period of uncertainty in
  French government, after Reign of Terror ended
• Coup d'état blow to the state, suddenly
  seized government through military
• People of France were desperate for leadership
• Voted overwhelmingly to give all power to
  Napoleon
• Kept many revolutionary reforms, while creating
  powerful, authoritative government
• Promoted law and order, but allowed religious
  freedom, more social equality
• Established extensive higher education system to
  train officials

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III. Continued

• Power hungry
• Crowned himself Holy Roman Emperor
• Sought to unite Europe under hisleadership

• Battle of Waterloo (1815)
• After his initial defeat and return, British and
  Prussian forces ended Napoleons reign for good
• Died in exile, on the island of Corsica, in 1821

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IV. Fallout of French Revolution Napoleon

• Congress of Vienna
• Members of other European nations gathered to
  discuss aftermath of Napoleon and restoring
  balance of power
• A king (Louis XVIII) was placed in charge of
  France
• France lost most of its international power,
  while Britains increased
• Rise of political factions conservatives (old
  ways), liberals (some changes), radicals (ALL THE
  CHANGES!)
• Nationalism spreads
• Ideas of nationalism (having great pride in ones
  own nation, based on shared culture, race,
  ethnicity) spread throughout Europe
• Societies united in defense against Napoleon
• Laid foundations for other revolutions and
  reforms throughout Europe, later world

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EXIT TICKET!

• Answer the following questions using complete
  sentences
• How did Napoleon take control of France?
• Describe one change that took place under
  Napoleons leadership.
• What was one impact of the Congress of Vienna?
• What is nationalism?

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CHALLENGE QUESTION!

• Answer the following question, using complete
  sentences
• What would make you start a revolution? Describe
  3-4 things that you think are serious/important
  enough to rise up and call for change.

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