French Revolution

1
French Revolution
2
Strengthening the Crown

• Cardinal Richelieu- advisor to French monarch
• Goal strengthen the monarchy
• Louis XIV inherited throne at 4 yrs. Old
• Reign 1643-1715
• Sun King, Most Christian King, divine right
• Palace of Versailles
• Revoke Edict of Nantes

3
Strengthening the Crown

• Louis XIV
• Appoints Jean Baptiste Colbert as economic
  advisor
• Mercantilism need for empire
• Increase empire more resources more wealth
• Numerous wars debt

4
French Revolution

• Economic problems
• War debts
• Poor taxation policies
• Poor harvests
• Lavish lifestyle of monarchy
• 1789- Louis XVI summoned Estates General
• governing body with members from each estate
• Had not met in 175 years (absolutism)

5
French Revolution

• Conflict between the estates at the meeting
• June 17, 1789- Third Estate declares themselves
  the National Assembly
• July 14, 1789- storming of Bastille
• August, 1789- Declaration of Rights of Man

6
French Revolution

• National Assembly governed France on behalf of
  the 3rd Estate from 1791-1792
• 1791- new Constitution ratified
• Created Constitutional Monarchy King retains
  executive power
• Austrians and Prussians invade France to restore
  absolute monarchy
• Marie Antionette was sister of Austrian Emperor
• Unsuccessful

7
French Revolution

• Continued unrest another new Constitution
• Established the First French Republic
• 1793 imprisonment of royal family and behead
  king and queen

8
French Revolution

• Reign of Terror
• Constitution once again thrown out
• Committee of Public Safety created to facilitate
  the revolution
• Led by Maximilien Robespierre and Jacobins
• Thousands beheaded
• Eventually, Robespierre too was beheaded
• 1795 yet another government established, called
  the Directory

9
Rise of Napoleon

• Directory created strong military
• Napoleon Bonaparte popular military man
• 24 at the time
• 1799 overthrows Directory and declares himself
  First Consul

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Napoleon

• Popular ruler
• Many domestic reforms
• Napoleonic Codes (1804)- implemented some
  Enlightenment ideas and equality for men
• Begins to build a French empire in Europe
• Conquers Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and
  parts of Italy
• 1804- crowns himself emperor

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Napoleon

• 1810 empire at its height
• 1812 attacks Russia mistake
• Conquered areas use this as opportunity to defeat
  and overthrow Napoleon
• Exiled
• But, disagreements about how to restore order

12
Napoleon

• 1813- Napoleon returns, tries to regain power
• Defeated at Waterloo and permanently exiled to
  St. Helena, later dies there.
• Other nations meet to restore balance of power

13
Congress of Vienna

• 1815 Congress of Vienna
• French territory return to pre-Napoleonic borders
• Returned rulers of areas conquered by Napoleon
• French monarchy restored, but with Constitutional
  limits

14
France.Continued

• 1830 another republic created, lasts until
  Revolutions of 1848
• 1852 Louis Napoleon established a second French
  empire
• 1870 Louis-Napoleon overthrown and yet another
  republic created
• How is all that for confusing????? This is just
  one example of how confusing European politics
  can be.