Naopleon Bonaparte and the French Revolution - Euro Unit 6

Name for this era

Era of Revolutionairy Disturbance. Mid 1700s, N. America, France, British Isles full of rebellions.

What caused the Jacobite Uprising of 1715?

James II of England (VII of Scotland) was deposed by William of Orange and Mary during the Glorious Revolution in 1688. The throne passed to Mary's sister Anne, and when she died in 1714, King George I of Hanover took over. James' followers, the Jacobins, dissagreed with this, and James Stuart (son to King James II) lead an uprising. It was eventually unsuccessful and King George I stayed in power.

Second Jacobite uprising

Lead by James Stuart's son Charles Stuart in 1745. Ended with their defeat at the Batle of Culloden in 1746. Marks the end of Highland culture.

Irish Rebellion of 1798

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was an insurrection led by the Society of United Irishmen, inspired by the American and French Revolutions, seeking to end British rule in Ireland and establish an independent republic. It was crushed by British forces after widespread fighting and atrocities, leading directly to the Act of Union (1801), which abolished the Irish Parliament.

Three estates

1st Clergy

2nd Nobles

3rd Everyone else

What was life like before the French Rev?

With the huge population growth, social lines were blurred. Living was pretty much the same rurally, but conditions were bad in cities.

Political scene before French Rev

In 18th century, Bourbon kings had consolodated power which made the nobles mad. There was extreme political turbulence from 1750 - 1776, then a decade of quiet before the Rev.

King Louis XVI (r. 1774 - 1793)

Ascended the throne at 19 and ruled as an absolute monarch. Louis XV had been hated and gotten the country into debt, so Lousi XVI had to work to fix it. His government became a Constitutional Monarchy in 1789. Executed by revolutionaries in January of 1793.

Problems facing the French monarchy

Enlightenment (more scrutiny of gov), Failure to reform (especially with taxes), Financial crisis, Assembly of the Notables 1787

FR Phase I

the 3rd estate began calling themselves the National Assembly and took the tennis court oath, Established Const. Mon., nationalized church, no hereditary office, no slavery, rights for Protestants and Jews.

Tennis Court Oath

June 20 1789 - The National Assembly wouldn't disband until they had a constitution for France.

French financial crisis

Decades of overspending and costly wars (such as the American Revolution) left France in debt. They didn't have an efficient tax system either, so they really didn't have much money. This forced Louis XVI to call an Estates General in 1789.

FR Phase II

The Legislative Assembly (1791 - 92), Constitutional government of elected officials, Sans-Culotts in charge.

Sans-Culottes

Radical working class supporters of the FR. Culottes were fancy knee breeches, so they were saying that they weren't high and mighty. Pushed for economic equality. Were in power after they overthrew the monarchy in 1792 and during the Reign of Terror. The Moutain became more powerful around 1794, but they were both fighting for the same thing and working together for the large part.

FR Phase III

1792 - 1799 Universal manhood sufferage, Abolished monarchy in 1792, France named a republic, reorganized calender

George Danton

1764 - 1794 An early radical supporter of the FR. Was a founding member of the Comittee on Public Saftey, but called for a moderation of the Reign of Terror and was executed by Robespierre.

Girondins

Wealthy bougeoisis, represented the countryside. Opposed the Sans-Culottes and Moutain, so were purged from Parelment in 1793.

The Mountain

Radicals representing the lower classes. Passed Law of the Maximum which caps bread price, drafted new conts., created Com. of Public Saftey

The Comittee of Public Saftey

1793 - 1795 12 peopel to keep saftey and order. George Danton was the head at first, but Maximilian Robespierre executed him and took his place. Called for levee en masse, created sense of modern nationalism

Modern Nationalism

Shifts focus away from fuedal ideas, and more onto the pride of the state. French people wanted to show off their democracy and the power of the people.

The Reign of Terror

Sept. 1793 - Jul. 1794 Dominated by Max Robespierre and the Committee of Public Saftey. They killed a ton of people and lead by fear. Their famous September 5th decree which began the Reign in 1973 symbolizes the ruthless political violence true revolutionairies aren't afraid to use as a tool of the revolution. “Schythe”is talking about farmers, “let us be in revolution” means never settle for what we have fought for. Sputters when Robespierre is executed in 1794.

Why are the French so mad? Why does the Revolution begin?

The first and second estates don't get taxed. Only the third gets taxes, so they have to pay it all.

When was the conservative turn in the Rev?

After Robespierre was executed in 1794, the Reign of Terror lost its truly terrifying edge and became more conservative.

Constitution of 1795

Bicameral legislature with a narrow voter base, 5 person directory to head it up.

Napoleon's main beliefs

Strong central authority, patriotism/nationalism, law and order

Napoleon's path to Emperor

A military man through and through. He was promoted to brigadier general pretty quickly. Won victories in Italy and had some success (but mostly loss) in Egypt, but still returned to France as a hero. Overthrew the Directory on 18 Brumaire, 1799. Became first consul, then for life in 1802, then Emperor in 1804.

18 Brumaire, 1799

Napoleon's coup where he overthrew the corrupt directory. This ended the Revoltion and began his reign as first consul.

Concordat of 1801

Napoleon brings Catholicism back to France

Code Napoleon

1804 - A landmark legislative move that weaves the patchwork of local laws across France into one criminal code. Influenced legal systems all across France.

Was Napoleon more Enlightened or Despotic?

He had major legal reforms (Code Napoleon) and improved the French life, but also crowned himself Emperorer, killed his opponents (George Cadoudal in 1804 for conspiring to kill him), and was ruthless. We can call him an Enlightened Despot, but he is much more a despot.

Battle of Trafalgar

1805 - Napoleon wanted to invade Britain, but Admiral Horatio Nelsons defeated him. This established Britian as the most powerful navy.

Continental System

1806 - 1807 Naopleon tries to impede British trade by setting up a blockade with Europe. But Europe has a big coast, so he can't really do it well.

Battle of Austerlitz

1805 Napoleon against Russia and Austria. He wins a huge victory.

Battle of Jena

1806 - Napoleon defeats Prussia and effectivly kills the HRE.

September Massacres

Sept., 1792 With wars raging on French borders, the people were scared that there were spies in the prisons, so they killed a bunch of prinsoners. George Danton was largly held responsable.

Declaration of Pillnitz

1791 - The Declaration of Pillnitz (1791) was a conditional statement by Prussia and Austria threatening to restore the French monarchy if other European powers joined them. This warning alarmed the revolutionaries and helped push France toward the French Revolutionary Wars.

What role did the American Revolution play?

It inspired the French people that change was possible.

According to Palmer, why was Napoleon so successful?

He combined authoritarian rule with military genius. His Grand Empire was a European expansion just as much as a French one because of how much he influenced other nations.

Palmer argues that these people were created by Napoleon and eventually destroyed him

New national movements. Though many of them supported him in his patriotic views, his authoritarian nature lead to those who didn't find him as charming.

The Congress of Vienna

1814 - 1815 Russia, Britain, Prussia, and Autria met to restore order to Europe. 1.) Restore the traditional monarchy 2.) No more big Revolutions! Essentially, no more Napoleons.

Napoleon's 100 Days and his exile

He escaped his exile in Elba and began a campgain in the South of France in 1815. King Louis XVIII sent troops to stop him, but those troops joined Napoleon. He became emperor again, but was then defeated in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo and was exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821.