CHY4U West & The World: Revolution to Restoration

Before the Revolution

  • Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau influenced views on social and political equality.

  • Rural communities faced poverty and joblessness; peasants burdened by taxes to royalty, clergy, and seigneurs.

  • Urban societies divided between rich and poor; feudalism persisted in rural areas.

Intellectuals & Salons

  • Resentment towards absolutist government arose among educated classes; American Revolution sparked other uprisings.

  • Salons provided spaces for both men and women to share and discuss ideas, prioritizing intellect over status.

The Eve of the Revolution

  • Cultural shifts occurred; manners and taste evolved, and family life was primitive.

  • By 1788, Louis XVI faced bankruptcy; Estates-General was called for financial support, leading to demands for constitutional reforms.

Revolutionary Wars (1792 Onwards)

  • September Massacres (1792) resulted in Jacobin control and widespread killings.

  • 3rd Estate's protest against being outvoted in Estates-General led to the Tennis Court Oath.

  • Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) was a significant uprising against oppression;

  • Abolition of feudalism; calls for equality.

Political Organization

  • September 21, 1792, marked the abolition of monarchy, establishing the French Republic.

  • Radical political spectrum formed in the Convention; Louis XVI executed in 1793.

  • The Reign of Terror saw extensive violence, with up to 40,000 deaths.

After Thermidor

  • Robespierre's execution led to decreased revolutionary fervor and establishment of the Directory.

  • 1794-95 faced harsh winters affecting food and economy.

The Age of Napoleon

  • Napoleon Bonaparte became a prominent leader; successful military and government reforms.

  • Abdicated in 1814; briefly returned, leading to the Congress of Vienna.

  • Final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo (1815); exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821.

Social History: Living the Revolution

  • Fashion became a symbol of revolutionary equality; tri-color badges were popular.

  • Revolution influenced family life; marriage secularized and mutual consent allowed for divorce.

Redefining the State: Napoleonic Government

  • Napoleon's coup d'état in 1799 centralized government, introduced the Concordat (1801), and established a school system.

  • Became Emperor in May 1804; enacted the Code Napoleon, reforming civil law.

Napoleonic Wars

  • 1810 saw significant territorial changes across Europe.

Revolutionary Artists: David & Beethoven

  • Jacques-Louis David emphasized classical styles in art; became Napoleon's official painter.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven, influenced by the Revolution, overcame his hearing loss; originally admired Napoleon.