Napoleon and the Reign of Terror

Committee of Public Safety formed to keep people from protesting the revolution.
Headed by Maximilien Robespierre.
Used the guillotine to execute anyone that disagreed with the revolution: friends of the monarchy, members of the 1st and 2nd estates, some peasants
Estimated 40,000 killed by the Guillotine (includes Marie Antoinette)
Reign of Terror ends with the beheading of Robespierre.
Five person council (Directory) set up to run the country – very weak.

Popular army general takes power in coup d’etat (1799)
Names himself Emperor of France (1804)
- Created a new legal system based on the Enlightenment
- Restored the Catholic Church, but reduced its the power
- Increased rights and equality of French people
- Conquers most of Europe
- Set up a national banking system
- Ended government corruption
Napoleonic Wars – Napoleon began invading and conquering all of the countries to the east and west of France in Europe.
By 1812, all of Europe is conquered except for Great Britain and Russia.
Legacy = Nationalism