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French Revolution
France….Background
• Buildup of autocracy in 15th-16th centuries
• Largely Catholic– Huguenots (Protestant) a sizeable minority– Fighting b/t Catholic and Protestant– 1598- Edict of Nantes: promoted religious
tolerance
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
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
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)
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
French Revolution
• 1791- new Constitution ratified– Created Constitutional Monarchy; King retains
executive power
• Austrians and Prussians invade France to restore monarchy– Marie Antionette was sister of Austrian
Emperor– Unsuccessful
French Revolution
• Continued unrest= another new Constitution– Declares France a republic– Established the Convention as the new ruling
body
• 1793: Convention (led by radical Jacobins) imprison royal family and behead king and queen
French Revolution
• Reign of Terror:– Constitution once again thrown out– Committee of Public Safety created and
facilitate the revolution• Led by Maximilien Robespierre and Jacobins
– Thousands beheaded– Eventually, Robespierre too was beheaded
• 1795: yet another government established, called the Directory
Rise of Napoleon
• Directory created strong military– Napoleon Bonaparte popular military man
• 24 at the time
– 1799: overthrows Directory and declares himself First Consul
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
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
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
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
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.