Kelly B., p.4

Chapter 21—The Revolution in Politics, 1775-1815

Big Picture

I. Liberty and Equality

· These two concepts fueled the Revolution in France. Liberty meant human rights and freedoms and the sovereignty of the people, while equality meant rights and equality of opportunity (not economic). These did not apply to women.

· Liberalism was attractive to the intellectual, prosperous elite. The lower classes were more concerned with economic issues

II. The French Revolution (1789-1791)

· Influenced by the American Rev. Gov’t nearly bankrupt by 1780s à monarchy had to raise taxes.

· The Three Estates: First = clergy. Second = nobility. Third = commoners.

· Louis XVI tried to tax landed property à opposed, called Estates General in 1789. Third estate broke away and formed the National Assembly. Louis assembled army. Declaration of Rights of Man written, women march on Versailles à constitutional monarchy formed.

III. World War and Republican France (1791-1799)

· Declaration of Pillnitz led to French declaration of war on Austria in 1792. Legislative Assembly imprisoned king. France named republic in 1792 by National Convention.

· Robespierre est. a planned economy. Reign of Terror (1793-94). Robespierre executed.

· Thermidorian Reaction marked by return to bourgeoisie liberalism. Directory established.

IV. Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)

· Civil Code of 1804. Napoleon brought order and stability to France but he didn’t stay true to the original plan of the Revolution. No free speech and press, women’s rights, etc.

· Conquered much land, finally abdicated throne in 1814, defeated at Waterloo in 1815. Bourbon dynasty restored under Louis XVIII.

1. Why did liberalism lack popular support?

2. What was included in the manorial rights given to nobles?

3. What were some changes made by the National Assembly during the Thermidorian Reaction period?

4. What were the “three parts” of Napoleon’s “Grand Empire”?

Key People

John Locke

Baron de Montesquieu

Louis XV

Louis XVI

Abbé Emanuel Joseph Sieyès

Marie Antoinette

Marquis de Lafayette

Rousseu

Olympe de Gouges

Robespierre

Edmund Burke

Mary Wollstonecraft

Francis II

Jaques Herbért

Napoleon Bonaparte

Pope Pius VII

Joseph Fouché

Louis XVIII

Key Terms

Bourgeoisie

Representative Government

Seven Years’ War

Checks & Balances

Antifederalists

Classic Liberalism

Estates

Tithe

Manorial Rights

Estates General

Tennis Court Oath

The Great Fear

National Assembly

Jacobins

Girondists

The Mountain

Sans-culottes

Committee of Public Safety

Reign of Terror

Thermidorian Reaction

Quotes

“Napoleon had only but to whistle and Prussia would have ceased to exist.” –Heinrich Heine

“What is the Third Estate? Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed.” –Emmanuel Joseph Seiyès

“Women, wake up; the tocsin of reason sounds throughout the universe; recognize your rights.” –Olympe de Gouges

“I raised myself from nothing to be the most powerful monarch in the world. Europe was at my feet.”—Napoleon Bonaparte

Stats!

• 150,000 of Paris’ 600,000 people were without work in July 1789.
• By January 1794 the French had 800,000 soldiers on active duty in fourteen armies.

Napoleon Fact

The Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte used the bee as a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Napoleon's red cape is famous for its bee print. Some say the fleur-de-lis was actually a bee.