🚂Europe in the 19th Century Unit 1 – French Revolution & Napoleon (1789-1815)

Key Events and Timeline

• 1789: Storming of the Bastille on July 14th marks the beginning of the French Revolution
• 1789: National Assembly established and issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August
• 1791: King Louis XVI attempts to flee Paris in June but is captured and returned
• 1792: First French Republic declared in September after the monarchy is abolished
• 1793: King Louis XVI executed by guillotine in January
• 1793-1794: Reign of Terror under Robespierre's leadership results in thousands of executions
• 1795: Directory government established in November
• 1799: Napoleon Bonaparte stages a coup d'état in November, becoming First Consul and effectively ending the French Revolution
• 1804: Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the French in December

Causes and Contributing Factors

• Financial crisis due to excessive government spending and debt, exacerbated by the costs of supporting the American Revolution
• Social inequality and resentment of the privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy
• Enlightenment ideas spread by philosophers (Voltaire, Rousseau) challenging the traditional social and political order
• Poor harvests and rising food prices in the late 1780s lead to widespread hunger and discontent
• Weak leadership of King Louis XVI and his inability to address the growing crisis
• The example of the successful American Revolution inspires the French people to seek change
• Calling of the Estates-General in May 1789 to address the financial crisis provides a platform for airing grievances
  • The Third Estate (commoners) demands more representation and power

Major Figures and Their Roles

• King Louis XVI: The last absolute monarch of France whose indecisiveness and resistance to change contributed to the revolution
• Marie Antoinette: Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI, known for her extravagance and perceived indifference to the suffering of the people
• Maximilien Robespierre: Radical Jacobin leader who played a key role in the Reign of Terror
  • Robespierre's Committee of Public Safety ruthlessly suppressed opposition and executed thousands
• Georges Danton: Influential revolutionary leader who initially supported the Reign of Terror but later called for its end, leading to his own execution
• Marquis de Lafayette: French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolution and played a moderate role in the early stages of the French Revolution
• Abbé Sieyès: Catholic clergyman and political theorist whose pamphlet "What is the Third Estate?" helped spark the revolution
• Jean-Paul Marat: Radical journalist and politician who advocated for violence against the aristocracy
• Napoleon Bonaparte: Military general who rose to power in the aftermath of the revolution, eventually becoming Emperor of the French

Political and Social Changes

• Abolition of the absolute monarchy and establishment of a constitutional monarchy (1789-1792)
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen establishes the principles of equality, liberty, and fraternity
• Nationalization of church property and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy subordinates the Catholic Church to the state
• Abolition of feudalism and the privileges of the nobility
• Adoption of the metric system and the French Republican Calendar
• Expansion of education and the arts, with the Louvre palace converted into a public museum
• Divorce legalized and inheritance laws reformed to provide greater equality
• Slavery abolished in French colonies in 1794 (later reinstated by Napoleon in 1802)

Impact on France

• Overthrow of the centuries-old absolute monarchy and the establishment of a republic
• Redistribution of land and wealth through the sale of church and émigré property
• Destruction of the feudal system and the privileges of the nobility
• Emergence of a new political culture based on the principles of the Enlightenment and republicanism
• Political instability and violence, particularly during the Reign of Terror
• Economic disruption due to war, inflation, and the loss of colonial trade
• Religious upheaval and the dechristianization movement
• Rise of nationalism and the concept of the French nation as a unified entity

European Reactions and Consequences

• Initial sympathy for the revolution among European intellectuals and reformers
• Growing fear and hostility from European monarchs as the revolution becomes more radical
  • Formation of coalitions (First and Second Coalitions) to contain and defeat revolutionary France
• Spread of revolutionary ideas and movements to other parts of Europe (Batavian Republic, Helvetic Republic)
• Inspiration for future revolutionary movements (1830, 1848) and the development of modern nationalism
• Disruption of the balance of power in Europe and the rise of France as a dominant military power under Napoleon
• Economic warfare between Britain and France, including the Continental System
• Redrawn map of Europe as a result of the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)

Napoleon's Rise and Empire

• Napoleon's military successes in Italy and Egypt establish his reputation and popularity
• 1799 coup d'état (18 Brumaire) overthrows the Directory and establishes the Consulate with Napoleon as First Consul
• Reforms under the Consulate stabilize France and consolidate Napoleon's power
  • Concordat of 1801 reconciles France with the Catholic Church
  • Napoleonic Code provides a uniform legal system and reinforces social hierarchy
• Napoleon crowned Emperor of the French in 1804, establishing a new hereditary monarchy
• Series of military victories (Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram) expand French control over much of Europe
• Creation of satellite states and the appointment of family members as rulers (Kingdom of Italy, Kingdom of Spain)
• Invasion of Russia in 1812 and the disastrous retreat mark the turning point of Napoleon's fortunes
• Abdication and exile to Elba in 1814, followed by the Hundred Days and final defeat at Waterloo in 1815

Legacy and Long-Term Effects

• Consolidation of the gains of the revolution, including the abolition of feudalism and the establishment of legal equality
• Spread of the Napoleonic Code and its influence on legal systems throughout Europe and beyond
• Stimulation of nationalist movements and the rise of modern nation-states
• Reorganization of the map of Europe through the Congress of Vienna and the establishment of the Concert of Europe
• Inspiration for future revolutionary and independence movements (Latin American wars of independence, Greek War of Independence)
• Romanticism in art and literature as a reaction to the rationalism of the Enlightenment and the upheavals of the revolution
• Enduring symbol of French national identity and the subject of ongoing historical debate and interpretation
• Establishment of the metric system as an international standard
• Expansion of education and the creation of the lycée system in France