The French Revolution (1789-1799)
The causes of French Revolution were found in the French society, and since medieval times, each person belonged by law to one of three status group, or estates. One of the most powerful ideas of the French Revolution was that the people were the nation.
The Three Estates
The First Estate were the clergy.The Second Estate were the nobles.The Third Estate included anyone from the lowliest peasant to the wealthiest merchant. The First and the Second Estate had privileges that the Third Estate did not have, which they did not have to pay taxes like the Third Estate. French peasants fiercely resented these duties.
The bourgeoisie, or middle class, was another group in the Third Estate. They were merchants, bankers, manufacturers, lawyers, public official, doctors, and journalists.
Financial Crisis
In 1787 and 1788, there was bad harvest in France, then, there was shortage in food, and many people became unemployment.
From Estates-General to National Assembly
The First and Second Estates each had about 300 representatives. The Third Estate had almost 600 representatives. The Third Estate wanted to set up a constitutional government that make it fairly for all estates, which the clergy and nobility have pay taxes.
Each estate had one vote. That meant that the First and Second Estates cold outvote theThird Estate two to one.
On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate declared that it was the National Assembly and would make (draft) a constitution that fits everybody. Members of the National Assembly swore to make a French Revolution. The oath they swore is known as the Tennis Court Oath,because they signed it in the tennis court.
In that time, the king of French was Louis XVI. He prepared to use force against the Third Estate, because he did not agree with the new system of voting. But he could not go against them, because the action of Parisian saved the situation.
On July 14, Parisians workers stormed the Bastille (an armory and prison in Paris), and dismantled it, brick by brick.
The Declaration of the Old Regime
On August 26, the national Assemble adopted the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens. It was inspired by the England’s Bill of Rights and the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
On October 5, Parisian women were coming up from every direction, armed with broomsticks, lances, pitchforks, swords, pistols and muskets and they marched at Versailles (a country in France). The king and was captured and became prisoners in Paris.
A New Constitution
A limited monarchy was set up, with the new constitution of 1791. There was a king, but the legislative Assembly was making laws. In June 1791, the king and his family wanted to flee France, however, he was captured and brought back to Paris. People became tired from the king, and on January 21, Louis XVI was beheaded on the guillotine.
Reign of Terror
People became tired from the king, and on January 21, Louis XVI was beheaded on the guillotine. During 1793 and 1794, almost 40,000 people were killed, including the queen of France were killed by the guillotine.
The Rise of Napoleon
Early life: Napoleon was born in 1769 in Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean. His father was from nobility in Italy. In 1796, he was made the commander of the French armies in Italy.
Napoleon controlled most of Europe, and he wanted to control Great Britain. Napoleon took Egypt, and it lay on the route to India, one of the Britain's most important colonies. By 1799, Napoleon and his armies were defeated by the British, and they turned back to Paris.
Consul and Emperor
In 1799, Napoleon took part in the coup d'état (a sudden overthrew of a government) that overthrew the Directory. Napoleon set up a new government, the consulate. It was a republic, in theory, but in fact Napoleon had absolute power. Napoleon was called first consul (a title that was borrowed from ancient Rome). In 1802, he became the consul for the life. In 1804, he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I.
In 1801, Napoleon made an agreement with the Catholic Church. Catholicism became the religion of the majority of the people, in France.
Codification of Laws
Seven law codes were created in the time of Napoleon, but the most important was theCivil Code, or Napoleonic Code. It included: equality of all citizens before the law; the right of the individual to choose a profession; religious toleration; and the abolition of serfdom and feudal obligations.
Napoleon was not able to conquer Britain, because it is surrounded by water, and they had sea power. He gathered his ships and navy, and tried to invade Britain. However, he was defeated at the Trafalgar battle, in 1805. Napoleon's next move was to cut the British trade, that they will not be able to wage a war, and to make them weaker. He called that the Continental System, however, this system failed.
The Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon's Empire started to collapse, and there were two reasons for that: 1. nationalism, and 2. British resisted Napoleon.
In June of 1812, Napoleon's army of more than 600,000 men crossed into Russia. As the Russian retreated, they burnt their own villages to keep Napoleon’s army from finding food. Only 40,000 of the 600,000 came back.
In 1814, Napoleon was exile to Elba, off the northwest coast of Italy. people restores monarchy to France. The brother of the Louis XVI king became the king, which is Louis XVIII.
The Final Defeat
Napoleon left Elba, and went back to France. Louis XVIII troops captured him, and Napoleon said:“I am your Emperor… If there is a man among you who would kill his emperor, here I am.” However, no one fired, and they said “Vive l’ Emperor! Vive l’ Emperor!” __ “long live the emperor! long live the emperor!”
Napoleon raised an another army to defeat the allies in Belgium. At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon fought a combined British and Prussian armies on June 18, 1815. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, a small island in South Atlantic. Napoleon was there until his death in 1821.
The Three Estates
The First Estate were the clergy.The Second Estate were the nobles.The Third Estate included anyone from the lowliest peasant to the wealthiest merchant. The First and the Second Estate had privileges that the Third Estate did not have, which they did not have to pay taxes like the Third Estate. French peasants fiercely resented these duties.
The bourgeoisie, or middle class, was another group in the Third Estate. They were merchants, bankers, manufacturers, lawyers, public official, doctors, and journalists.
Financial Crisis
In 1787 and 1788, there was bad harvest in France, then, there was shortage in food, and many people became unemployment.
From Estates-General to National Assembly
The First and Second Estates each had about 300 representatives. The Third Estate had almost 600 representatives. The Third Estate wanted to set up a constitutional government that make it fairly for all estates, which the clergy and nobility have pay taxes.
Each estate had one vote. That meant that the First and Second Estates cold outvote theThird Estate two to one.
On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate declared that it was the National Assembly and would make (draft) a constitution that fits everybody. Members of the National Assembly swore to make a French Revolution. The oath they swore is known as the Tennis Court Oath,because they signed it in the tennis court.
In that time, the king of French was Louis XVI. He prepared to use force against the Third Estate, because he did not agree with the new system of voting. But he could not go against them, because the action of Parisian saved the situation.
On July 14, Parisians workers stormed the Bastille (an armory and prison in Paris), and dismantled it, brick by brick.
The Declaration of the Old Regime
On August 26, the national Assemble adopted the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens. It was inspired by the England’s Bill of Rights and the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
On October 5, Parisian women were coming up from every direction, armed with broomsticks, lances, pitchforks, swords, pistols and muskets and they marched at Versailles (a country in France). The king and was captured and became prisoners in Paris.
A New Constitution
A limited monarchy was set up, with the new constitution of 1791. There was a king, but the legislative Assembly was making laws. In June 1791, the king and his family wanted to flee France, however, he was captured and brought back to Paris. People became tired from the king, and on January 21, Louis XVI was beheaded on the guillotine.
Reign of Terror
People became tired from the king, and on January 21, Louis XVI was beheaded on the guillotine. During 1793 and 1794, almost 40,000 people were killed, including the queen of France were killed by the guillotine.
The Rise of Napoleon
Early life: Napoleon was born in 1769 in Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean. His father was from nobility in Italy. In 1796, he was made the commander of the French armies in Italy.
Napoleon controlled most of Europe, and he wanted to control Great Britain. Napoleon took Egypt, and it lay on the route to India, one of the Britain's most important colonies. By 1799, Napoleon and his armies were defeated by the British, and they turned back to Paris.
Consul and Emperor
In 1799, Napoleon took part in the coup d'état (a sudden overthrew of a government) that overthrew the Directory. Napoleon set up a new government, the consulate. It was a republic, in theory, but in fact Napoleon had absolute power. Napoleon was called first consul (a title that was borrowed from ancient Rome). In 1802, he became the consul for the life. In 1804, he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I.
In 1801, Napoleon made an agreement with the Catholic Church. Catholicism became the religion of the majority of the people, in France.
Codification of Laws
Seven law codes were created in the time of Napoleon, but the most important was theCivil Code, or Napoleonic Code. It included: equality of all citizens before the law; the right of the individual to choose a profession; religious toleration; and the abolition of serfdom and feudal obligations.
Napoleon was not able to conquer Britain, because it is surrounded by water, and they had sea power. He gathered his ships and navy, and tried to invade Britain. However, he was defeated at the Trafalgar battle, in 1805. Napoleon's next move was to cut the British trade, that they will not be able to wage a war, and to make them weaker. He called that the Continental System, however, this system failed.
The Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon's Empire started to collapse, and there were two reasons for that: 1. nationalism, and 2. British resisted Napoleon.
In June of 1812, Napoleon's army of more than 600,000 men crossed into Russia. As the Russian retreated, they burnt their own villages to keep Napoleon’s army from finding food. Only 40,000 of the 600,000 came back.
In 1814, Napoleon was exile to Elba, off the northwest coast of Italy. people restores monarchy to France. The brother of the Louis XVI king became the king, which is Louis XVIII.
The Final Defeat
Napoleon left Elba, and went back to France. Louis XVIII troops captured him, and Napoleon said:“I am your Emperor… If there is a man among you who would kill his emperor, here I am.” However, no one fired, and they said “Vive l’ Emperor! Vive l’ Emperor!” __ “long live the emperor! long live the emperor!”
Napoleon raised an another army to defeat the allies in Belgium. At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon fought a combined British and Prussian armies on June 18, 1815. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, a small island in South Atlantic. Napoleon was there until his death in 1821.