Discovering History
History with Ms. Sabatos
The French Revolution and Napoleon
Louis XIV
The Three Estates
Louis XIV: The Sun King
Louis XIV called himself the Sun King because everything revolved around him...or at least according to him. Louis was involved in multiple wars, which led France into a great amount of debt. That and his estimated $500 billion spending on his palace in Versailles.
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Palace of Versailles
The palce, located 12 miles outside of Paris, has over 700 rooms and 60 staircases. Louis XIV and his nobles lived here, creating a community of elite members.
What is the Third Estate?
EVERYTHING
Says Abbot Sieyés. Want to reread his pamphlet? Click on the "W" in the corner of this box.
Division of the Estates
Those who fight, those who work, and those who pray
Since the medieval times, the Ancien Regime (Old Rule) ruled the European lifestyle. There were those who fought - nobles that dedicated their lives to protecting the country. Those who prayed dedicated their lives to God, studying scripture, creating manuscripts, or leading parishes. Finally, those who worked were peasants, merchants, and other working class people that did not fit into the other two categories.
Before the French Revoltuion, this was how society was run in France, as it had been for hundreds of years.
The Estates in France
This cartoon represents the three estates and the king within France.
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How does this cartoon portray each estate?
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What does this say about people in society?
A Plotline of the French Revolution
Tennis Court Oath
1789
Storming of the Bastille
1789
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
1789
Women's Bread March
1789
Louis is taken to Paris by force
1789
Louis and his family try to escape
1791
Constitution of 1791 creates limited monarchy
France abolishes monarchy, creates republic
Louis XVI is put on trial
1792
Louis XVI beheaded by his people
1793
Reign of Terror
1793-1794
Robespierre is beheaded
1794
Directory is created 1794
Napoleon has military victories
1795 - 1799
Napoleon loses in Egypt and comes back to Paris
1799
Consulate is created
1799
Napoelon crowns himself emperor
1804
Causes of the French Revolution
Causes of the French Revolution
Inequality in French Society
The Estate system had created huge inequalities within the French Society
France in Debt
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Monarchs had been part of war for decades and spent money on personal desires.
Enlightenment Ideas
Ideas of the Enlightenment trickled their way into French Society, pushing want for equality
Storming of the Bastille
Known as the Spark, the citizens of PAris stormed the political prison for gunpowder
The Beginning of the French Revolution
Calling of the Estates General
For the first time in over 100 years, the king, Louis XVI, called France's legislative body - the Estates General. When they convened, the Third Estate, led primarily by the bourgeoisie, was furious that they had little power but paid many taxes. They proposed the First and Second Estate also pay taxes. When the Third Estate went to the building one day, they found they were locked out. Their solution? They, along with supporters from the First and Second Estate (which were few), went to the closest open building - a Tennis Court.
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In the court, they created an oath saying they would continue to meet until they created a new Constitution which brought the Third Estate some rights and power. This was known as the Tennis Court Oath.
The Tennis Court Oath
The Violent Beginning
Afriad he would lose his power in Paris, Louis XVI sent troops to Paris in case the people would back up the new National Assembly and their Tennis Court Oath.
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The people, hearing about the troops, looked to find a way to protect themselves. They went to the poltical prison in the West of Paris, known as the Bastille, believing there was gunpoweder inside. Struggling to negotiate with the guards, the people stormed in, set free the 7 prisoners inside the prison, and killed guards on their way. While there was no gunpowder inside the prison, the people thoguht of the storming as a victory.
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The Bastille was torn down brick by brick by the people. Today, there is a tall memorial representing the freedom which had begun to be fought for at the Bastill in 1789.
Storming of the Bastille
Back to the Paper...
Knowing they had support, the National Assembly continued its fight on paper. They created a Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, which brought rights to men that were not allowed prior to the Tennis Court Oath. France was looking towards America to create their rights and governments; however, there were differences between American and France. For one, France wanted freedom and equality. To read the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, click on one of the "W's" below.
Full document
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Modified document
Women March to Versailles
Due to the rising prices in bread, it was becoming harder and harder to buy bread and not starve. Women, knowing the king had bread, marched 12 miles to storm the Palace of Versailles. When there, they became very violent, broke through the palace gates and took the king from his palace. With all the bread and flour from the palace, the women took the King, Queen, and their kids to a palace in Paris.
The power was in the hands of the people!
Who bought the bread?
WOMEN
Women's March on Versailles
Women's March on Versailles
The King Flees
Louis Flees!
In 1791, the National Assembly proposed a new Constituion. They attempted to make the king sign it; however, the Constitution created a limited monarchy, taking power away from the king. In fear the people would just get rid of him, the King and his fammily attempted to flee France.
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The attempt failed, as a postmaster recognized the Queen adn King's face from the silver coins used as currency. Guards were sent immediately. Within hours, the king and queen were escourted back to Paris.
Europe Responds
European Leaders Fear!
With the king in France at the people's will, monarchs around Europe are terrified! What if they're next?!?! Austria and Prussia set forward the Delcaration of Pillnitz, saying they would intervene if the king was harmed.
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But would they really? The Assembly declared war on these outside forces. For the remainder of the 18th century, France was at war with Austria, Russia, Prussia, adn Great Britain!
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Revolutionary Royal Execution
Death of Louis XVI
No longer living his lavish life, Louis became unnecessary to the French people when a new Constituiton was created that eliminated a monarchy all together.
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After much debate in the Assembly, Louis was sentenced to death by a handful of votes. On the morning of January 15, 1793, citizen Louis Capet, was taken to the Place de la Revolution. He was beheaded by guillotine in front of his gaurds and people.
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Louis XVI was the first and only king the people of Frace killed. Monarchs around Europe feared their people would do the same if they were allowed to have any power.
Reign of Terror
Now a republic (a government run by the people), the French government was run by the people. Kind of... A Committee of Public Safety had been created in order to keep France safe from war and inside fears. The committee was run by 12 people. Maximilien Robepierre became the head of this committee and took control.
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Robepierre ruled with virtue and terror in order to rid the country of those who did not believe in the republic. Througb creating the republic, Robespierre attempted to rid the country of all things from the Old Regime. To get rid of the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, he created the Cult of the Supreme Being and a new caendar for the reoublic. Additionally, a new system of measurement was created: the metric system, which we still have today!
Robepierre
Cult of the Supreme Being
A New Calendar
The Guillotine
The guillotine was the primary mechanism for public executions during the French Revolution. According to the doctor the machine is named after, Dr. Joseph Guillotin, the guillotine was the quickest, most humane way to die. During the revolution, public executions took place in many towns around France. In Paris, the guillotine was in the Place de la Revolution, now known as the Place de la Concorde.
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The guillotine was a symbol of the terror and many faced the blade. As many as 8,000 or more were killed by the guillotine in the short span Robespierre was in power (September 1793 to July 1794).
Biology behind the guillotine and the body
Robespierre Comes to an End
Robespierre became obsessed with the terror. He thought anyone who was against the revolution should die. When Robespierre's friend and fellow committee member, Danton, said the guillotine should slow down, Robespierre sent him to the guillotine. Eventually, other committee members feared for their lives and Robespierre was arrested.
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To avoid the humiliation of facing the guillotine himself, Robespierre attempted suicide. After failing and with a shattered jaw, Robespierre was take to the guillotine in July of 1794.
Directory and the Rise of Napoleon
The Directory
The Directory was set up after Robespierre fell from power. It was intended to create a republic with a bicameral legislature, a judicial branch, and an executive branch with a 5 person committee.
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While it worked for a short period of time, the Directory members became corrupt. Internal affairs such as bread shortages, famine, and financial issues were dealt with through the use of military.
Napoleon - A Young General
AKA Nacooleon
Napoleon Bonaparte was a successful, young general who was sent to battle the foreign powers that were attacking France. Word of his victories were spread around the country, essentially creating a celebrity.
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He began a campaign aginst the British in Egypt. While he did not succeed, he kept the media at bay and came back to Paris to take hold of the government through a cou d'etat.
Napoleon - The Consulate
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After the coup, Napoleon created a government with a three person consulate. He was First Consul, of course, which allowed him to have the most power. Over the course of a few years, Napoleon used his power to take people out of the government he did not like or agree with.
Napoleon - The Emperor
AKA Empoleon
In 1804, Napoleon declared himself emperor of France, as he had taken control of the government in France. After 10 years of fighting a revolution and 5 years under Napoleon's control, France was back to an absolute ruler. While Napoleon is successful for some time, he does not last long.
Napoleon - End Looming
AKA Mopepoleon
Mopey Napoleon will come soon. But until then.... he rules Europe!
Europe in Napoleonic Era
Neoclassicism in the Napoleonic Era
A Quick Review of the French Revolution
What is Neoclassicism?
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Rational
Ethical
"A Return to Pure Greek"
Le Heros
Neoclassical works of Jacques Louis David
Jacques Louis David created many images during the Napoleonic Era, including ones which made Napoleon look like a triumphant leader. His paintings are known as Neoclassic because they are rational, show moral ideas, recall Greek and Roman artwork, and create heroic looking figures. Below are a few of his famous paintings from the era.
Jacques-Louis David, ​Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1801-1804, oil on canvas
Jacques-Louis David, Intervention of the Sabine Woman​, 1799, oil on canvas
Jacques-Louis David, ​Coronation of Napoleon, 1805-1807, oil on canvas
End of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna
Napoleon's Last Call
After his defeat in Russia, Napoleon was exiled to the Isle of Elba off of the coast of Italy. In the meantime, leaders met at the Congress of Vienna to try to figure out what to do about Europe now, as the chaos seemed to be over.
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Psych! Napoleon escaped from the island and returned to Paris to rule. However, his ruling was short lived. He met with armies in Waterloo (in modern day Brussels) where he was defeated.
Defeated again, Napoleon was sent to a more secluded island off the coast of Africa - St. Helena's. The Congress of Vienna then went to work to create stability, put monarch back on the thrones, and redo the balance of power. Napoleon died 5 years later on the island from stomach cancer.
Outcomes of the Congress
1. New borders in Europe
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2. A Quadruple Alliance with Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain.
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3. Monarchs were restored to thrones, including Louis XVIII in France.
