Slides to accompany Ch 23, French Revolution

1. The French Revolution
1789 - 1815

3. Background
Three major political revolutions in the Age of
Enlightenment:
the “Glorious Revolution” in England, 1688
the American Revolution, 1776
the French Revolution, 1789

4. All three revolutions:
• rejected the divine right of kings,
• encouraged the creation of bureaucracies,
• emphasized individual merit,
• increased political participation,
• encouraged the growth of business &
industry for private profit,
• encouraged revolutionary leaders, and
• spread conflict and war.

6. The study of the French Revolution remains the
pre-eminent subject of French historiography,
producing a seemingly endless variety of
interpretations. Three approaches have,
however, dominated the field . . .

7. The first emphasizes the importance of IDEAS,
stressing the philosophes as the precursors of this
revolution.
This interpretation tends to focus on the first
three months of the revolution and the
significance of the “Declaration of the Rights of
Man and Citizen”

8. A second interpretation stresses the significance
of CLASS interests in the revolution, and tends
to highlight the next chronological stage, as
urban workers and rural peasantry escalated
their protests and demonstrations.

9. A more recent interpretation (influenced by
literary theory) speaks of the revolution as
“DISCOURSE,” an interplay of ideas and interest
groups that constantly shifts, or “skids,” as events
unfold.
As the direction of the revolution changed
irrevocably with each new event - for example,
the execution of Louis XVI - ideas were
reassessed and classes reshuffled themselves into
new alignments.

10. There is a broader issue, too.
Historians sometimes envision events as part of
a long sweep of related trends.
Sometimes they see them as contingencies,
occurring because of circumstances that are
unique and unpredictable.
The French Revolution presents both aspects.

11. On the one hand, the French Revolution was an
outgrowth of larger trends, the ideals of the
pholosophes and the legacies of the British and
American revolutions.

12. On the other hand, specific events unfolded day-
by-day in quite unpredictable ways; had they
turned out differently - for example, had the one
vote to guillotine the king been reversed - the
outcome of the revolution might have been quite
different.

13. Questions
1. In your own understanding of historical change
up to this point in the course, which do you
think counts for more, the ideas or class
interests? Why?
2. In your own understanding of historical change,
which do you think counts for more, the grand
sweep or the contingency? Give an example
from another period of great change in the
course that illustrates your point of view.

14. Revolution Threatens
the French King

15. 1. Identify the three estates of the Old Regime

16. 1. Identify the three estates of the Old Regime

17. 1st 2nd 3rd
% of Population % of Taxes Paid

18. 1st 2nd 3rd
1%%
2
97%
% of Population % of Taxes Paid

19. 1st 2nd 3rd
1%%
2 2%
48%
50%
97%
% of Population % of Taxes Paid

20. 2. Summarize factors that led up to the French
Revolution
Enlightenment ideas
Economic woes
Weak leadership

26. 1. In general, how do the paintings differ in their portrayal?
2. Why would the first painting fuel sentiments against the
queen?
3. Why didn’t the second painting calm that anger?
4. Would the French Revolution have happened if there was no
Marie Antoinette?

27. “The National Assembly, considering that it has been
summoned to establish the constitution of the kingdom, to
effect the regeneration of public order, and to maintain the
true principles of monarchy; that nothing can prevent it
from continuing its deliberations in whatever place it may
be forced to establish itself; and finally, that wheresoever
its members are assembled, there is the National
Assembly.
Decrees that all members of this Assembly shall
immediately take a solemn oath not to separate, and to
reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the
constitution of the kingdom is established and
consolidated upon firm foundations; and that, the said
oath taken, all members and each one of them individually
shall ratify this steadfast resolution by signature.”

28. “The National Assembly, considering that it has been
summoned to establish the constitution of the kingdom, to
effect the regeneration of public order, and to maintain the
dical it
true principles of monarchy; that nothing can ra
for prevent
l
from continuing its deliberations ath cal
in whatever place it may
tO
urand finally, that wheresoever
is Co
be forced to establish itself;
nn
Teassembled, there is the National
ost
its members eh are
oes t the m
e of
1. D
Assembly. ? ch
on
eredthis Assemblyn
tion e Fre shall
c that all members of
a onsid ents of th
s it ca solemn oath not to separate, and to
Decrees
hy i taket docum
2. W rtan
immediately
impo tion?
reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the
evolu
constitution of the kingdom is established and
R
consolidated upon firm foundations; and that, the said
oath taken, all members and each one of them individually
shall ratify this steadfast resolution by signature.”

29. 3. Describe the creation of the National
Assembly and the storming of the Bastille

35. 4. Explain the importance of the Great Fear and
the women’s march on Versailles.

43. Revolution Brings
Reform & Terror

44. Why do people
obey Government?

45. Why do people
obey Government?
Respect

46. Why do people
obey Government?
Respect
Self-interest

47. Why do people
obey Government?
Fear
Respect
Self-interest

48. 1. Explain how the National Assembly changed
France’s government
Rights of Man & Citizen
Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration of the
Rights of Women
State-controlled church
Louis XVI . . .

49. 2. Summarize the positions of the three factions
that tried to govern France in the Legislative
Assembly:
Radicals
Moderates
Conservatives
and where did they sit?
Who were the Emigres and the sans-culottes?

50. 3. Explain how war and the king’s execution
affected the Revolution
September Massacres
Legislative Assembly → National
Convention
the Jacobins
Who did France fight?

51. 4. Describe the events and the aftermath of the
Reign of Terror
Maximilien Robespierre
“Committee for Public Safety”
Napoleon Bonaparte

52. Napoleon Forges an
Empire

53. 1. Explain how Napoleon
Bonaparte came to power
Hero of the National
Convention
Coup d’Etat
Napoleon as First Consul

54. @ The Great Mall

55. 2. Summarize how
Napoleon restored order
in France
1800, plebiscite
Fixes economy
Ends corruption
Restores the Church
Creates the
Napoleonic Code
Crowns self Emperor
Napoleon, 1801

56. Provision One:
A father can veto his son’s marriage until age 26 and that of his daughter until
age 21.
Provision Two:
There can be no worker organizations (ie unions). An employer’s word was to
be taken over that of his employee.
Provision Three:
Adoption is not permitted except to those above the age of fifty and who at the
period of adoption have no children.
Provision Four:
A married couple jointly owns all the wealth the two accumulate during their
marriage, and in case of divorce, they must divide it equally.
Provision Five:
Landowner’s children had to share equally in the inheritance.
Provision Six:
If a child has not commenced his 16th year, the father may imprison his child for
up to six months.

57. • The Napoleonic Code was the first modern legal system that applied to
everyone.
• Enacted on March 21, 1804 the Civil Code of France marked the first major
revision and reorganization of laws since the Roman era.
• Before the Napoleonic Code, a confusion of customary, feudal, royal,
revolutionary, church and Roman laws existed.
• The Civil Code eliminated feudal and royal privileges in favor of all citizens’
equality before the law.
• The Code mainly addressed issues relating to property and families.
• It also included some rights such as freedom of speech and worship along with
public trial by jury.
• The code preserved most social aims of the revolution and helped France turn
away from the past.
• The Code made the wife inferior to her husband. “The husband owes
protection to his wife, and the wife owes obedience to her husband.”
• Countries of modern Europe with the exception of Great Britain, Ireland,
Russia and Scandinavia base their civil law systems on the Napoleonic Code
• What state in the USA bases their legal system on the Napoleonic Code?

58. 3. Describe the extent and weaknesses of Napoleon’s
empire
Revolt in Haiti
Sale of Louisiana Territory
Expands in Europe
Battle of Trafalgar

59. Napoleon’s Empire
Collapses

60. 1. Explain Napoleon’s tactical and political
mistakes
Continental System & blockade
The Peninsular War & guerillas
1812 invasion of Russia

61. 2. Summarize Napoleon’s defeat, comeback, and
final downfall
April 1814, surrender
Louis XVII became king
Napoleon escapes Elba, raises an army
Defeated at Waterloo by Duke Wellington
exiled to St Helena