French Revolution bp
First Coalition
Great Britain, Holland, Spain, Prussia, and Austria - the first major concerted effort of multiple European powers to contain Revolutionary France (1793-1797)
Napoleon Bonaparte
General; Emperor of France; he seized power in a coup d'état in 1799; he led French armies in conquering much of Europe, placing his relatives in positions of power. Defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled on the island of Elba
Liberalism
A political ideology that emphasizes rule of law, representative democracy, rights of citizens, and the protection of private property. This ideology, derived from the Enlightenment, was especially popular among the property-owning middle classes.
Prince Klemens von Metternich
Austrian minister, believed in the policies of legitimacy and intervention (the military to crush revolts against legitimacy). Leader of the Congress of Vienna
The Terror
The period from 1793-1794 when Robespierre leader of Committee of Public Safety ruled France nearly as a dictator. Thousands of political figures and ordinary citizens were executed by the guillotine.
Reform Act of 1832
an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of the United Kingdom
National Assembly
French Revolutionary assembly (1789-1791). Called first as the Estates General, the three estates came together and demanded radical change. It passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789.
What differences existed between British and Continental society and government during the French Revolution and what effect did those differences have on events?
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Despotism
is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group
Plebiscite
legislate that happens after Napoleon makes the laws
Nationalism
love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it
Committee of Public Safety
oversaw the reign of terror, Placed max price on bread, monetary depreciation, food shortages
Continental System
Napoleon's policy of preventing trade between Great Britain and continental Europe, intended to destroy Great Britain's economy.
Louis XVI
- King of France (1774-1792). In 1789 he summoned the Estates-General, but he did not grant the reforms that were demanded and revolution followed. Louis and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed in 1793.
Maximilien Robespierre
1758-1794, leader of Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror, ruled as dictator, was once part of National Convention - what party was he in? (Jacobins?)
18th Brumaire
1799 Abbé Sieyés had become a director, called upon Napoleon, Napoleon announces Jacobin conspiracy to Directory Napoleons brother Lucien, has dissenting members of Assemblies removed, remaining members give all power to Sieyes and Napoleon
Charles X
1824-1830 set out to restore the absolute monarchy with the help of the ultraroyalists. Tried to repay nobles for lands lost during the revolution, but the liberals in teh legislative assemly opposed him. Eventually, he issued the July Ordinances.
German Confederation
Created at the Congress of Vienna, this was what the German states became after the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Austrians and Prussians both felt entitled to rule this conglomerate, which led to the Astro-Prussian War.
Congress of Vienna
Meeting of representatives of European monarchs called to reestablish the old order after the defeat of Napoleon
Quadruple Alliance
Organization, made up of Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia, to preserve the peace settlement of 1815; France joined in 1818.
July Monarchy
Period in France (1830-1848) where the bourgeoisie class was dominant and King Louis-Philippe was at the head of a constitutional monarchy. The monarchy eventually became too rigid and unwilling to change and was overthrown. Allowed only 1/30th of men to vote
Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe's statement forbidding further colonization in the Americas and declaring that any attempt by a foreign country to colonize would be considered an act of hostility
Girdondins
The rival of the Jacobins at the National Convention- didn't like power of Paris militants, tried to appeal to departments outside of Paris, wanted to exile king
Estates-General
The traditional group of representatives from the three Estates of French society: the clergy, nobility, and commoners. Louis XVI assembled this group to deal with the financial crisis in France at the time, but the 3rd estate demanded more rights and representation.
Revolution of 1830
This was a socialist uprising in France that was put down by the government, and happened the same year the Borboun monarchy was replaced with Louis Phillipe.
Peninsular War
a conflict, lasting from 1808 to 1813, in which Spanish Rebels, with the aid of British forces, fought to drive Napoleons French troops out of Spain.
Did French society change following the French Revolution and if so, how?
1. Politically: France before the Revolution was a monarchy, that is, hereditary rule, as was most of Europe except, significantly, Great Bittain. The Revolution literally threw off the monarchy and embraced the notion of a Republic. In doing so, they beheaded their king, Louis XVI, precipitating the French Revolutionary Wars. The revolutions proclaimations, embodied in the document "Declaration of the Rights of Man" threatened every other monarchy in Europe. Republican governments are representative, wherein they are always ruling by the consent of the governed, whereas the kings and nobles of 18th century Europe were faced with overthrow and murder. 2. Socially: Of Frances 26 million inhabitants in 1789, about 90% were poor peasants and farmers. The rest were either the nobility or the clergy. In fact, the very imbalance of the country socially begged for revolt. Each stratum of the society was called by one of three estates. The Nobility, including royalty, was the First Estate, the clergy and the Church was the Second Estate, and the peasants were the Third Estate. After the Revolution all offices were open to tjhose with the most talent. This was never more true than during the First Empire, when Napoleon's many Codes were written and enforced in France. In fact, the Code Napoleon still exists as part of the legal structure of several European nations today. But privilege was looked down upon, and merit was gained by talent. 3. Economically: In this respect there was change on several levels. For one thing, the new government had to command revenues in a sensible fashion and keep the nation solvent, otherwise chaos would result. It almost did, edspecially after 1792 when the wars began. But Frances conquests themselves paid dividends in hard currency, as well as many of Europes greatest art treasures. Under Napoleon the Bank of France was established and eventuallt the economy took form. It can be said that the French Revolution helped to intensify the Industrial Revolution in that country, and this could only have been accomplished in the absence of monarchy, and certainly not because of it. France grew stronger and faster under it's succesive republics because the freedoms evident in a republic encourage investment in new technology and excite compeition, and therefore innovation.
The Enlightenment
A philosophical movement which started in Europe in the 1700's and spread to the colonies. It emphasized reason and the scientific method. Writers of the enlightenment tended to focus on government, ethics, and science, rather than on imagination, emotions, or religion. Many members of the Enlightenment rejected traditional religious beliefs in favor of Deism, which holds that the world is run by natural laws without the direct intervention of God.
Decembrist Revolt
Abortive attempt by army officers to take control of the Russian government upon the death of Tsar Alexander I in 1825.
Chartist Movement
Attempt by artisans and workers in Britain to gain the vote during the 1840s; demands for reform beyond the Reform Act of 1832 were incorporated into a series of petitions; movement failed.
Great Fear
Following the storming of Bastille: The panic and insecurity that struck French peasants after the storm of Bastille. Peasants attack sack and burn Chåteaux, "Famine Plot"
Greek War of Independence
Greeks sought independence from control of the Ottoman Empire in 1829 -defeated Egyptian soldiers
Giuseppe Mazzini
Italian nationalist whose writings spurred the movement for a unified and independent Italy (1805-1872)
Parlement of Paris
The parlements- 13 in France, were frontline defenders of liberty against royal despotism. The high court judges were the most important and influential in the Parlement of Paris. The Parlement of Paris challenged the basis of royal authority and stopped many repressive taxes.
Bastille
a great fortress, used as a prison in Paris that stood as a symbol of royal tyranny. On July 14, 1789, at the beginning of the French Revolution, a large crowd of Parisians captured the Bastille. This act convinced King Louis XVI to withdraw his troops from Paris and to accept the French Revolution.
Romanticism
a movement in literature and art during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that celebrated nature rather than civilization
Conservatism
a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favoring obedience to political authority and organized religion
Civil Code of 1804
also known as the Napoleonic Code, it safeguarded property, limited the rights of employees and women and centralized law of France Huge emphasis on: Private property Uniform laws Official end of primogeniture (oldest son gets all the property) Emphasis on family but not women or women's rights
Jacobins
radical members of National Assembly that promoted the Reign of Terror and other extreme measures, active chiefly from 1789 to 1794:
Second Coalition
the Russians, Austrians, and the Ottomans joined Britain to form this, after the invasion of Egypt. Russians ( under Suverov ) pull out of the coalition. Napoleon defeats Austria and signs a new treaty, he conquered venice and gave it back to Austria. Since British were not doing well with the Industrial Revolution going on, they sign the treaty of Amiens.
Long and Short term causes of French Revolution
• Long-term causes - Policies of Louis XV - Three Estates • Privileges, rights, taxation - Little Ice Age? • Poor harvests • Short-term causes - Debt • Wars
Directory
9th of Thermidor (July 27, 1794) Robespierre asks for one more purge, moderates capture and execute Robespierre and Saint-Just, "beginning of end of French Revolution" A group of 5 men who were given executive control of France following the Reign of Terror
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
A decree granting basic rights to French citizens that was written in August 26, 1789 after the French Revolution (1789-1799) as a preamble to France's constitution. This French document established the sovereignty of the nation, meaning that the king derived his authority from the people of the nation rather than from divine right or tradition. It proclaimed that "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights" and granted freedom of religion, freedom of press, equality in taxation, and the equality of all citizens before the law.
What role did religion play in the Revolution and the reactions to it?
If we are to be fair in analyzing the root causes of the whole revolution then we will have to admit that the religion of Christianity had a big role to play in it. The religion itself is not to be blamed but it is what the nobles and priests did under the banner of religion that is to be condemned. The Christian rulers of that time were known to be extremely intolerant which resulted in the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in France. Moreover the principles of Christianity were distorted by the priests to gain power over the people and maintain their nobility as a result intellectually straight jacketing the government. This is the only reason why the monarchist regime of France was being considered as being backwards. When the ruling party is unjust and carries with it the banner of a religion then that religion gets the blame for being unjust. Consequently the revolutionary movement was also seen as an anti God movement because of the dealings of the so called men of God. It is actually those people who practiced injustice under the banner of religion and persecuted the people that gave birth to the atheistic spirit of the revolution and the deeds of the so called men of God can be seen as one of the major causes that ultimately led to the revolt.
Louis-Phillippe
Louis Philippe, (1773-1850), was king of France from 1830 to 1848. He is often called The Citizen King. He was born on Oct. 6, 1773, in Paris, the eldest son of Philippe Egalite, Duke of Orleans. He sympathized with the liberal ideas of the French Revolution and joined the National Guard at the beginning of the revolt. He was proclaimed "Citizen King" of France after Charles X was forced to give up the throne in 1830 and he ruled after the overthrow of the Bourbons in the July Revolution and abdicated during the Revolution of 1848. During his reign, he became unpopular with all classes of the French people. The legitimists opposed him because they were loyal to the descendants of Charles X. The liberals disliked his increasing suppression of disagreement. Louis Philippe's reign was prosperous but uneventful, as his ministers pursued cautious policies. The Revolution of 1848 broke out partly because he refused to reform election laws. He was forced to give up his throne, and escaped to England.
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo, 1815, was Napoleon Bonaparte's last battle. His defeat put a final end to his rule as Emperor of the French. Waterloo also marked the end of the period known as the Hundred Days, which began in March 1815 after Napoleon's return from Elba. Exiled to St. Helena, dies of cancerous ulcer
How did Enlightentment though affect the events of the late 18th and early nineteenth century?
The Enlightenment did not directly contribute to the outbreak of the French Revolution, but the French revolution does embody some of the enlightenment ideas. Enlightenment thinkers promoted ideas of progress and natural law in all aspects of society. This can be seen in the writings of Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire. Ideas of the French Revolution derived from the Enlightenment are as follows: Constitutional monarchy, Liberal government, Division of powers among the nobles, the monarchy, and the representatives of the cities to replace the Old Regime, The Declaration of the Rights of Man, The Social Contract, Popular Sovereignty, and the Enlightened Absolutism. The French Revolution was based on Enlightenment principles that didn't include traditional French institutions like the monarchy, aristocracy, feudalism, church doctrine, etc... basically institutions that superficially gave people (based on their birth or pursuit of religion) power to rule the masses without obligation to act within reason, logic, or in the peoples' best interests. Enlightenment meant that the everyday citizen also had power, respect, and rights. Wikipedia specifically notes Enlightenment principles of nationalism, citizenship, and inalienable rights as permeating the (achieved) goals of the French Revolution. The National Assembly is based on the same principles - it was meant to represent the people and restore France to the French. The effects of the Enlightenment and the National Assembly were positive. The emergence of a democratic nation is an effect. These influences in France's history have positively affected the nation's development as a present-day world leader.
What influenced the rise of nationalism and what effect did it have on reforms and revolutions during the early/mid nineteenth century?
The intellectual and artistic climate of the early 19th century further stimulated the growth of Polish demands for self-government. During these decades, modern nationalism took shape and rapidly developed a massive following throughout the continent, becoming the most dynamic and appealing political doctrine of its time. By stressing the value and dignity of native cultures and languages, nationalism offered a rationale for ethnic loyalty and Romanticism was the artistic element of 19th century European culture that exerted the strongest influence on the Polish national consciousness. The Romantic movement was a natural partner of political nationalism, for it echoed the nationalist sympathy for folk cultures and manifested a general air of disdain for the conservative political order of post-Napoleonic Europe. Under this influence, Polish literature flourished anew in the works of a school of 19th-century Romantic poets, led by Adam Mickiewicz. Mickiewicz concentrated on patriotic themes and the glorious national past. Frédéric Chopin, a leading composer of the century, also used the tragic history of his nation as a major inspiration. Nurtured by these influences, nationalism awoke first among the intelligentsia and certain segments of the nobility, then more gradually in the peasantry. At the end of the process, a broader definition of nationhood had replaced the old class-based "noble patriotism" of Poland.
Consulate
government established in France after the overthrow of the Directory in 1799, with Napoleon as first consul in control of the entire government
