Chapter 23 Notes: French Revolution and Napoleon

Chapter 23 Notes: French Revolution and Napoleon
Section 1: Revolution Threatens the French King
_______________________
• The clergy of the Roman Catholic church form the 1 st Estate
• The 2 nd Estate consists of rich nobles (the aristocracy)
• The other 98% of the people make up the 3 rd Estate.
_______________________
• New ideas about the power of the people take hold.
• Poor harvest, heavy taxes, and govt. debt cause instability in France.
• Louis XVI finally calls a meeting of the Estates-General to deal with the crisis.
•
Conditions Present Before a Revolution Occurs:
1. People from all social classes are ______________________.
2. People feel restless & held down by the unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, the economy
or the govt.
3. People are hopeful about the future but they are being forced to accept less than they hoped for.
4. People are beginning to think of themselves as part of a social class…a growing ‘bitterness’ begins
to separate the classes.
5. The _________________ closest to one another are often the most hostile …i.e. –the middle class is
the most hostile to the _______________ (right above them)
6. The _________________________ ‘give up’ on the way their society operates.
7. The govt. does not respond to the needs of their society.
8. The leaders of the govt. and the ruling class being to doubt themselves…some join with the opposition
forces.
9. The govt. is unable to get enough support from any one group to save itself.
10. The govt. cannot organize its finances correctly & is either going bankrupt or trying to tax too heavily
& unjustly.
Revolution Dawns
• Third Estate delegates in the Estates General demand ______________________
• In the 1 st deliberate act of revolution – the 3 rd Estate delegates vote to establish the
____________________________.
• Peasants overthrow the ______________ (prison) on July 14, 1789, bringing about the
beginning of Revolution in France.
Section 2: Revolution begins Reform and Terror
The Assembly Reforms France:
• The National Assembly sweeps away the privileges of the nobility & clergy.
– They are forced to pay _______________ taxes
– No more special exemptions from elections – all clergy employees of the state
• The state takes control of the ______________________________________.
• ________________ fails in his attempt to flee from France –is captured, put on trial and
beheaded in the ____________________.
The Terror Grips France
• Maximilien Robespierre gains control of the government
• Robespierre & his supporters try to wipe out every trace of the French nobility
• Robespierre institutes the ____________________, a time of thousands of arbitrary executions

• More than 2100 people are executed during the Terror – the largest group is from the Third
Estate: the very group Robspierre claimed to want to ‘protect’
Section 3: Napoleon Forges an Empire
Napoleon Grasps the Power
• Napoleon wins key battles to save the French Republic
• Napoleon then seizes political control of the Directory (The French government of the time)
• Napoleon’s successes in battle lead to peace in Europe
Goals of the Revolution:
• __________________ – equal taxation and lower inflation
• _____________________ – Less govt. corruption & equal opportunity in govt.
• _____________________ – Less control by the Roman Catholic Church Religious tolerance
Napoleon’s Actions:
• ________________ – Sets up fairer tax code, national bank, stabilized currency & gives state
loans to businesses
• ____________________________ –Appt. govt. officials, fired corrupt officials, created the
lycee’s and the Napoleonic Code (laws)
• _____________ – Recognized Catholicism as faith of Frenchmen, signed a concordat with the
Pope, retained seized church lands
Results:
• Economy: Equal taxes & stable economy
• Govt & Society: Honest officials, equal opportunity. In govt, public education
• Religion: Tolerance, govt control of church lands, govt recognition of church influence.
Section 4: Napoleon Empire Collapses
Napoleon’s ________________ Costly Mistakes
• Napoleon unsuccessfully attempts to cut off trade between England and other European
nations.
• The Peninsular War in Spain inflames Spanish nationalism and weakens France
• The French invasion of Russia fails – with a terrible loss of life.
Napoleon’s Downfall
• All the other main powers of Europe unite against a weakened Napoleon
• Napoleon’s army is defeated and his enemies march through Paris.
• Napoleon surrenders and is banished to the island of Elba (off the coast of Italy)
• Napoleon escapes and briefly regains power until he is defeated by the British/Prussian forces at
Waterloo.
Section 5: Congress of Vienna Convenes
Metternich restores Stability
• Metternich leads Europe’s leaders to restore stability
• France is kept intact and a balance of power is restored to Europe
• Rulers deposed by Napoleon were restored to power
• The Congress of Vienna makes fair settlements and produces a lasting peace
Political Changes Beyond Vienna
• The Congress of Vienna represents a victory for conservatives
• A series of alliances – the Concert of Europe is set up to help nations in case of internal disputes
• Latin American colonies revolt against Spanish rule
• Nationalism grows and democratic ideals take hold in Europe.