French Revolution (5 magg 1789 anni – 9 nov 1799 anni)

Descrizione:

TLDR: the French Revolution was a period of time in France when the people overthrew the monarchy and took control of the government. The revolution came to an end 1799 when a general named Napoleon overthrew the revolutionary government and established the French Consulate (with Napoleon as leader).



Revolution and context:
Fiscal crisis leads to an estates general meeting, in which the reps and allies of the lower class (third state) form the "National Assembly".

Louis attempts to confront National Assembly with armed forces, but people of Paris intervene (bad harvests (1785)-->higher prices-->hungry and anger lower class)

Peasants uprisings ensue across country, sacking manors and destroying documents of their obligations

In response, the National Assembly ends the feudal system, ending traditional labor. They also draft a constitution, with lots of similarities to that of the U.S.

(economic crisis worsens)

At first many European monarchs welcomed the weakening of the french king, but in 1791 Austria and Prussia threatened to intervene to support the monarchy

Legislative Assembly declares war
Although French did badly at first, people across France supported the wars
This caused many volunteer armies to form mobilizing national resources

August 10, 1792:
Failed efforts by king to escape France→ popularity decline
Crowd invades palace, forcing king to seek protection of Legislative Assembly
Assembly suspends his authority and imprisons him

Effects: led to new form of legislative body: the National Convention+created a political environment where competing political factions used rumors+plots+conspiracies to justify violence against enemies

Radical rule and terror:
Counterrevolutionary threats caused uprisings in September, killing many prisoners
Newly elected National Convention joins and executes Louis XVI due to popular passion and fear of conspiracy (1793)
Now nearly all of Europe’s powers ally against France

Mountains=radical Jacobins. More sympathetic to working class+less patient with parliamentary procedure

Maximilien Robespierre dominated the Mountain. Used popular press+political clubs to forge an alliance with the working Parisian class, and used political power to execute his enemies in the National Convention and to restructure govt.

Placed executive power in hands of Committee of Public Safety-->find+punish enemies of revolution

Reign of Terror (1793-1794) ensued by Robespierre and his allies after being faced with rebellion

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), a young general, seized power in 1799. He sought to dominate Europe while providing protection for people+property at home.

Napoleon declared himself emperor and France an empire in 1804

While re-establishing order, Napoleon system denied and limited many individual rights (free speech limited, criticism of government proscribed, opposition newspapers banished)

No other forces able to defeat them- Austria and Persia both defeated and became allies of France

Only Britain with its powerful navy able to thwart plans to dominate Europe

Frustrated by economy+Iberian peninsula, Napoleon decided to invade Russia in 1812
Began campaign with largest army assembled in Europe (600,000 men)

Captured Moscow but Russian winter+attacks from Russian forces destroyed army during retreat

After Russia, Austria and Prussia left Napoleon and entered alliance with England

In 1814, Napoleon abdicated the throne and was exiled to Elba




Victorious allies restore French monarchy (1814). France now divided by people who support intellectual freedom and political rights (revolutionists) and Bonapartists who want public order and national glory

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