Andrew Wantula French Revolution Outline

How Did the French Revolution Begin?

Definitions

Old Regime: The political and social system that existed in France before the Revolution
of 1789
Estates: The 3 large social classes that made up France. 1st: Clergy of the Catholic
Church, 2nd: Rich Nobles, 3rd: Everyone else (Peasants)
Louis XVI: A weak king that spent all of Frances money on helping America defeat
Britain
Marie Antoinette: Louis queen. Light-headed and heavy-spending, known as Madame
Deficit
Estates-General: An assembly of representatives from all three estates
National Assembly: What the 3rd Estate representatives decided to call themselves when they
decided they wanted to rule themselves, led by Sieyes, the first deliberate act of revolution

Tennis Court Oath: When the 3rd estate delegates were locked out of their meeting
room, the broke into an indoor tennis court and made an oath to stay there until they
drew up a new constitution.
Great Fear: A senseless panic caused by the rumor the nobles were hiring outlaws to
terrorize peasants, this rumor caused widespread riots: burning down manors and even
overthrowing the king and queen.

Questions

Why were members of the Third Estate dissatisfied with life under the Old Regime?
Because they had no power to influence the government and lacked privilege, money,
and food.
How did Louie XVIs weak leadership contribute to the growing crisis in France?
He and his wife spent all of Frances money while stalling any action on the angry 3 rd
estate. His proposed tax on the 2nd estate led to the Estates-General that sparked the
revolution.
How did the purpose of the meeting of the Estates-General in 1789 change?
It was originally to approve a new tax on the 2nd estate but the rebellious 3rd estate
formed the National Assembly and started the revolution.

How Did the Revolution Bring Reform and Terror?

Definitions

Legislative Assembly: The legislative body created by the National Assembly that
stripped the king of most of his powers, including creating laws and declaring war.
migr: Nobles who escaped France and want to undo the revolution and reinstate the
Old Regime.
Sans-Culotte: Parisian workers and shopkeepers who wanted the revolution to bring
even greater changes to France.
Jacobins: A radical political organization that was heavily involved with the revolution
Guillotine: An execution device used by members of the Revolution.
Maximillen Robespierre: A Jacobin that tried to build a republic of virtue, meaning to
wipe out all of Frances past. He became a dictator during the revolution that abolished
religion (including banning Sunday). His rule was known as the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror: Robespierres reign. The committee of public safety was created to
protect France from enemies The majority of people executed were not actually just
nobles but members of the 3rd estate and revolutionaries that were just less radical than
Robespierre.

Questions

What major reforms did the National Assembly introduce?

The Rights of Man (Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression) and a statecontrolled church.
What did the divisions in the Legislative Assembly say about the differences in French
society?
Left wing radicals, Moderates, and Right wing conservatives
How did the Reign of Terror come to an end?
The national convention turned on Robespierre turned on him and had him executed,
leading to the tired people of all classes to create a moderate government called The
Directory.

How did Napoleon Forge an Empire?

Definitions

Napoleon Bonaparte: A military genius, the leader of France from the late 1700s to the
early 1800s.
Coup Dtat: A blow to the state. When Napoleon returned after winning a series of
battles against Austria, Italy, and Britain, he quickly sized political power and dissolved
The Directory.
Plebiscite: A vote of the people to approve a new constitution. Napoleon pretended to
be a constitutionally chosen leader of a free republic but even if the people of France
didnt like him he would still be in power.
Lyce: Government run schools available to men of all backgrounds set up by Napoleon
to find new military officials based on merit rather than family connections.
Concordat: An agreement signed by Napoleon with Pope Pius VII establishing a new
relationship between church and state where the government recognized the church
but did not allow the church to have control in national affairs. Made Napoleon wellliked by both the church and the French people.
Napoleonic Code: Napoleons comprehensive set of laws that removed many injustices
but limited liberty and promoted authority over individual rights. It also reversed
positive changes that occurred during the revolution and removed free speech and
restored slavery in the Caribbean. It also allowed Napoleon to crown himself emperor
and when he did, he took his crown from the popes hands and put it on by himself,
symbolizing the rise of the state over the church.
Battle of Trafalgar: The only major battle Napoleon has ever lost, a navy defeat against
the British that ensured the supremacy of the British navy until World War 1 and forced
Napoleon to change his plans of invading Britain.

Questions

How did Napoleon become a hero in France?

He became a hero as a young officer by using his cannon skills to defend the National
Convention against loyalists. Then later won a series of battles as the leader of the
French army.
What did Napoleon consider his greatest triumph in domestic policy?
The Napoleonic Code
How was Napoleon able to control the countries neighboring the French Empire?
He had puppet rulers in Spain, Warsaw, and the German Kingdoms. He also had loose
alliances with Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

How did the Napoleons Empire Collapse?

Definitions

Blockade: A forcible closing of ports.

Continental System: What Napoleon called his blockade against Great Britain and other
European islands, which he said would make continental Europe more self-sufficient, as
well as destroy Britains economy.
Guerilla: Spanish peasant fighters that fought the French using stealth tactics after
Napoleon tried to conquer Spain and get Portugal to join the Continental System.
Peninsular War: The battle between Spain (With Britains assistance) and France where
Napoleon suffered a crippling loss of 300,000 men. This defeat also caused other
nations conquered by France such as Germany and Italy to rebel against the French.
Scorched-Earth Policy: When Frances ally Russia refused to stop selling grain to Britain,
Napoleon decided to invade and the Russian soldiers retreated, but not before killing all
the livestock and burning all the crops along the way, leaving the French troops to
starve.
Waterloo: A Belgium village where the Battle of Waterloo took place.
Hundred Days: After Napoleon was removed from power and exiled to the island of
Elba after failing in Russia, he escaped and returned to France and was met by adoring
crowds, being quickly made emperor again. This made all of the European allies against
France angry and they fought at the Belgium village of Waterloo. The combined might of
Prussia and Britain overpowered the French army and Napoleon was exiled again to a
remote island called St. Helena. The events leading up to, including and after the Battle
of Waterloo are called the Hundred Days.

Questions

How did Great Britain combat Napoleons naval blockade?

British smugglers brought cargo into and out of Europe and the British navy made an
even stronger blockade of their own.
Why did Napoleon have trouble fighting the enemy forces in the Peninsular War?
Because the guerrillas did not use traditional army tactics and instead ambushed the
French army in small groups then fled into hiding.
Why was Napoleons delay of the retreat from Moscow such a great blunder?
Because by the time he left winter was already coming and he was slowed down and
weakened by the snow and low temperatures.

How did The Congress of Vienna Repair Europe?

Definitions

Congress of Vienna: A series of meetings in Vienna by various European countries with

the intent of creating continent wide peace and stability after the defeat of Napoleon.
Klemens von Metternich: The foreign minister of Austria that was the most influential
of all of the representatives at the Congress of Vienna.
Balance of Power: What Metternich wanted in Europe where no country would be a
threat to another.
Legitimacy: The principle of restoring the power of as many rulers driven out by
Napoleon as possible.
Holy Alliance: The alliance between Russia, Austria, and Prussia where the agreed to
base all of their relations with other countries on Christian principles to combat
revolution.
Concert of Europe: A series of alliances devised by Metternich that ensured that the
nations would help each other of revolution broke out.

Questions

What were the three points of Metternichs plan for Europe?

1. Prevent future acts aggression by France, 2. Restore a balance of powers, 3.
Reinstate leaders removed by Napoleon (Legitimacy)
Why was The Congress of Vienna considered such a success?
Because all three of Metternichs points succeed.
What was the long term legacy of The Congress of Vienna?
The power of France was diminished, Nationalism spread, and more and more people
saw Democracy as the strongest option for an equal and just government.