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French Revolution
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King Louis XVI marries Marie Antoinette
Their marriage was political and they liked to spend too much money. -
King Louis XVI calls an estates general
He needs to fix the economy and appease his people so he wants to propose a nobility tax at the estates-general. this does not go well. -
3rd Estate breaks away
The 3rd estate is locked out of the estates general so they make the Tennis Court Oath agreeing that a new constitution be created. This creates the national assembly. -
Storming of the Bastille
Peasant storm the Bastille prison looking for weapons. This creates the Great Fear: a wave of senseless panich thorughtout France. Peasants terrorize nobles and food prices rise and riots happen and everyone goes crazy. -
The beginning of having many new governments
The king has lost his power. The Legislative Assembly create laws and handle wars. Then the National Convention creates a republic of France but is soon taken over by the Jacobins who kill Louis XVI. Maximilion Robespierre, leader of the Comittee of Public Safety, start his reign of terror before he dies by guillotine. Then the Directory is created and has a two house legislature, and gives power to the upper middle class. These governments rule France until Napoleon comes along. -
Napoleon's Coup d'etat
Napoleon siezes power from the Directory in a bloodless coup. He creastes many things like the Plebiscite: a vote of the people, which allowed people to vote on creating a new constitution. The Lycees: government ruln public schools. The concordat: an agreement with the Pope, Roman Catholic church was church of France, but not in control. And the Napoleonic Code: a comprehensive system of laws that limited liverties and promoted authority over rights but wasn't that bad. -
Napoleon crown himself emperor
He crowns himself emperor of France. He does the Louisiana Purchase with America and signs peace treaties with Russia, Austria and Sweden but not Britain. -
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was fought by the Straight of Gibralter off the coast of Spain and was Napoleons first major loss. This battle showed that Britain had the strongest navy and that Napoleon was failing to defeat Britain on all fronts. -
Blockade
Napoleon creates the Continental System to embargo Britain. It doesn't work too well and he loses control of the countries under his rule. -
Napoleon invades Russia
Russia was trading with Britain so Napoleon invaded. The Russians adopted the scorched-earth policy where they burned fields and killed animals so as to leave nothing for the invading army. Napoleon underestimated them and the Russian winter so lost almost all of his men. -
Exiled
Napoleon is exiled to Elba. -
Return
The people are unhappy with their ruler after Napoleon leaves so he comes back and they rally to him. He then performs another bloodless coup. -
100 Days
Napoleon raises and army and attacks Prussian and British troop massing near France. -
Waterloo and Exile
The Prussian and British troop defeat Napoleon and he is again exiled where he dies after six years on St. Helena. -
The Congress of Vienna
The countries of Europe gathered to decide what to do with France. This prompted everyone to work together and this created 40 years of stability in Europe.