French Revolution and Napoleon

  • The Dutch Patriot Revolt

    The Dutch Patriot Revolt
    Peasants revolted against prince of Orange-- these people were called Patriots. They wanted to limit the prince's power. They also wanted democracy, and they send out pamphlets and cartoons and started clubs and societies.
  • Belgian Independence Movement

    Belgian Independence Movement
    Austrian Emperor Joseph II tried to enforce Enlightenment ideals. He abolished tortue, reinstated religious toleration (for Jews and Protestants since Belgium was Catholic), and surpressed monasteries. People didn't like these reforms, so they revolted.
  • The Fall of Bastille

    The Fall of Bastille
    In this event, the peasants revolted against the government. They did this by attacking a prison (named Bastille), which represented royalty. Through the loss of hundreds of peasant lives, they got the prison to surrender. This led peasants to revolt more often and for the government to crumble.
  • End of Feudalism

    End of Feudalism
    Noble deputies decided to give up tax exemptions and seigneurial dues. This ended the feudal system because it freed the remaining serfs and eliminated all special privileges in matters of tax on the land.
  • Ending of the National Constituent Assembly

    Ending of the National Constituent Assembly
    They had finally created a constitution, and so it had to come to an end. The next say the constitution was published, and for the most part, started France on the way to a fair democracy.
  • Polish Patriots

    Polish Patriots
    This revolt was led by King Stislaw August Pontiatowski against the monarchy led by Catherine the Great. Peasants revolted because they were unhappy with the government. It created the Polish Constitution.
  • Rights of Women of 1791

    Rights of Women of 1791
    Olympe de Gouges played on the language of the official Declataion to mkae the point that women should also be included. She said that women should have equal rights to porperty and public office, and equal responisbility in taxes and criminal punishment.
  • Food Riots

    Food Riots
    Starting in January, France was having many problems with food. There was a food shortage. Plus, there was a ton of inflation at that time, making it nearly impossible for peasants to buy food. This continued until March, and made peasants extremely angry. Peasants began to revolt.
  • Declaration of War on Austria

    Declaration of War on Austria
    The Legislative Assembly of France declared war on Austria. It was in public opinion that war was wanted. Some wanted war to unite France, others wanted it because they knew it would defeat the new government and make Louis the King once again. However, some were wrong. France didn't do so well at first, but they won in the end.
  • War with Austria and Prussia

    War with Austria and Prussia
    On April 21st, King Louis XVI of France declared war on Austria and Prussia. The french soldiers were completely unprepared. They got angry, and revolted against the royalty.
  • Second Revolution against King Louis XVI

    Second Revolution against King Louis XVI
    After the first revolution ending with the revolters being threatened that if the King got hurt they would be hurt, a group formed called the sans-culottes. These were men that worked with their hands and wore long trousers rather than the knee breeches of the upper classes. They attacked the Tuileries palace, the residence of the King. This caused the monarchy to fall
  • September Massacres

    September Massacres
    News reached Paris that the Duke of Brunswick invaded France, and that Prussia was quickly approaching Paris. Groups of sans-culottes killed many of the priests in jails that were kept there because they opposed the revolution. They went from prison to prison killing everyone that they could within the prisons.
  • Declaration of the First French Republic

    Declaration of the First French Republic
    This took place after the monarchy ended. They had already created a constitution, which they ended up changing in 1795. On September 22nd, they finally declared the first french republic.
  • Louis XVI is Sentenced to Death

    Louis XVI is Sentenced to Death
    King Louis XVI of France was found guilty of treason; however, the National convention had to vote whether to kill him because of it or not. They chose to kill him be a very narrow majority, and he was sentenced to the guillotine.
  • War in the Vendée

    War in the Vendée
    This was a rebellion that took place in Vendée, France, during the revolution. People were persecuting the clergy, plus the peasants were required to join the army against their will because they couldn't pay not to. They were very upset and rebelled to the point were the government couldn't control it.
  • Civil War in France

    Civil War in France
    The killing of Marat led to all Girondin deputies being arrested. This started an uprising. The peasants, artisans, and weavers joined under nobel leadership to form a Catholic and Royal army. It was between town and country for the most part.
  • Committee of Public Safety

    Committee of Public Safety
    The National Convention created a sector of 12 people called the Public Safety Committee. They were in charge of setting the course for the government and the war. Maxaimilien Robespierre became the leader because he wanted stopgap measures to protect citizens.
  • The Killing of an Innocent Deputy

    The Killing of an Innocent Deputy
    Long bread lines in the ctiies exhausted the patience of women. Also, the prices of food kept increasing and food shortages became more common. One young woman, Charlotte Corday, couldn't handle it anymore. She supported the Girondins, and she considered it her patriotic duty to kill the deputy who, in the comumns of his paper, had constantly demanded more heads and more blood; this was Jean-Paul Marat. She was sent to the guillotine and he was a martyr.
  • Start of the Reign of Terror

    Start of the Reign of Terror
    In this battle, it was between the Girondins and the Jacobins. The Nobles didn't want a revolution because it would take away their rights. The clergy didn't want a revolution because the Roman Catholic Church was highly against it. The peasants, however, were so fed up with poverty and social equality (or lack thereof) that they revolted with the guillotine as their main go to point.
  • National Convention Creates New Calender

    National Convention Creates New Calender
    The National Convention introduced a new calender to replace the Christian one. Its bases were reasons and republican principles. The names on the calender derived from those of nature.
  • Queen Marie Antoinette impeached

    Queen Marie Antoinette impeached
    Queen Marie Antionette was impeached on charges of treachery against the country. She is ordered to be executed at the place of the revolution.
  • France abolishes slavery

    France abolishes slavery
    Thinking with their new Enlightenment ideals, France decided to respect the idea of human rights. They abolished slavery in their American territories.
  • New Laws passed under new government

    New Laws passed under new government
    After the monarchy was destroyed, the new government took over--the National Convention. They created a new law pthat denied the accused the reight of legal counsel. It also reduced the number of jurors necessary for conviction, and allowed only 2 judgements: acquittal or death. This led to a stronger terror, and eventually to a more bloody revolution (because of the guillotine).
  • Robespierre begins another uprising

    Robespierre begins another uprising
    Robespierre came to the National Convention with another list of deputies to be arrested. Many feared they would be na,ed. An armed uprising led by the Paris government failed to save Robespierre when most of the National Guard took the side of the convention. Robespierre, after trying to kill himself, was sentenced to the guillotine.
  • War of Liberation

    War of Liberation
    The French invaded the Austrian Netherlands and crossed the Rhine river in the summer under Emperor Napolean Bonaparte. Most people were actually excited to see the French--they organized Jacobin Clubs that attracted locals and in them they petitioned for annexation to France.
  • National Convention makes changes

    National Convention makes changes
    The National Convention formally abolsiehd savery and granted full rights to all black men in the colonies. These actions ahd the desired effect. The ablest black generals allied with the Spanish.
  • Thermidorian Reaction

    Thermidorian Reaction
    As most of the instruments of terror were dismantled, they new government released hundreds of suspects and arranged a temporary truce in the Vendée. The government purped Jacobins from local bodies and replaced them with thier opponents. The new leaders abolisihed the Revoluntionary Tribunal and closed the Jacobin club in Paris.
  • Constitution of 1795

    Constitution of 1795
    This constitution was ratified by the National Convention of France during the French Revolution. It began the control of Napoleon Bonaparte. They disregarded the Constitution of 1793, and made this one much more conservative. It focused on taxes, bicameral laws, and a directory with five men.
  • Treaty of Campo Formio

    This was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Austrian monarchy. It stated that Napoleon had victory in Italy. It transferred all Austrian property to France, while giving Italy to France. It was a redo of the Treaty of Leoben, which had failed for disagreement purposes.
  • Napoleon attempts to take over Egypt

    Napoleon attempts to take over Egypt
    Napoleon needed Egypt. This was because it was a huge help to Great Britain: it gave them many supplies and traded with them, and it gave them access to India. He also wanted it so he could profit from their trade. Although it was a good fight, Napoleon eventually loses, and in Syria as well.
  • Abolition of the Constitution of 1795

    Abolition of the Constitution of 1795
    The war in Europe was going badly. Most troops were more loyal to their generals than to France. Napoleon came back to France and demanded they change the Constitution. They did, and they abolished the directory and established a new three man executive called the consulate. One of the men included Bonaparte.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte takes control

    In 1799, a young general took over the French repbulic and set France on a new course. This general was Napoleon Bonaparte. He had effectively ended the French Revolution and steered France toward and authoritarian state. He wanted the European integration in the tradition of Augutus and Charlemaggne, but he also masterred the details of practical administration.
  • The End of the Republic

    The End of the Republic
    The constitution of 1799 made Napoleon theFirst consol with the right to pick the Council of State which drew up all laws. He exerted control by choosing men loyal to him. Government was no longer representative in any real sense. There were no direct elections and no independent powers.
  • Battle of Marengo

    Battle of Marengo
    In this Battle, Austria invades Italy. Napoleon goes to defend his territory. France eventually wins, which was important for two reasons: One, Napoleon was just declared First Consul, so it looked good on his record towards becoming Emperor. Second, it helped push Austria out of Italy and show that France was militarily dominate.
  • Attempted Assassination of Napoleon

    Attempted Assassination of Napoleon
    This was one of the first attempts on Napoleon's life. A bomb went off on his carriage. It was a failed attempt. This was a royalist plot, which was actually blamed on the Jacobins because of Joseph Fouché. More than 800 of the Jacobins were deported or imprisoned.
  • Church-State Conflict Ended

    Church-State Conflict Ended
    A concordat with Pope Pius VII ended a decade of church-state conflict in France. The pop validated all sales of church lands, and the government aggreed to pay the salaries of bishops and priests who would swear loyalty to the state. Catholicism was officially recognized as the religion of the French citizens.
  • Napoleon reforms education

    Napoleon reforms education
    Napoleon is given a lot of credit for the education system in France. He put a huge emphasis on education throughout his reign because he believed it was important for success. in 1802 was his first noticeable move. He set up many elementary schools, and grammar schools. He set up high schools in important cities only. He created the University of France and gave teachers a stricter path to becoming a teacher. Also, he put schools under control of the government.
  • Napoleon names himself First Consul for life

    Napoleon names himself First Consul for life
    After his attempted assassination, Napoleon was very skeptical. He ordered his police to kidnap Louis-Antoine-Henri. He claimed that he had organized the plot against him. After Henri's assassination, Napoleon's political intentions became clear, and he named himself First Consul for life.
  • Genius of Christianity

    Genius of Christianity
    This was a book written by Chateubriand. In his view, Napoleon had not properly understoon the need to defend the Christians values against the Enlightment's excessive reliance on reason. He wanted to draw attnetion to the power and mustery of faith.
  • France Sells Land to the US

    France needed money. They sold the US their only part of land owned there. It was about 640 acres of land, and France sold it for about 6 cents and acre. It helped them a little with their financial troubles, but lost them valuable/resourceful land in the New World.
  • Napoleon becomes Emperor of France

    Napoleon becomes Emperor of France
    Napoleon was already first Consul. All he needed was the Pope's blessing to become emperor. He crowned himself in 1804. Once again, Plebiscites approved his decisions, but no alternatives were offered. All hopes for a republic or a democracy were ruined.
  • Civil Code

    Civil Code
    Napoleon wanted a new legal code, partly because he personally presided over the commission that drafted the new Civil Code. It was also called the Napoleonic Code. It reassured the Old Regime's partriarchal system of male domination over women and insisted on fahter's control over his children.
  • Napoleon is crowned

    Napoleon is crowned
    After Napoleon conquered Italy, Napoleon named himself King. He was crowned with the Iron crown of Lombardy in Milan.
  • Battles against Austria

    Battles against Austria
    Napoleon remained invincible on land only. Austria took up arms again when Napoleon demanded that it declare neutrality in the conflict with Britain. Napoleon quickly captured 25 thousand austrain soldiers, and then marched on to Vienna. France was joined by their new ally, Russia. They defeated Austria in the battle of Austerlitz.
  • The Confederation of Rhine

    The Confederation of Rhine
    Napoleon created the Confederation of Rhine, which soon included almost all the German states exceot Austria and Prussia. At this point, Italy had not been so unified since the Roman Empire.
  • Continental System

    Continental System
    This was established by Napoleon. It prohibited all commerce between Great Birtain and France or France's dependent states and allies. The system worked at first extensively dropping manufacturing and exports. France did this because the British ruled the seas and financed anyone who would oppse Napoleon.
  • Anne-Louse-Germaine de Stael

    Anne-Louse-Germaine de Stael
    Napoleon aimed to modernize French society through science, but he could not tolerate critism. He considered Anne useless because she was a very feminist writer. She wrote Corinne (1807) to show a women thwarted by a patriarchal system. On Germnay (1810) was written on an account of the important new literary currents east of the Rhine. Both books were banned by Napoleon.
  • France invades Portugal

    France invades Portugal
    Napoleon sent troops through Spain to invade Portugal. Portugal at the time was a huge ally of Great Britain. The royal family fled to Brazil. He won this battle and took over both Spain and Portugal.
  • Napoleon's Empire

    Napoleon's Empire
    Building on innovations introduced by the republican governments before him, Napoleon revolutionized the art of war with tactics and strategy based on a highly mobile army. He ruled a European empire more extensive than any since Ancient Rome. Yet that empire had already begun to crumble, and with it went Napoleon's power at home.
  • Invasion of Russia

    Invasion of Russia
    Napoleon, attempting to gain even more land, invaded Russia (their ally). He used unusual strategy of trying to strike quickly, but the Russian generals just moved eastward destroying anything useful to France. France lacked supplies, and eventually began their retreat. He lost this invasion, many troops and horses, and his closest/strongest ally.
  • The Battle of Nations

    The Battle of Nations
    After Napoleon invaded and lost in Russia, Russia joined an alliance with Britain. They decided to attack Napoleon right outside of Leipzig in October of 1813. One by one, his German generals left him to defend himself. Napoleon lost.
  • Decisive Battle of Napoleon Bonaparte

    Decisive Battle of Napoleon Bonaparte
    This battle took place at Waterloo. Napoleon's forces attacked the duke of Wellington's men. Late in the afternoon, the Prussians arrived and the rout was complete. Napoleon had no choice but to abdicate again. This time, he was permanently banished to a remote island called St. Helena.