French+Revolution+and+Enlightenment

1789-1815

"Let them eat cake!" -- Marie Antoinette "People, I die innocent!" -- King Louis XVI

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====**The French Revolution and Napoleon's Era occurred from 1789 - 1815. The year 1789 experienced two major events. These two events were the beginning of the United States of America and the French Revolution. The period before the year 1789 was known as the Old Regime. At this time the French were divided into three social classes. These social classes were known as the Three Estates. The First Estate was made up of the clergy and they were exempt from paying taxes. The Second Estate was made up of nobles and army officers. This social class was also exempt from paying taxes. The Third Estate was also called the commoners of society. This class made up 97% of France's population. Unlike the First and Second Estate, this class was required to pay taxes. Eventually financial crisis set in and the French Revolution shortly followed.**==== ====**The French Revolution was more complex, violent, and more radical than the American Revolution. The purpose of the French Revolution was to form a new political order and a new social order. This was a turning point for the political and social history of Europe. There were five main causes of the Revolution. The first reason was economic crisis. Unemployment was common, inflation went up 60%, and there were food shortages such as bread. The next reason was an unfair social structure. The Bourgeoisie wanted more political power and this caused some tension. Next was a tax reform called by the Third Estate. Another cause of the Revolution was debt after the American Revolution. This caused France's debt to double and be on the verge of bankruptcy. The last cause was the ideals of teh Enlightenment. The French Revolution has had a large impact on lives today. It was become a model for revolution in the modern world and has spread principles of liberty and equality. Many people and countries use these principles today. When the Revolution was taking place, a new great leader was born.**==== ====**Napoleon** **Bonaparte ruled from 1799 - 1815. He was born on the island Corsica in 1769. When he was younger, he quickly showed his skills in the French Army and became Captain in 1792. Napoleon wasn't liked by a lot of his fellow officers because he was short, he had no money, and dhe spoke with an Italian accent. However this didn't stop him one bit. When he was twenty four he became a brigadier general and in 1796 a commander of the French armies in Italy. Some tactics that gave him and his armies success were speed, deception, and surprise. Napoleon's men were very confident in him. He had high energy, charm, and was great about making quick decisions. These traits along with others gained him much support. These traits also struck fear and intimidation into the eyes of his enemies. Napoleon today remains oen of the greatest generals in history.**====

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 * __Terms:__**
 * 1) **Sans-culottes**- ordinary patriots without fine clothes, they wore long trousers instead of wearing knee length breaches, this means “without breeches”
 * 2) **Factions**- they were dissenting groups, and the most important were the Girodins, and the mountain, both were members of the Jacobin club
 * 3) **Coup d’ etat**- this is a sudden overthrow of the government, this one was led by a successful and popular general Napoleon Bonaparte
 * 4) **Bourgeoisie**- meaning “middle class” was about 8% of the population that included merchants bankers, industrialists, and professional people such as lawyers and holders of public office
 * 5) **Bastille**- was a royal armory filled with arms and ammunition that was also a state prison, the Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of Paris during the Hundred Year War.
 * 6) **Grapeshot**- a cluster of small iron balls, was used to shoot condemned people into their grave, when assembled the balls resembled a cluster of grapes
 * 7) **Royalists**- they desired the restoration of the monarchy as well as radicals, they were also unhappy with the turn towards moderation
 * 8) **Taille**- Frances chief tax, the First estate and the second estate which were the clergy, Noble men, and the Army officers did not have to pay this, only the third estate which was the poorest estate had to pay this.
 * 9) **Girdondins**- they represented the provinces, areas outside the cities, they feared radical mobs in Paris and leaned toward keeping the king alive
 * 10) **Jacobin**- This was a club, it was a large network of political groups throughout France, the Factions were also a part of this group
 * 11) **Reign of Terror**- Revolutionary courts were set up to prosecute internal enemies of the revolution republic, there were close to 40,000 people that were killed
 * 12) **Electors**- these were the few that were qualified to vote in an election, these were the people that choose the two legislative bodies
 * 13) **Republic of Virtue**- this was a democratic republic composed of good citizens, in the new French Republic, the titles “citizen” and “citizeness” was replaced with “mister” and “Madame.”
 * 14) **Council of 500**- was known as the lower house, which initiated legislation, it was one of two chambers that the constitution of 1795 established in a national legislative assembly
 * 15) **The Directory**- Together with the legislature, ruled, it was an era of corruption and graft, People reacted against the sufferings and sacrifices that had been demanded in the Reign of Terror

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__**10 Links:**__
 * 1) [|The French Revolution]- This links discusses the what happened during this era and some of the causes and effects.
 * 2) [|Exploration if the French Revolution]- This site is about the liberty, equality, and fraternity that had happened during this era and how it effected the culture.
 * 3) [|The Victorian Web]- This website explains when this era started and ended and what had happened during this time including several dates that events had happened.
 * 4) [|Economic Crisis]- In the link, the main topic discussed is the economic differences in this era and how those changes made an effect on the society.
 * 5) [|History]- This link gives a brief overview about this era and shows videos about topics including the bastille and Louis XVI.
 * 6) [|French Revolution]- This webpage gives you a list of topics from this era including the dates and also different sites you can go to to find further information on the specific topic.
 * 7) [|Essential Facts]- This page gives you a brief summary of this era and also includes essential facts that can give you a better understanding of what happened during this time.
 * 8) [|Storming of the Bastille]- This site is all about the bastille and what is was, who was in charge during it, and many other facts about this part of the era.
 * 9) [|Louis XVI]-In this biography about Louis XVI, it alks about many different facts about him including what he did during his reign, his birthday, and much more information.
 * 10) [|Maximilen Robespierre]- In this history website, it talks about all the information to know about Robespierre such as when he was born and died, what difference did he make, and several other facts.


 * __People:__**
 * 1) **Napoleon Bonaparte**- Called the “Good Emperor” Stopped the invasion, is a French hero, he took control of France and said, “ The Revolution is over I am the Revolution”
 * 2) **King Louis XVI**- 1774-1792, the French Revolution occurred while he was in control, he was married to Queen Marie Antoinette or “Madame Deficit”
 * 3) **Maximilian Robespierre**- “The Incorruptible” He was one of the most important French revolutionary leaders, he received a law degree and later became a member of the National Convention
 * 4) **Jean Paul Marat**-“The Friend of the People”, he wrote the peoples Friend, which was the newspaper of the revolution, the paper talked about the revolution and started drama, and he was killed in his bath tub where he spent most of his time.
 * 5) **Anne-Louise-Germaine de Stael**- she was a prominent writer of the revolution and Napoleonic eras in France, she established a salon for the powerful that lasted from 1790 until 1804
 * 6) **Olympe de Gouges**- she was a woman who wrote plays and pamphlets, she refused to accept this exclusion of women from political rights
 * 7) **Jean-Paul Marat**- He was part of the reaction against the Reign of Terror, they formed the “golden youth”, which were gangs of young men who attacked Jacobins
 * 8) **Marc-Antoine Julian**- at 18 he had been an assistant to Robespierre, he was hunted down and put in prison after Robespierre was killed
 * 9) **Charlotte Corday**- she is the woman that stabbed Marat when he was in his bath tub, she said “I killed on man to save 100,000”
 * 10) **George Danton**- he was a writer and the Minister of Justice, he was part of the Jacobins, but was neither Girondists nor a Montaged. He was a member of the Committee of Public Safety, and was guillotined.

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