The French Revolution and Napoleon Flashcards
What is the meaning of revolution
Struggle for a complete / radical change by overthrowing the old political system
When and where did revolutions happened?
Europe and America in the 18th-19th century
Why do revolutions happen? (big + 3small + conclu)
Discontent with government / criticism against government
Autocratic government , absolute monarchs , foreign rulers
Corrupt and inefficient government
Social inequality, social and economic sufferings of the people
=No rights as in a feudal system
main reason of French Revolution (hint: 2)
Influence of the Enlightenment and the American revolution
Problems of the French government
What was Europe ruled by?
What does it believe in?
Absolute monarch
Divine right of kings
What is enlightenment?
An intellectual movement started by educated Europeans (French)
What does enlightenment promote 3
Basic human rights
Equality before law / rule of law
Popular sovereignty (rule with consent of people)
How does enlightenment threaten the ruler
People would take up arms against tyranny, as they believe in their right to revolt against tyranny
Tyranny
A government in which a ruler or a small group of people have absolute power and exercise the power cruelly and unjustly
How American revolution led to French Revolution
The success showed that common people can overthrow a tyranny and set up a democratic government
Financial support
Political problems of French government (hint: 1 pt 1 conclu)
Louis xvi was not interested in politics and his ministers made all the decisions
Inefficient and corrupt government
Financial problems of French government (3 pt 1 conclu)
Louis xvi needed money for entertainment-> taxes ( new land tax)
Luxurious life of the queen Marie Antoinette and the court
Louis xiv-> participation in foreign wars leads to heavy military expenditure
Bankrupt of government
Social problems of the French government 2 pt 1 conclu
Serious inflation and unemployment
Poor harvest and starvation
Failed to address the social problems faced by the people
Was there social inequality in French (18th century
Describe the situation
Power and wealth were concentrated in a privileged minority (first second estate)
Majority of the population suffered and did not have rights
King in French society 3
Unlimited rights
Largest landowners
Exempted from most of the taxes
First estate 3
Clergy
Best position in government and army
Exempted from most of the taxes
Second estate 3
Nobility
No political power
Wealthy
Third estate 2
Bourgeoisie
City workers
Peasant
Suffered the most from heavy taxation 75% of income
two events leading to french revolution
meeting of the estates-general
the tennis court oath
what is estates-general
french parliament to discuss financial or political matters
why dud louis xvi called a meeting of estates-general
urgent problem: financial difficulties
what is the motion of the meeting of estate-general
nobles and clergy should pay taxes
How did the estates-general meeting ended?
the third estate thought the one-estate-one-vote system was unfair
the third estate withdrew from the meeting
why was the one-estate-one-vote system unfair
the privileged classes would always vote against the majority of population
What did the third estate set up after withdrawing from the estates-general meeting?
national assembly
what did the national assembly do 3
represent the people
protect people’s right
participate in law-making process
what did the people of third estate do in the tennis court
swore they would not give up until they had drawn up a constitution for France
what does a constitution do 2
limit the power of the ruler
ensure the basic natural rights of people
what does the tennis court oath show?
the determination of the people to create a constitutional government for France
what does people of paris attacking the bastille leads to
french revolution
what does bastille symbolize? why
tyranny
political prisoners were kept there
why did parisians marched on to the bastille
louis xvi planned to send in troops to dissolve the national assembly
when is the french national day? why
14th july
day of storming of the bastille (french revolution
which ideas did the national assembly adopted?
the declaration of the rights of man (enlightenment ideas
what are the 3 colours of french flag
why
blue (liberty) white (equality) fraternity (red)
republic
a form of government in which the citizens elect representatives to manage the government
who ruled in the reign of terror (people + ruling body
jacobins (e.g robespierre
committee of public safety as the ruling body
why were people killed in the reign of terror
they were suspected of being against the revolutionaries (counter revolutionary
describe the reign of terror （2 adj
not truly equal and democratic
what did they use to kill people in the reign of terror
guillotine
what were the background of the directors in the directory
bourgeoisie
where was napoleon born
corsica
in which campaign did napoleon defeat austria? where?
italian campaign
italy
why was there egyptian campaign
directory send an expedition to egypt to undermine britain’s trade interests in india
result of egyptian campaign 2
victorious on land but defeated by Britain Navy at sea
starvation and diseases spread among his soldiers -> retreat
after napoleon ended the directory
what did he set up
what did he become
consulate
first consul
what did napoleon do to himself after restoring monarchy
crowned himself emperor of the french empire
what did napoleon ended and what did he started after ending the previous one
first french republic
first french empire
what did napoleon became after defeating 4th coalition
master of europe
why did napoleon rise to power (internal x 2 external x 1
the directory was an ineffective and corrupt and incapable government
french people are tired of the chaos since the outbreak of the french revolution and longed for strong leader who bring law and order
napoleon defeated the first coalition and brought glory to france and was regarded as a national hero
problems of the directory 3
failed to solve the problems the people faced
doesn’t know how to fight a war
only protects the interest of the rich
what happened since the revolution which made the people fed up 5
poverty starvation lack of sense of security high-handed suppression by directory internal rebellions and infighting
why was there lack of a sense of security since the revolution
fear of revolts and crimes
name one rebellion during the directory
royalist uprising
name 3 achievements of napoleon
a huge empire established
fought many napoleonic wars
reforms
what countries became dependent states of france 3
spain itailan german states
kingdom of italy and confederation of the rhine
which countries became french allies 2
prussia austria
which countries did not become french allies
britain
portugal
sweden
what did napoleon turn holy roman empire into
german dependent states
why was britain a threat to france 3
english channel separating france and britain -> slim chance of winning powerful navy strong economy (sufficient food production
results of continental system
no fear of starvation in britain
harmed economy of europe
name 5 reforms by napoleon and benefits
fair tax system (improve economic status of the people
fair chances for everyone to be recruited in the government and army (improve social status of people + government
free trade, industry, agriculture, education (improve economy
improve transportation by building roads, bridges, canals (improve economy
napoleonic code (protect the right of people
name 3 laws of napoleonic code
protect personal property abolish class division and feudal privileges give everyone the freedom to choose their religion and job
benefits of reforms 3
cons 1
as a whole
provides more protection and rights for the french people
improve their living standard
favorable to the rule of napoleon (more popular
members of allies and dependent states thought napoleon wasn’t following the code -> threat
name 4 battles which napoleon was defeated
peninsular war
the russian campaign
the battle of nations
battle of waterloo
cause of peninsular war
spanish people rose against french rule, napoleon put down the revolt and punished portugal for acting against the continental system
result of peninsular war
why
defeated
britain royal navy helped spain and portugal
cause of the russian campaign
napoleon wanted to punish russia for trading with britain
result of russian campaign and why
forced to retreat and faced heavy causalities (died of hunger, cold, and russia’s attack on their way home
russian employed the scorched-earth policy, burning the city, leaving no food supply
cause of the battle of nations
after napoleon lost the russian campaign, european countries joined together in 6th coalition against france
result of battle of nations
defeated and gave up his throne, exiled to island of elba
louis xviii, brother of louis xvi restored
cause of battle of waterloo
escape back to france a year after being exiled and ruled for 100 days, european rulers were in the middle of congress of vienna, dealing with the problems left by him -> 7th coalition against him
result of battle of waterloo 3
british and prussian armies defeated napoleon
exiled to island of st helena
died 6 years later
significance of french revolution and napoleonic era
ideology of nationalism and liberalism
nationalism 2
people of the same race, culture, language, religion should be unified and politically independent
loyal to the nation, not the king, can overthrow a bad king
significance of nationalism after napoleonic era (1big 2examples
encouraged independence and unification movements
greece and belgium gained independence
italy and germany formed by unifying divided italian and german states
significance of liberalism after napoleonic era
revolutions against autocratic governments in different parts of europe (austria, france, spain / people asked for liberal constitution and political rights for the people
