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Napoleon Bonaparte Part 1
Napoleon was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15th, 1769 to a wealthy family. When he was 10 years old, he entered the military academy in Brienne. He graduated the academy in 1784, and became second lieutenant in the artillery. Napoleon was given command of the army in 1796, and led a victorious war against Austria with starving men. In May 1798, he led a campaign in the Middle East, and failed. In February 1800, he was elected the first consul, and in 1804 he proclaimed himself Emperor. -
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Estates-General Meeting
The Estates General was called to by King Louis XVI at Versailles on May 5, 1789, to deliberate and accept a new tax plan. Men and women made lists of “cahiers de doleances” or complaints that they wanted their representatives to discuss with the other representatives at the meeting. After the controversy of whether votes should be held by each group or each person individually on June 17, 1789, the Third Estate broke away from the other two and renamed themselves the National Assembly. -
National Assembly and Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly was originally the Third Estate. They represented everyone, but the clergy and nobility. They wanted changes in the government. The Tennis Court Oath was an oath that was taken by the National Assembly which its motive was not to depart until the constitution has been rewritten. It is called the Tennis Court Oath because the National Assembly was locked out of meeting room in the king’s palace so they decided to have their meeting place at the tennis court. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille was when the French people stormed the Bastille looking for gunpowder. The Bastille was a prison in Paris that represented the royal authority. The people penetrated the Bastille’s fortresses, then demanded the gate to be opened. The leader of the Bastille then offered them 20,000 pounds of gunpowder, but they refused. The gates were opened and the people captured the guards, dragged them through the streets of Paris, and then beheaded some to celebrate. -
Declaration For the Rights of Man
The Declaration For The Rights of Man was published in August of 1789. Many Enlightenment ideals and scholars such as John Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire contributed to the base of the declaration. The core value of the declaration was “All men are born and remain free and equal in rights”. Although the king did not approve of the declaration, the French people ignored him thus causing the inspiration for the French Revolution. -
Women's March to Versailles
The Women’s March to Versailles took place on the morning of October 5, 1789. A group of about 6,000 French women gathered at the central market place of Paris before marching violently to Versailles where they would protest to the king. The protest was an effort to reduce the prices of bread. Bread was the main diet for most people during the 1800s in France, but prices increased as the economy worsened. In the end, the king was overwhelmed and gave in to the women’s demand for bread. -
Legislative Assembly
The Legislative assembly was the legislature of France from Oct. 1, 1791 to Sept. 1792. The Legislative Assembly consisted of two opposing sides. One side was members who favored a constitutional monarchy and thought that the Revolution had already achieved its goal. The other side was democratic and thought that more had to be done for the revolution to achieve its goal. The two sides decided to remove Louis from office. Instead, they voted for a convention to give France a new constitution. -
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National Convention
The National Assembly didn't benefit the people of France as much as it could have, so the National Convention took over and wrote a new constitution. They wanted to abolish the monarchy and establish a new republic. This resulted in them sentencing the King to death. The Convention’s first act was to establish the French First Republic and officially make sure the King did not have political power. The Convention ended up creating the Committee of Public Safety. -
The Arrest of King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI ruled from 1774-1792. He was unqualified to lead the unstable and financially indept country. As years went on he was perceived to France as a tyrant and a reluctant ruler. This is because he was found guilty of treason and crimes against the state. He was officially arrested on August 13, 1792 and was sent to the Temple, an ancient fortress for prisoners. -
The execution of King Louis XVI
During King Louis XVI's arrest, there was controversy between the two conventions, Jacobins and Girondins. The Girondins thought that the king should have a trial, and the Jacobins felt he should just be executed. On December 26, 1792 King Louis XVI was brought to trial, and the Convention voted to execute him. 310 requested mercy and 380 voted for him to be executed. On January 21, 1793 King Louis XVI was beheaded in the Place de la Concorde. -
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Commity of Public Safety. (Including Robes pierre and he reign of terror)
The committee of Public Safety was created in January of 1793 and was said to be the executive body of France until 1794. This Committee was created to offer a new form of government to France that would react quicker and take more extreme measures on their current war stricken community. Initially, this Committee was to be made up of twenty-five intelligent individuals who would govern with equal rights. However, when the date for the first initial meeting arrived, they were left with just nine -
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The Directory
The Directory The Directory was a group of five men that held executive power in France. The directory held a meeting in The Coup of Prairial to discuss the matter of the re-election of the five members. Sieyès, the Directory leader, chose to take advantage of his power and assign the military commander, Napoleon Bonaparte. The Directory resigned its power in 1799 in order to become a provisional government. -
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The Consulate
The Consulate The consulate was the start of a new government. It followed the directory and ended the revolution. They wrote the new constitution, right after the directory, under the supervision of Napoleon. The Consulate was a new form of government, which allowed the citizens a tenth of a vote. The legislative branch still consisted of two chambers. The revolution finally ended in 1802 and the president Sieyès made him-self consul for life and that started the new empire. -
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Napoleon Bonaparte's Reign in France
For many years, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France and obliterated opposing countries with an iron fist. Every country he took over, he installed a family member to rule over it. Not all countries accepted his rule. Tension rose in countries he ruled. He struggled to keep order in Europe, it soon lead to his decline in power. In 1812, he invaded Russia but his armies were crushed. This defeat forced Napoleon to abdicate his rule in France. -
The Assembly of Jewish Notables
Napoleon took action after aggression towards to the Jews of France heightened. He aimed to give them a state managed central organization. Napoleon selected around 71 qualified Jews to represent the community in a group called "The Assembly of Jewish Notables". These men met and asked to respond to a list of twelve questions to make sure the religion didn't violate civil law. -
The French Sanhedrin
Napoleon created the French Sanhedrin for the Assembly of Jewish Notables. The French Sanhedrin defined the principles of Judaism. It also made Judaism the official third religion of France. Napoleon worked to get the Jews out of isolation and give them equality. The Sanhedrin also was created to define the relationship between the Jewish community and the state. -
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Napoleon's exile and return after Battle of Nations/ exile and return after Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon lead his troops into the battle of the Nations, where they found themselves with a lack of food and money. Soon after, they began to retreat and Napoleon was forced out of his Kingship. Napoleon was exiled onto the island of Elba where he was given authority. In February, Napoleon escaped from Elba and led his troops into the Battle at Waterloo and lost his battles. He was exiled again after he escaped. Finally, he was exiled to St Helena where he spent the rest of his life. -
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Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was held to maintain a balance of power and prevent a universal war. The major powers of Europe, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain, originally were given more authority over bigger decisions; eventually, France was able to contribute as well. In terms of territory, most of the boundaries were restored to their original state, while others gained additional land. The Congress of Vienna retained long-term stability for almost 40 years and provided fair policies.
