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Voltaire
Francois-Marie Arouet better known as Voltaire was one of the better known philosophes of the Enlightenment. He would be known for offending the French Monarch and nobility by his political and socially irreverent poems and plays in the 1720s. His support came from the wealthy and powerful (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
The Persian Letters
The Persian Leters written by Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu were published sometime in 1721. It satirized contemporary institutions while exposing the cruelty and irrationality of European life. The Baron favored a monarchial government for France, tempered and limited.He believed the opressive absolutism monarch accounted for the degradation of French life (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
Period: to
Elightenment to the Era Of Napoleon
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Frederick the Great
Frederick the Great of Prussia embodied Enlightened Absolutism He was known for full religious toleration in the hopes that other people would bring gifts to bolster the economy of Prussia. He was a fan of Voltaire and other philosophes, and gave them places at his court. (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
The Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia was a collective effort of 17 volumes of text and 11 of plates or illustrations, which included critical thinking on religion, government, and philosophy. It also included scientific technology. The first volume was published in 1751. The volumes were the work of more than a hundred authors and articles were also solicited from major French philosophes (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
Seven Years' War
The French monarchy is deeply in debt after the Seven Years' War and can not become financially sound. France was a rich nation but the peasants who had the least bore the heavy burden of paying taxes. There was a bad harvest in 1788 which meant the peasants would be unable to pay taxes to the King, church, and their local lords. The aristocracy and clergy were exempt from taxes and King Louis XVI would not have the backbone to make the necessary changes that would have helped the economy. -
Religous Toleration
Moses Mendelssohn wrote about religous toleration and for maintaining religious distinction of Jewish communities in his work called "Jerusalem;or, On Ecclesiastical Power and Judaism" published sometime in 1783 ( Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
Fall of the Bastille
King Louis XVI would come to realize with the Fall of the Bastille that he was losing power and the revolution was inevitable (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Many things led to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen which would make French citizens subject to the same and equal laws.Some of the events leading up to this were refusal to pay feudal dues and higher food costs due to low harvests in 1787 and 1788. -
National Constituent Assembly
The National Constituent Assembly reconstructed the government and administration of France. This new government would meet many challenges. -
King and Queen imprisoned
Palace invaded, King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are imprisoned. In September, the people revolt and a new convention formed.. France is declared a republic governed by an elected assembly without a monarch (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
King and Queen executed
King Louis XVI is found guilty of conspiring against the liberty of the people and security of the state. He is executed on January 21, 1793 and the Queen in October of the same year (Kagan, Ozment, Turner, and Frank 2013). -
Robespierre executed
Maximilien de Robespierre who advocated using terror for the success of the Revolution, after executing those who did not see things his way, was also executed on July 27, 1794. -
Coup d'etat
On September 4, 1797, the Directory staged a coup d'etat to keep France a republic and prevent the Bourbons from being restored to power. Napoleon sent help to the Directory so the coup would be successful. -
Constitution of the Year VIII
The Directory was in trouble again and staged another coup in November of 1799. Napoleon was able to assist them again in a successful coup. Napoleon used this opportunity to create the Constitution of the Year VIII,which gave power to rule to one man. Napoleon became the First Consul of France. This would end the French Revolution. -
Emperor of France
Napoleon crowns himself the Emperor of France -
Austerlitz
Napoleon defeats combined Austrian and Russian forces. He is recognized as the King of Italy. -
Confederation of the Rhine
Napoleon organizes the Confederation of the Rhine -
Prussia Defeat
Napoleon defeats PrussJena at Jena and Auerstadt. -
Continental System
Napoleon issued the Berlin Decrees which forbade his allies from importing British goods. He hoped to cut off British trade from the European continent. -
Master of Germany
After Napoleon humiliates Austria and defeats Prussia, he becomes the Master of Germany. -
Treaty ofTilsit
Prussia openly and Russia secretly became allies of France -
European Coalition
The combined forces of Napoleon's enemies defeat him at Leipzig.
In March of 1814, they march into Paris, Napoleon abdicates his throne and goes into exile to the island of Elba. -
Return from Elba
Napoleon returns from being exiled on the island of Elba.His army and many of the French that did not like the restored Bourbons were happy to have him back. He regained power but not for long. -
Defeat at Waterloo
The allies are not happy Napoleon has returned to France. They declare him an outlaw and send their armies against him. He is defeated at Waterloo in Belgium on June 18, 1815. -
Final Exile
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon abdicates his throne one last time. He is exiled on Saint Helena off the coast of Africa. He dies in 1821. -
Quadruple Alliance at the Congress of Vienna
On November 20, 1815. Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia renew the Quadruple Alliance at the Congress of Vienna. It was a coalition for maintaining peace and pursuing victory over France. It assemled in September of 1814 and concluded their work in November of 1815.
