AP Euro unit 5

• European involvement in the Indian and Pacific Oceans accelerated a worldwide economic network. Britain supplanted France as the strongest European power.
• Enlightenment ideals of free speech and political sovereignty culminated in the French Revolution, which initially created a constitutional monarchy, but quickly turned radical during the "Reign of Terror".
• Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in the aftermath of the French Revolution. His attempt to expand his French Empire by conquering Europe led to a widespread increase of nationalism from other countries.
• In order to restore the balance of power in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars, Klemens von Metternich called for a meeting to contain the danger of nationalistic upheavals known as the Congress of Vienna.
• In response to the Enlightenment's focus on rationalism and reason, the Romantic movement emerged, which put an emphasis on emotions and feeling.
• Main characters


  • Jean-Paul Marat
  • Louis XVI (16th)
  • Maximilian Robespierre
  • Olympe de Gouges
  • Toussaint L'Ouverture
  • Edmund Burke
  • Napoleon Bonaparte
  • Jacques-Louis David
  • Klemens von Metternich
  • John Wesley
• Seven Years' War


  1. Rivalry between Britain and France

  2. Global conflict
• Economic cause of Seven Years' War


  Desire for economic gain in British and French colonies in the Americas; control over the Atlantic trade
• Political cause of Seven Years' War

  Conflict between Prussia and Austria; desire to limit the power of stronger nations
• Effects of Seven Years' War

  Britain gained land west to the Mississippi River and north through their territory in Canada; Britain gained the Florida territory from Spain; Spain gained Louisiana; France lost many of its American colonies
• How the American Revolution paved the way for the French Revolution

  The success of the colonists in the American Revolution spurred the French to rebel against King Louis XVI; Like the colonists, the French faced similar political and economic strife, and were also inspired by Enlightenment ideals; French involvement in the war led to increased taxation on the Third Estate in France
• Estates in pre-revolutionary France


  • First Estate (clergy)
  • Second Estate (nobility)
  • Third Estate (bourgeoisie, merchants, artisans, peasants)
• How the image represents social and political grievances leading up to the French Revolution

  The Third Estate, which made up approximately 97% of the population, was forced to "carry the weight" of the crown through heavy labor and taxation. Despite their economic support of the crown, the Third Estate did not have adequate political representation, and blamed the crown for their strife
• Tennis Court Oath


  The Third Estate formed the National Assembly and agreed that they will not stop meeting until they write a constitution; Lafayette presented them with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
• Effects of the first (liberal) phase of the French Revolution

  A constitutional monarchy was established; Public and popular support for the revolution grew, and many became involved in supporting the cause; The Catholic Church was nationalized; Hereditary privileges were abolished; Feudal institutions were abolished; The Constitution of 1791 was created
• What the Women's March on Versailles accomplished

  The women of Paris march on Versailles, kill several guards, and forcefully bring the royal family to Paris. They demanded that the royal family stay at the Tuileries in Paris, rather than out of the city at Versailles
• Radical phase of the French Revolution


  The radical Jacobin, led by Robespierre, versus the more moderate Girondin
• Role of Jean-Paul Marat's newspaper L'ami du Peuple in the French Revolution


  Robespierre advocated for more freedom of the press, which allowed Marat to publish his newspaper. Marat's vitriolic rumors and inflammatory claims rallied the French people against the king, inspiring and motivating often violent action. He critiqued those he thought opposed the revolution, and called others to action
• Purpose of the Committee of Public Safety

  During the radical phase of the Revolution - the Reign of Terror - revolutionaries become increasingly violent. This 12-man council was created in order to keep the peace. Robespierre becomes leader of the Committee, and the Committee helps political lead and guide France through the Terror
• Why Robespierre reinstitutes censorship

  Robespierre was the indirect leader of the ruling party of France during the Terror, and did not want incendiary writings inspiring more violence. Robespierre wanted more order and security, which led him to limit the press
• Why Jacques-Renee Hebert institutes "de-Christianization" in France


  He argued that the root of all the problems is religion, so he aimed to destroy the power of the Catholic Church. This coincides with removing all facets of the ancien regime - the political corruption of the monarchy and the overarching authority of the Catholic Church. A specific way he implements this is through the creation of a new revolutionary calendar, the beginning of which is Sept 1792. Months are no longer ~4 weeks of 7 days, but are 3 weeks of 10 days
• Reasons Edmund Burke critiqued the French Revolution


  Burke, a conservative, valued tradition and institutions that had kept stability in Europe. He viewed the revolution as anarchy, and critiqued its violence and shattering of the status quo. The revolution had removed established institutions - government, religion, and culture - and did not replace them with anything that lasted
• Effects of the successful Haitian Revolution on France


  France loses one of its most profitable colonies in the Americas, which means that France no longer has income from Haitian sugar plantations. This loss of money, plus the amount of money Napoleon spent on his wars in Europe, led Napoleon to sell Louisiana to the United States. Because of the Haitian Revolution, France lost money and land in the Americas
• How Napoleon came to power referencing the Directory

  From 1794-1799, power in France was held by a weak five-man Directory. The Directory is plagued by divisions and loses power as the years progress. In 1799, a coup d'etat was thrown, and Napoleon created the Consulate. He becomes the First Consul, and consolidates power until he declares himself First Consul for life
• Major accomplishments of the Civil Code of 1804


  Unified laws so that everyone was equal under the law; completely got rid of feudal property relations; standardized civil and criminal procedure; stabilized the economy through the creation of the Bank of France; established a meritocracy (careers open to talent); established lycees and government-run public schools
• How Napoleon consolidated his rule

  Created a centralized bureaucracy; censored the press; created a secret police; beautified the country through architectural development; stimulated industrial development; limited rights of women; utilized propaganda
• How Napoleon treated women

  Women lost many of the rights they had gained during the revolution, and became subservient to their husbands or fathers. They could not buy or sell property. They could not open a business without the consent from a male relative or spouse
• How Napoleon treated the Catholic Church

  Napoleon renewed standing with the Catholic Church. The Concordat of 1801 declared Catholicism "the religion of the majority of the Frenchmen." He did extend religious toleration to other faiths
• How Napoleon treated peasants


  Napoleon abolished feudalism and gave peasants more freedoms than they had prior to the revolution
• The Bank of France


  • Established a meritocracy (careers open to talent)
  • Established lycees and government-run public schools
• How Napoleon consolidated his rule

  1. Created a centralized bureaucracy

  2. Censored the press

  3. Created a secret police

  4. Beautified the country through architectural development

  5. Stimulated industrial development

  6. Limited rights of women

  7. Utilized propaganda
• How Napoleon treated


  • Women
  • The Catholic Church
  • Peasants
• Women under Napoleon


  • Lost many of the rights they had gained during the revolution, and became subservient to their husbands or fathers
  • Could not buy or sell property
  • Could not open a business without the consent from a male relative or spouse
• Napoleon's treatment of the Catholic Church

  • Renewed standing with the Catholic Church
  • The Concordat of 1801 declared Catholicism "the religion of the majority of the Frenchmen"
  • Extended religious toleration to other faiths
• Napoleon's treatment of peasants

  • Abolished feudalism and gave peasants more freedoms than they had prior to the revolution
  • His Civil Code and legal actions helped support the lower class
• European countries' response to Napoleon's growing power (1808-1812)

  • Quickly fell under Napoleon's influence through being conquered, directly allying with France, or being neutral toward Napoleon's advances
  • Various coalitions formed against Napoleon and his growing power, which led to notable conflicts in Spain and Russia
• Impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812


  1. Russian generals and their "scorched-earth policy" forced Napoleon to travel eastward into Russia, stretching his supply lines thin

  2. Tsar Alexander did not surrender, and Napoleon and his troops, stationed outside of Moscow, were faced with the Russian winter

  3. Napoleon lost myriad resources and approximately 500,0000 troops

  4. The Grand Alliance of Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria were able to defeat him shortly thereafter
• Two ways the Napoleonic Wars impacted countries or colonies in the Americas
• What happened after Napoleon was exiled

  1. France restored the monarchy by crowning Louis XVIII

  2. Napoleon escaped his exile and returned to Europe during his "Hundred Days," but was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815
• Conservatism in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars


  • The mayhem from the French Revolution and the swiftness with which Napoleon was able to conquer much of Europe caused fear and chaos
  • Conservatives sought to restore the status quo and keep the peace by reinstating ruling families that had been deposed and through strengthening countries around France