French+Revolution


 * [French Revolution and Napoleon**
 * 1789-1815**

Click on this link to see an overview of the French Revoluton
 * [|French_Revolution_1789-1815.jpg]**

The French Revolution had many causes.
 * Massive national debt led to a financial crisis.
 * Enlightenment thought led to increased criticism of the monarchy and interest in republican ideas.
 * Abuses of the old regime (absolute monarchy with unlimited power; made and enforced the rules).
 * A long cycle of industrial depression had been in effect since 1770. Fifty percent of the people in urban areas were unemployed.
 * Members of the lower classes began to chafe at their lack of power from the government. Nobles enriched themselves throught the toil and taxes of the commoners. A wealthy portion of the Third Estate resented exclusion from power.
 * Imprisioned enemies (anyone) without charge, bail or trial.
 * Louis XVI and Marie Antoniette were weak rulers.


 * Five Stages of the French Revolution**

Stage One: Abuses of the Old Regime

Stage Two: Creating a Moderate Plan-Declaration of the Rights of Man

Stage Three: The Revoution turns violent: The Reign of Terror

Stage Four: The Revolution turns away from violence

Stage Five: A strong leader emerges: Napoleon Bonaparte 1769-1821

Bourgeoisie Coup/Coup d‘etat Divine Right of Kings Enlightenment Estates General Third Estate Habeas Corpus Ancien Regime Old Regime (Ancien Regime) Privileged Classes Voting System
 * Key Terms or Ideas**

The Bastille Congress of Vienna Island of Elba Island of St. Helena Waterloo
 * Key Places**

Marie Antoinette Napoleon Bonaparte Jacobins Louis XVI John Locke Montesquieu, Charles-Louis De Secondat Robespierre, Maximilien Rousseau, Jean-Jaques Smith, Adam Voltaire
 * Key People**

Code of Napoleon Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens (United States) Declaration of Independence (United States) Bill of Rights US Constitution National Assembly Reign of Terror Storming of the Bastille (see link below)
 * Key Events or Documents**

Enlightenment thinkers Immediate and fundamental causes of the French Revolution Comparison to the American Revolution Immediate and long lasting results of the French Revolution Stages of the Revolution Napoleon's mistakes
 * Essential Concepts**


 * First Person Account of Storming the Bastille**

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Source: Mrs. Cosby's notes and ABC-Clio Dictionary.com "French Revolution". //World History: The Modern Era//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 4 Jan. 2010. [|http://www.worldhistory.abc-clio.com] Fremont, Barnes, Gregory. //The Encyclopedia of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Vols. 1-3.// Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 2006. Lacey, Robert. (compiler). //The French Revolution I, The Fall of the Bastille.// London, UK: Jackdraw Publications Ltd, 1976.