AP European History Unit 5

Congress of Vienna

A meeting of most of the European powers, to work out the aftermath and borders of the French Revolution and Napoleon, which also brought the emphasis on diplomacy and balance of power, to prevent war and uphold the health and power of the state. Major 4 powers did the most

de-Christianization

People involved with the French Revolution called for and enforced de-Christianization of France, and brought the Catholic Church under French government, as a result of the lack of support of the civil constitution of the clergy, replacing it with the Cult of Reason

French Revolution: Liberal and Radical phases

The liberal phase was more subdued and didn’t use strong methods to achieve their goals, bringing France under a constitutional monarchy during the National Assembly & Legislative Assembly. The radical phase focused on a republic and saw the fall of the French monarchy, and the R.o.T

Haitian Revolution

Sparked by French Revolution, inspiring Haitians to fight and abolish slavery

Jacobin

Club whose goal was to establish a French Republic, end the rule of the king, and was the most radical political group of the time. Them and Robespierre were largely responsible in the Reign of Terror

Levee en masse

Mass conscription of the French people in times of war, usually when facing invasion. Introduced and used during the French Revolution.

Methodism

Subgroup of Christianity lead by John Wesley, followed a studious and methodical religious education and living

Nationalism

Being proud of one’s nation. Napoleon used this feeling on people so they would be able to stand up for France and create many soldiers.

Reign of Terror

Period within the Rev of great chaos and distress, lots of executions. Sparked by paranoia, especially as a result of the Committee of Public Safety, where there was extreme amounts of violence and executions against ‘suspects’ who were thought to be against or detrimental to the Revolution

Seven Years’ War

A war involving most major European powers, arguably a world war because many of these big powers had hold across the globe and some fighting occurred there as well, a result of Austria trying to take back Silesia after the Austrian War of Succession. In the end the result was changing of borders and land claims.

Women's march on Versailles

7k+ armed women stormed Versailles demanding bread and change, and forced Louis XVI and his family to return to Paris with them

Louis XVI

King at the time of the French Revolution, was quite weak and was eventually executed on suspicion of working against the Revolution

Robespierre

Leader of the Jacobin party, radical and had many of his opponents executed out of paranoia, until he himself and some of his supporters were executed

Jean-Paul Marat

Important in the French Rev., defender of sans-culottes, wrote many revolutionary texts

Olympe de Gouges

Early feminist who rewrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man to reinclude women.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Lead Haitian revolution, inspired many other enslaved African people to revolt for freedom

Napoleon

Stepped in in the remnants of the French Revolution and took power, satisfied the people and then went on to his larger goals of establishing a dictatorship and conquering Europe, succeeding in these goals but eventually his ambition led to his downfall

Klemens von Metternich

Of Austria, helped form the alliance against defeating Napoleon and restored Austria’s power. Wanted to keep the balance of power, a diplomat

Edmund Burke

Very against the French Revolution, believing the common people couldn’t hold that much power. Considered the founder of modern conservatism.

John Wesley

Leader of the Methodist movement, selfless, began the movement after he saw the Anglican church abandon its American believers after the American Revolution

Rousseau

An enlightenment thinker, talked about the social contract and having a republic, his ideas were fundamental in the French Revolution.

Political changes due to the Enlightenment

Rise of Enlightened absolutism, and focusing on democratic values and institutions, and modern and liberal democracies

Continued societal and intellectual changes due to the Scientific Revolution and Protestant Reformation

People overall begin to start questioning the church and traditional practices that have been implemented within the Church. More thinkers begin to develop, questioning other institutions like the government and the monarchy.

War and conflict leading to an increase in taxes in France

France funded the American revolution and 7 years war, both involving fighting against Britain, as well as issues of fair taxing among french nobility, so the peasants were taxes even more

Competition for power in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

The lands in these areas were great producers of spices and more, which were huge in the European economies, and establishing monopolies over these areas would benefit the countries who were battling for them

British control of India

Britain got control over India to control trade and increase production in that area, especially its spices, textiles, and more. They started by getting control of these things for trade, and then got involved in its affairs, including politics and economy, and colonizing it.

Dutch control of the East Indies

The Dutch got control over Indonesia, which it used in its spices monopoly and other resources, which was bit to their domination overseas

Seven Years’ War

A war involving most major European powers, arguably a world war because many of these big powers had hold across the globe and some fighting occurred there as well, a result of Austria trying to take back Silesia after the Austrian War of Succession. In the end the result was changing of borders and land claims.

American Revolution

France wanted to reclaim land in the Americas. This led the nation into a financial crisis.

French Rev. : Long-term social and political causes

There was a lot of displeasure from the middle classes with the troubles of a free market and inflation of food prices, taxation, long-standing rivalry with Britain, weakening power of the monarchy, enlightenment values arising, and the structure of French society

French Rev. : Short-term economic crises

There continued to be economic dissatisfaction and inflation of food prices with war and such, which was one of the reasons the French Rev. was started in the first place

Establishment of constitutional monarchy in liberal phase

The National Constituent Assembly forced Louis XVI to accept the constitution, turning France into a constitutional monarchy

Radical phase under the Jacobin and Robespierre

The Jacobin came to power some time into the revolution, ready to take on the challenges faced, including warring and more. In mobilization for war, two committees were founded to do the tasks the government was to do, notably the Committee of Public Safety, which is how the revolution got into the Reign of Terror

Women’s roles

Women had power too, some establishing their own clubs and other movements, but eventually some other clubs feared their power and suppressed them

Effects of French Rev

• Desire to bring revolutionary changes to the rest of Europe

The French Revolution promised to aid any people who were oppressed by their government, which led to a lot of war waging. With Napoleons conquering of Europe, he brought the Napoleonic code which changed much of the rest of Europe's way of life, even abolishing serfdom along with much else. 

• Haitian Revolution led by Toussaint L’Ouverture

Inspired by the French Revolution, Toussaint led the Haitian Revolution, eventually succeeding, making it the first independent black state in the new world though Napoleon did attempt to suppress it 

• Mixed reactions based on violence in radical phase

Across Europe, reactions were at first gratitude that the issues of the Rev. would take France out of the equation for some time, but eventually concern that this would spark similar events in their own countries led to dislike and fear of it. Actions made to ensure nothing similar would occur. 

Napoleon and his impact

• Coup d’etat and First Consul

Napoleon was called upon to aid the Coup d’etat against the Directory, and succeeded, which was replaced with the French Consulate, where many reforms were made

• Beneficial reforms as leader

Reformed public infrastructure, aided farmers and economy, supported trade and education, established a unified law code (Napoleonic Code), centralized government, overall gave peasants what they wanted and needed after the chaotic revolution which didn’t give them what they wanted

Curtailment of rights

Cut off women's rights in his law code, and overall unified it and made it stricter in some regards. He didn’t allow freedom of press, suppressing any opposition or criticism to him, as well as forbade trade unions and organized labor

New military tactics and attempted conquering of Europe

Napoleon was a strong strategist and war genius, and had much experience and relation to the battlefield, so was able to rally troops to fight for what he wanted. Used cannons, was quick, and spurred morale, which helped.

Rise in nationalism

Nationalism is the idea that the state should represent and serve the interests of the people, Napoleon promoted it based on Revolution ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and used this in his military campaigns and conquering

Congress of Vienna and restoration of “Balance of Power”

The Quadruple alliance (Russia, Prussia, Austria and Britain) and France formed to restrict French and other European domination. By surrounding France and reestablishing ideals of peace, this prevented countries from rising. Congress of vienna had people from most European countries, but the main 4 did most of the big work

Romaticism

• Focus on emotional and feeling

• Religious revival

• Emotional power of mass politics and nationalism

• Jacques-Louis David