THE CONSTITUTION OF 1795
The Constitution of 22 August 1795 (also known as the Constitution of the Year III) was a national constitution of France ratified by the National Convention on 22 August during the French Revolution. It established the Directory, and remained in effect for 4 years until it ended the Revolution and began the ascendancy of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was more conservative than the abortive democratic French Constitution of 1793. The Constitution of 1795 established a liberal republic based on the payment of
taxes. The central government retained great power including emergency powers to curb freedom of the press and freedom of association. It was succeeded by the Constitution of the Year VIII, which established the Consulate.
taxes. The central government retained great power including emergency powers to curb freedom of the press and freedom of association. It was succeeded by the Constitution of the Year VIII, which established the Consulate.
THE DIRECTORY
The directory was in action from 1795-1799.
Because the Constitution of 1795 created a much more conservative type of government, it tried to make two houses to make it so none gains control. The two houses were the Council of 500, and the Council of Elders, which contained 250. Members of each house were chosen by qualified voters, however, only those who owned a certain amount of property were qualified, which came out to be 30,000 of France's entire nation.
Under the new constitution, the head of everything was called the Directory, a group of five chosen by the other houses. It was known for being very corrupt as they took advantage of their power by creating high taxes and getting large amounts of money from the third estate.
Because the Constitution of 1795 created a much more conservative type of government, it tried to make two houses to make it so none gains control. The two houses were the Council of 500, and the Council of Elders, which contained 250. Members of each house were chosen by qualified voters, however, only those who owned a certain amount of property were qualified, which came out to be 30,000 of France's entire nation.
Under the new constitution, the head of everything was called the Directory, a group of five chosen by the other houses. It was known for being very corrupt as they took advantage of their power by creating high taxes and getting large amounts of money from the third estate.
NApoleon overthrows directory and becomes first consul of the consulate
On November 9th Napoleon Bonarparte overthrew the failing French Directory. Napoleon, with the help of Sieyes and Roger-Ducos as well his brother Lucien he succeeded in ending the Directory and becoming first consul of France. This Basically happened because of The Directory being wildly unpopular. The Directory was being blamed for everything. Abbe Sieyes, a leading member of the Directory, wanted a coup with Napoleon (still a popular hero) and the army in support of Sieyes as First Consul,as the new head of state, and plotted the whole thing with Napoleon. However, Sieyes had little political or army support of his own, so once the coup was successfully accomplished, it was easy for the ambitious Napoleon to sideline Sieyes and become First Consul himself.
THe age of napoleon (1800-1815)
The consulate
Napoleon overthrew the Directory and set up a new government, the Consulate. It was said to be planned to be a republic but Napoleon held absolute power. He was called the first consul, which was a title from ancient Rome. He appointed officials, was the military leader, conducted foreign affairs, and introduced the legislature. By 1802 Napoleon was made consul for life and two years after that, he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I.
napoleon becomes emporer and revolution ends
The Death of Robbes Pierre essentially ended the revolution. Robbes Pierre was than succeeded by Napoleon Bonaparte by a popular vote by the people.
napoleonic code
Before the revolution, France had almost 300 different legal systems. During the revolution, efforts were made to prepare a single law code for the entire nation, however this did not get done until Napoleon's reign. Seven law codes were created, but the most important was the Napoleonic Code, or Civil Code, introduced in 1804. It's principles were: equality of all citizens before the law; the right of the individual to choose a profession; religious toleration; and abolition of serfdom and all feudal obligations.
These laws were what many in the revolution were fighting for, however it essentially downgraded women and children. It made women "less equal than men." When a woman was to marry, she lost all control over any property they had, they could not testify in court, and because of this it was much more difficult to divorce.
These laws were what many in the revolution were fighting for, however it essentially downgraded women and children. It made women "less equal than men." When a woman was to marry, she lost all control over any property they had, they could not testify in court, and because of this it was much more difficult to divorce.
napoleonic wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts fought between France under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte and a number of European nations between 1804 and 1815. They followed on from the War of the First Coalition (1793-97) and engaged
nearly all European nations in a bloody struggle, a struggle that also spilled over into Egypt, America and South America. The period also saw the British Army under the leadership of the Duke of Wellington become renown as the best in Europe.
The first campaign of the Napoleonic wars was the War of the second Coalition
- with Bonaparte absent in Egypt fighting the British a new coalition formed
against the French in 1798. This consisted of Russia, Great Britain, Austria,
Portugal, The Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Naples. The fighting took place
mainly in Northern Italy and Switzerland, with the Russians under General
Aleksandr Suvorov being successful at first undoing the damage done by Napoleon's victories in Italy. The French
defeated the Russians who pulled out of the coalition. Bonaparte offered peace
but the coalition refused and in 1800 he crossed the Alps and defeated the
Austrians at the battle of Marengo 1800. Other French victories
followed and soon only Britain remained to stand against the French. After a
failed attack in Holland, Britain made peace (1802). this was not to last long.
In 1805 the War of the Third Coalition broke out, with Britain joined by Russia, Austria and Sweden. Napoleon defeated the Austrians at Ulm (1805) and finally at Austerlitz in 1805 (known as the battle of the three Emperors). Once again the coalition reformed this time with Prussia but without Austria in 1806. Napoleon quickly moved against the Prussians and crushed them at the battle of Jena in 1806. By 1808 Napoleon was master of all Europe but he was now to begin a series of mistakes that would lead to his defeat. Dethroning King Charles IV of Spain he made his brother Joseph Bonaparte King, causing a revolt and what was to be known as a Guerrilla war in Spain. During the Peninsular war (1808-1813) the Spanish Guerillas aided by British troops under Wellington and Portuguese allies drove the French out and eventually invaded southern France. A fifth Coalition formed but the Austrians were
defeated at the battle of Aspern and Wagram in 1809.
With large numbers of his troops tied down in Spain, Napoleon decide to invade Russia in 1812 with an Army of 500,000 men and although he defeated the Russians at the battle of Borodino in 1812 and took Moscow he was forced to retreat due to weather, costing him most of his army and marking the beginning of the end. Surrounded by enemies on all sides with his best troops dead
Napoleon was forced to abdicate in 1814. As the members of the Fifth coalition decided the fate of Europe, Napoleon staged a daring return to power and tried to reverse the outcome of the war at the battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815). Waterloo was a bloody battle which saw his remaining elite guard destroyed and Napoleon exiled to St Helena from where he was never to return, marking the end of the Napoleonic wars.
nearly all European nations in a bloody struggle, a struggle that also spilled over into Egypt, America and South America. The period also saw the British Army under the leadership of the Duke of Wellington become renown as the best in Europe.
The first campaign of the Napoleonic wars was the War of the second Coalition
- with Bonaparte absent in Egypt fighting the British a new coalition formed
against the French in 1798. This consisted of Russia, Great Britain, Austria,
Portugal, The Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Naples. The fighting took place
mainly in Northern Italy and Switzerland, with the Russians under General
Aleksandr Suvorov being successful at first undoing the damage done by Napoleon's victories in Italy. The French
defeated the Russians who pulled out of the coalition. Bonaparte offered peace
but the coalition refused and in 1800 he crossed the Alps and defeated the
Austrians at the battle of Marengo 1800. Other French victories
followed and soon only Britain remained to stand against the French. After a
failed attack in Holland, Britain made peace (1802). this was not to last long.
In 1805 the War of the Third Coalition broke out, with Britain joined by Russia, Austria and Sweden. Napoleon defeated the Austrians at Ulm (1805) and finally at Austerlitz in 1805 (known as the battle of the three Emperors). Once again the coalition reformed this time with Prussia but without Austria in 1806. Napoleon quickly moved against the Prussians and crushed them at the battle of Jena in 1806. By 1808 Napoleon was master of all Europe but he was now to begin a series of mistakes that would lead to his defeat. Dethroning King Charles IV of Spain he made his brother Joseph Bonaparte King, causing a revolt and what was to be known as a Guerrilla war in Spain. During the Peninsular war (1808-1813) the Spanish Guerillas aided by British troops under Wellington and Portuguese allies drove the French out and eventually invaded southern France. A fifth Coalition formed but the Austrians were
defeated at the battle of Aspern and Wagram in 1809.
With large numbers of his troops tied down in Spain, Napoleon decide to invade Russia in 1812 with an Army of 500,000 men and although he defeated the Russians at the battle of Borodino in 1812 and took Moscow he was forced to retreat due to weather, costing him most of his army and marking the beginning of the end. Surrounded by enemies on all sides with his best troops dead
Napoleon was forced to abdicate in 1814. As the members of the Fifth coalition decided the fate of Europe, Napoleon staged a daring return to power and tried to reverse the outcome of the war at the battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815). Waterloo was a bloody battle which saw his remaining elite guard destroyed and Napoleon exiled to St Helena from where he was never to return, marking the end of the Napoleonic wars.
french empire
The French Empire was a rapidly rising power in the beginning of the 1800's, at one point it controlled most of central Europe. It's leader was Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was known for being a strong military leader. The French Empire collapsed just as fast as it rose, as Britan defeated Napoleon in the battle of waterloo.
dependent states
Dependent states were kingdoms ruled by relatives of Napoleon. Eventually these included Spain, Holland, the kingdom of Italy, the Swiss Republic, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, and the Confederation of the Rhines--a union of all German states except Austria and Prussia.
allied states
Allied states were countries defeated by Napoleon and then froced to join his struggle against Britain. These states included Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Sweden.
continental system
The aim of the Continental System was to stop British goods from reaching the European continent to be sold there. By weakening Britain economically, Napoleon would destroy its ability to wage war. The Continental System also failed though because Allied states cheated and did secret trades with the British.
invasion of russia
The Russians had refused to remain in the Continental System, leaving Napoleon no choice but to invade. He new if he didn't invade soon then other nations would follow. In June 1812, a Grand Army entered Russia. Napoleon's only hope was to beat them quickly. But instead of fighting the Russians just kept retreating for miles and miles. They burned down cities as they went leaving the Grand Army with no food or resources. They did fight once and thousands died. Napoleon decided later he had to pull out before everyone died form freezing or starving. In the end only 40,000 soldiers returned out of the 600,000 that left originally.
waterloo
In June 1815, Napoleon struck into Belgium, hoping to destroy Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army and Blücher's Prussians before they could unite. After the battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June, Wellington's inexperienced army of 67, 000 men fell back to a ridge near Waterloo. The 89,000 strong Prussian army, badly mauled at Ligny on the same day, also retreated.
The battle began on 18 June with an unsuccessful attack on Hougoumont, a fortified farmhouse on Wellington's right flank. The arrival of Prussian forces compelled Napoleon to send part of his élite Imperial Guard to his right flank. By 6.30 p.m. the key farmhouse of La Haye Sainte had fallen to the French, and an all-out assault might have broken Wellington's lines. However, Napoleon prevaricated, and only released his reserve—the Imperial Guard—at 7.00. The repulse of the Guard was the signal for the rout of Napoleon's army. With Blücher's men pouring on the field, Napoleon was finally defeated.
The battle began on 18 June with an unsuccessful attack on Hougoumont, a fortified farmhouse on Wellington's right flank. The arrival of Prussian forces compelled Napoleon to send part of his élite Imperial Guard to his right flank. By 6.30 p.m. the key farmhouse of La Haye Sainte had fallen to the French, and an all-out assault might have broken Wellington's lines. However, Napoleon prevaricated, and only released his reserve—the Imperial Guard—at 7.00. The repulse of the Guard was the signal for the rout of Napoleon's army. With Blücher's men pouring on the field, Napoleon was finally defeated.
nationalism
Nationalism: is the sense of unique identity of a people based on common language, religion, and national systems. This was an important factor in the defeat of Napoleon.
The bourbon restoration
Bourbon Restoration, (1814–30) in France, the period that began when Napoleon I abdicated and the Bourbon monarchs were restored to the throne. The First Restoration occurred when Napoleon fell from power and Louis XVIII became king. Louis’ reign was
interrupted by Napoleon’s return to France, but Napoleon was forced to abdicate again, leading to the Second Restoration. The period was marked by a constitutional monarchy of moderate rule (1816–20), followed by a return of the ultras during the reign of Louis’ brother, Charles X (1824–30). Reactionary policies revived the opposition liberals and moderates and led to the July Revolution, Charles’s abdication, and the end of the Bourbon Restoration.
interrupted by Napoleon’s return to France, but Napoleon was forced to abdicate again, leading to the Second Restoration. The period was marked by a constitutional monarchy of moderate rule (1816–20), followed by a return of the ultras during the reign of Louis’ brother, Charles X (1824–30). Reactionary policies revived the opposition liberals and moderates and led to the July Revolution, Charles’s abdication, and the end of the Bourbon Restoration.