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__//**Reign of KING LOUIS XVI and the Great Fear**//__ King Louis XVI came to power on May 10, 1774, four years after marrying his wife, Marie Antoinette. His leadership had no positive impact on France. He and his wife were strongly disfavored socially and politically. France's economy was declining because of their out of control spending, taxes, and helping with the American Revolution contributed to their economic downfall. The French were beyond in debt. On July 14, 1789 the angered citizens of France broke into an old prison, The Bastille, to retrieve weapons there. They murdered and decapitated the guards and their commander. With some of the people they killed, they would put their heads on Pikes and parade around with the angry mob. Because of the rumors of more rebellions circulating around the country, a big heap of panic and violence broke resulting in the "Great Fear" era. In 1791, the National Assembly was formed and passed their document, "The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen" with their slogan being "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". This constitution turned France into a Limited Monarchy (the King recieves limited Powers). A Legislative Assembly was formed split up into radicals, moderates, and conservatives. Also, In 1791, the King and Queen failed their attempt on escaping Paris. A year later, Austria and Prussia declare war on France who disfavored their revolutionary ideas and were against France being a limited Monarchy instead of an Absolute Monarchy. France was defeated and in the same year a mob takes Marie and Louis prisoner fearing that they may come back into power... A National Convention was formed the then 1791 constitution was disposed as well as the king, therefore, France was now a Republic on September 1792.
 * //__ FRENCH REVOLUTION: __//**

__//**REIGN of TERROR**//__

In the 1790's a radical group called the Jacobins rose to power. January 21, 1793, they deemed King Louis XVI of Treason and executed via Guillotine (a executing device used to behead). Several months later, October 16, 1793, Marie Antoinette was executed via Guillotine also. The accusation of her crimes were left unproven. Maximilien Robespierre came to power and dictated this reign of terror apart of the //Comittee of Public Safety//. His goal was to dispose France of it's past. He forced military drafts, killed his own radicals who he felt weren't worthy enough, and overall he was responsible for the deaths of a quarter of a Million people. Most of these executions were via Guillotine. July 26, 1794 he gave a long two hour speech against his claimed tyranny and dicatatorship. While jailed along with his brother and other men, most of them committed suicide and succeeded. Robespierre attempted suicide by shooting himself in the Jaw, failing by only shattering it. On July 28, 1794, Robespierre along with other men, were executed via Guillotine. After his death the Directory was formed in 1795, with 5 men on the executive branch, with 2 house legislative bodies.

//__**NAPOLEON BONAPARTE**__//

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the native Italian island of Ajaccio, Corsica on the 15th of August, 1769. In 1779, at the age of 10, Napoleon entered military academy at Brienne. In 1784, he moved to the Parisian Ecole Royale Militaire and graduated as a second lieutenant in the artillery in 1795. Also in 1795 he steered the defense in the National Convention delgates. 1796 the Directory assigned him to lead the army to battle in Italy against the Austrians. Napoleon and his army were victorious in this battle. When he returned to France in 1979, he was extremely popular among the citizens. In May of 1798 Napoleon left France for an Egyptian campaign, which turned out to be a failure. Recently after, he and his army returned in August of 1799. He was apart of the Brumaire coup in November of 1799 as a memeber of France's new triumvirate, the Consulate. In February of 1800, he was upheld to the title of the First Consul. This was basically a dictatorship with a constitution. In June of 1800, his army fought their fellow Europeans in the Battle of Marengo. During the time Europe was at peace, Napoleon began improving France by reforming the economy, the church, military, education, government, and the legal system. In 1801, he signed he Concordat which gave some powers back to the Church. April 30th 1803 when a treaty was signed, the Louisiana territory owned by France was sold to the United States. Also, By improving the legal system he established the Napoleonic Code, which established uniform laws with the limit of some individual liberties in 1804. Also in 1804, Napoleon was crowned Emperor of France ( He crowned himself despite the fact that he invited the Pope Pius VII to crown him; he also crowned his wife Josephine as Emperess of France). This was an indirect message from him to the church informing them that they were NOT in charge. But Europe time of peace was not lasting. Napoleon's ambitions were based on his conquests. Friday, November 21st 1806, Napoleon issued the Berlin decrees which marked the start of the Continental System. The Continental System was a blockade aimed at denying the British any trading access to ports in Europe, theoretically destroying British trade and denying them the money they needed to fund Napoleons enemies on mainland Europe. Other European countries did not trust and feared Napoleon, they also had hostility towards the revolutionary France. Austria, Britian, Russia, and Prussia were the main ones among the countries. For the next 8 years he dominated the continent of Europe. One battle was the battle at Austerlitz, that with his great military skills he and his army prevailed. With his conquests, most rulers were forced to sign treaties. By 1812, Napoleon had conquered most of Europe, but around that time he was making mistakes and his empire started the beginning of it's decline when France went to war with Russia. In 1812, the French we're headed to Moscow. The Russian did not give up on the fight and had a smart war tactic. They burned their town down by using a scorched-earth-policy. Which forced Napoleon and his army to retreat. His 80,000 soilders were dying by starvation and extreme weather conditons. By the end of 1812 he only had 10,000 soilders to fight. The end of 1812, most of his army is destroyed, and his reputation is deteriorating. He was now a major enemy of Russia. In 1813 and 1814 there was a big heap of pressure on him. In 1813 he was defeated at the battle of Leipzig in the result of Paris being captured. In 1814, without a fight France surrendured. Also in April of 1814 Napoleon gave up the throne and was exiled to Elba. In 1815, he grew tired and bored of being on the Island of Elba and returned to France in secret. He came back to power for a time period known as the "Hundred Days". He soon got into a war against Great Britian. This was the Battle of Waterloo, which France was defeated in. On June 25th, 1815, Britain exiled him to St. Helena, an island far away from Europe. And there his health greatly declined. And 6 years later, May 5th, 1821 at the age of 51, he died from Stomach Cancer.



__//**CONGRESS OF VIENNA**//__ __//**﻿**//__ The Congress of Vienna was made to establish a new European order and collective peace and security for Europe. Klemens Von Metternich, was an Austrian Foreign minister. He had the most influence in the congress. His three goals for the Congress was to Restore the Royal family to power, prevent French agression, and have a balance of power. The Holy Alliance is when countries pledge to base their relations with eachother on Christian principles to combat forces of Revolution. The Concert of Europe was series of alliances that assured that nations would help each other prevent or put down revolutions. This was a big impact on the world for 100 years. Nationalism spread because of this forming revolutions which formed new nations. Lastly and finally, the world saw the means of Democracy in a new light.



Dugdale-Pointon, T. (25 December 2000),Continental System,[] The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6 ed. Copyright 2007, Columbia University Press. [] "Concert of Europe." Encylopaedia Brittanica Online Academic Edition. Encylopedia Brittanica, 2011. Web. 06 Sep. 2011 <[]> Published by Sempringham eLearing resources. [] Robin Chew. Revised January 1st 2011. [] "Maximilien Robespierre." Encyclopaedia Brittanica Online Academic Edition. Encylopedia Brittanica, 2011. Web. 06 Sep. 2011 [] Robert Wilde. []
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