UNIT 2

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

AND THE NAPOLEONIC
EMPIRE
1. THE BEGINNING OF THE MODERN AGE
The outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 marked the start of the Modern Age.
The enlightened despots failed to make the political, social and economic changes---- Enlightenment thinkers

A political revolution ended the Ancien Regime in France. The revolutionaries implemented reforms and
established a new regime.

In Spain, the events of the revolution inspired to make a new social, economic and political order.

They introducing new habits and customs.

Art reflected the political, economic and social changes.

2. THE CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The French Revolution was a period of violent political and social changes, that saw the abolition of the absolute
monarchy and the end of the estates system of the Ancien Regime.

2.1. The influence of the Enlightenment

French intellectuals and the bourgeoisie supported Enligthment ideas and tried to put them into practice. They
demanded that all citizens be free and equal under the law.

2.2. The political crisis

The Estates General brought together representatives three estates of the realm to advise the king on important
issues ---- tax increase

The clergy (The fisrt Estate) and the nobility (The Second Estate) had 300 representatives in the
Estates General ---- one vote
The middle class and the peasantry had 600 representatives and only one vote.

2.3. The economic crisis

It was bankrupt for the participation of military conflicts. The royal family spent moneyto make palacies,
parties... So, Louis XVI increases the taxes.

2.4. The social crisis

All the estates of the realm were discontented with the crown ---- different reasons
-The nobility and the clergy wanted to protect their traditional economic privileges. They refused to pay taxes.

-The middle class and the peasantry:

The bourgeoisie wanted to abolish the absolute monarchy because they didn´t participate in government.
The lower middle class were suffering from economic difficulties caused by wars, higher taxes...
They peasantry suffered economic problems caused by wars or poor harvest. Alsp, they higher rent to
nobility and clergy.

3. MAJOR EVENTS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

When increasing political and economic problems. Louis decided meet the Estates General in 1789. This marked
the beginning of the French Revolution.

-The National Assembly

The third Estate proposed a new voting system that each representative have an individual vote. The king refused,
so they declared themselves true representatives of the nation. They demanded a constitution.

-The constituent Assembly

The king agreed to make a Constitution. On 14 July 1789, the protesters began to riot and attacked the Bastille.
The Constituent Assembly implemented a number of legal reforms ----- Feudal rights and the Declaration of the
Rights of Man and the Citizen.

Louis XVI escape to Austria.

In 1791, they adopted the constitution and established:

constitutional
popular sovereignty
monarchy

limited male
separation of powers
suffrage

-The Legislative Assembly

There were two political groups:

represented the
believed in political ideas-- liberal economic
GIRONDINS interests of limited suffrage
the revolution bourgeoisie moderate policies

control prices to
believed in political ideas-- they wanted to
JACOBINS expand the suffrage support the sans-
the revolution radical abolish the monarchy
culottes
-The Convention
Louis XVI was accused of treason and the executed. The European countries formed a coalition and declared war
on France.

Under the leadership of Robespierre, the Jacobins took control --- government
They imposed a dictatorship (Terror)

-The Directory and the Consulate

By 1795
Moderate middle class

Directory (5 members)
(conservative
goverment)

In 1799 General Napoleon Bonaparte

France at war
Rad. Revol. wanted control military coup --- Consulate
(3 members -- consuls)

4. FROM REVOLUTION TO EMPIRE

Napoleon increased his power and was named Consul in 1802. In 1804 he proclaimed himself Emperor.
Domestic policy. He establised a Civil Code.
That it´s a set of laws that applied equally to all citizens. It introduced new concepts like divorce, civil marriage...

International policy. He expanded his empire. In the lands that he conquered imposed enlightenment and
revolutionaries ideas and abolished the absolute monarchy.

He defeated all the countries except Great Britain.

In 1812, his power declined because he had to divide his forces between two fronts: Spain and Russia.
In 1815 was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

5. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTON/ THE NAPOLEONIC EMPIRE

The main consequences there were crisis and ultimate disintegration of Ancien Regime.
-Political changes

New government like republics and constitutional monarchies.

New constitutions like popular sovereignty and separation of the powers.
They limited male suffrage and civil rights.
Elections led to --- political groups

-Economic changes

All pay tax and contribute to the expenses of the estates.

Private property rights.
Free trade.

-Social changes

The nobility and the clergy ceased to exist.

6. Spain: occupation and liberation

Reigns Carlos IV
1788 -French Revolution
-Napoleonic Empire

Godoy (minister of Carlos)

1805
supported Napoleon -- war Great Britain ---- Battle of Trafalgar

1807 Spain + France -- Treaty of Fontaneableu

Fernando and Carlos IV went to Bayonne.

1808
Napoleon proclaimed king a Joseph Bonaparte

The Spanish War of Independence began on 2 May 1808. There were two important process:

-The war
Spanish forces won some victories.
Cadiz was the only city didn´t conquered
The French were finally defeated in 1813 to the support from British -- Duke of Wellington and the group of
Spanish citizens.
-The political revolution

Joseph Bonaparte: government Spain and imposed the Bayonne constitution.He made
enlightened reforms and everyone pay tax.

Central Council: represented by Fernando VII in areas that not ocupied by the French. He put
that the people elected their representatives

On 19 March 1812 -- Constitution.

Principles:

Constitutional monarchy
Popular sovereignty + limited males suffrage
Catholicism
separation of the powers
Guaranteed rights, freedoms, prohibition the torture...

7. LIFE DURING THE REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE

Legal:
-civil union
FAMILY
-divorce
-Inheritance rights

-They participate in the revolution

-Revolutionary leaders opposed that their participation
WOMEN
politics -- broke the family
-They were wives and mothers

-Make new calendar

DAILY LIFE
-CHnge the names of the months --- meteorological events

-Metric system of measurement

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES -Used ambulances
-Kept food in meta tins

8. THE EMPIRE STYLE AND GOYA

In the late 18th century and early 19 century reflected Enlightenment ideas, so the Neoclassicism is the most
important style.
-Architecture: commemorative arches and columns. Similar to Roman art

-Sculpture: used white marble and mythological themes or famous people.

-Painting: used mythological themes and predominant the portraits of famous people.

8.1. Francisco de Goya

He was a court painter during the reigns:

-Carlos IV
-Joseph I
-Fernando VII

He was the most significant Spanish artist because he had a personal style. They represented the periods
for his life.

PERIOD THEMES AND TYPES Characteristics

-Cartoons for tapestries made in -pastel colours

royal factory -depiction of psychological
Court period -Portaits -- royal family characterisitics
-Religious paintings -attention in clothes and frabic
-Prints from etchings -criticism of Spanish customs

-Protests war and the consequences

The Spanish War -Historical themes -Criticism the Ancien Regime
of Independece -Prints from engravings -Depictions of bullfighting themes
-Variety of actions

-Reflections on old age and death

Retirement to his -Dark colours
-Blanch paintings
estate and exile in -Loose brush-strokes
-Burgundy paintings
France -Less defined figure
-Depictions of daily family