French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Transformations

Causes of the French Revolution

In 1786, France faced a deep economic and social crisis. Poor harvests caused rising food prices and popular discontent. The bourgeoisie felt dissatisfied with their political marginalization, aiming to curb absolutism. A financial crisis resulted from excessive state spending and French support for the American War of Independence.

The End of the Old Regime

The people of Paris rallied behind the representatives of the Third Estate. Fearing royal troops might arrest the deputies, on July 14, they stormed the Bastille fortress.

The revolution also spread to the countryside in the form of an aristocratic revolt. On August 4, the National Constituent Assembly decreed the abolition of feudal privileges and enacted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, recognizing freedom and equality before the law and taxes.

Napoleonic Conquests

The prestige and power of Napoleon challenged the absolute monarchs of Europe, who coalesced their armies to fight revolutionary France. Napoleon's troops managed to conquer a part of Europe, except for Great Britain, bringing much of the continent under French control.

In annexed or influenced countries, Napoleon placed relatives on the throne, installed his army generals, or imposed revolutionary ideas. He also proclaimed economic freedom, the right to property, and religious freedom.

Political Ideologies Emerge

Liberalism and Nationalism

• Liberalism: A political system based on the individual. The state must guarantee the fundamental rights and ideas of the people. The free individual is a citizen, and sovereignty resides in the nation (all citizens).
• Nationalism: A political ideology supporting the right of peoples to self-determination and sovereignty. A nation can be defined as a set of individuals sharing cultural ties.

With the Congress of Vienna, there was an attempt to restore absolutism. The decisions of the Vienna Congress were implemented through the Holy Alliance, a treaty of mutual assistance among European monarchs against any threat of liberal revolution.

The Fall of the Napoleonic Empire

Napoleonic armies acted as conquerors, subjecting occupied nations and favoring the material interests of France. This unleashed strong national sentiments against the invading French in the occupied territories. Patriots in many countries opposed the French presence. The uprising in Spain was the first major event signaling the decline of the Napoleonic Empire.