Napoleon Summary Sheet
...to preserve its values.
Focus Areas:
-The Enlightenment
-The French Revolution
-Napoleonic Code
Body Paragraph #1: The Enlightenment
• Began as a mid-18th century movement and progressed until the French Revolution of 1789
• Key features of the Age include:
A belief in natural law
A belief in reason
A belief in the rights of man
• Religious tolerance was advocated
• The Catholic Church was an object of attack because it exemplified a supernatural religion that stood in the way of reason
• The citizens of Europe demanded more from their governments and sought greater rights for themselves
• With the remarkable discoveries of Rene Descartes and Sir Isaac Newton the common man began to feel increasingly dissatisfied with absolute rule that repressed new ideas
• Many of the proposed ideas developed during this era highly influenced the French Revolution
• This age saw for the first time the Church and State being questioned
• This age gave birth to socialism, capitalism, and democracy
Body Paragraph #2: The French Revolution
• Began in 1789 and ended in 1799
• Key principles of the Age include:
Liberty
Equality
Fraternity
• Was a period of political and social upheaval in France and Europe as a whole
• The revolution was caused by the lack of leadership and mismanagement of King Louis XV and XVI
• They had left France in serious financial difficulties putting the nation in debt because of their military failures
• High unemployment and inflation caused most families to spend money on food and not in other areas
• Widespread famine and malnutrition ensued along with
• On September 21, 1792 King Louis XVI was dismissed as king by the National Convention, France’s constitutional and legislative assembly, effectively ending the monarchy and ushering in a new republic
• On January 21, 1793 King Louis XVI was executed...
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