The French Revolution happened during the years of 1789 through 1799, and was an era of epic revolutionary politics and social turbulence which had a central repercussion on western, but more specifically, French history. The peasants and bourgeoisie of France under the rule of King Louis XVI had became frustrated with the extravagant spending habits of the French royal court and aristocracy. This frustration had later escalated into the formation of the French First Republic in the year of 1792, and the execution of King Louis XVI a year later in 1793. Ten years later in 1804, Napoleon declared the French First Republic, as the French First Empire, and styled himself as Emperor of France. Napoleon's empire had only existed for ten years and dissolved when Napoleon was defeated in the battle of Waterloo and abdicated his empire. However, Napoleon was a exemplary military campaigner, and accomplished extraordinary tasks. The Dublin Penny Journal argues that through“His extraordinary career through life: he gained Fourty one victories; captured six strong towns that stood sieges; entered twelve capitals, subjugated the continent of Europe, created nine sovereigns, made three retreats, raised one siege, and suffered twentyeight defeats.” ("Dublin Penny Journal" 393-394).Through out Napoleons political conquests and plundering of Europe, Napoleon had several paintings commissioned to portray him on his extraordinary escapades. Therefore the artist Jacques-Louis David had became “first painter” to Napoleon, to help propagandized his image after rescuing David from the prison at the palace of Tuileries. For example, Yale French Studies argues that “From the beginning of his career Napoleon appreciated the importance of imposing his im...
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The dissemblance of the First French Empire occurred when Napoleon lost against Great Britain’s navy in the battle of Waterloo in the year of 1815. Napoleon then abdicated his empire, and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in the year of 1821. When Napoleon abdicated, his “first painter” Jacques-Louis David was exiled too for political reasons, and later died when leaving France. Jacques-Louis David had painted The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries to reflect on the historical period when Napoleon was at the height of his career, and to truly propagandize his image to the world, as the hero of France. The simple background, the allusions to classical Greek and Roman culture, and the historical context of the painting clearly is presented in the style of Neoclassicism, while fashioning Napoleon as a great military leader.
During his rule, Napoleon called himself an emperor, but he acted like the kings before him. The French Revolution stood against the idea of one leader with all authority over one country and promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French citizens did not glorify Napoleon as a king because he gave his people sovereignty over political situations. He used plebiscites or voting to spread equality, however, the majority was always in favor of Napoleon. This happened due to fear because he was the strongest man in Europe at the time. He idolized himself as a hero, saving the French people from the
After the Reign of Terror, Napoleon Bonaparte rose to authority. When he was in power, Napoleon only kept some of the ideas that were used in the French Revolution. For example he was for equality, but disregarded liberty. Napoleon started many wars for France, in hopes of gaining land. France did win some land, but more times than not France lost the wars, putting them into extreme war debt.
There are many cumulative events that have influenced Western Civilization reflective in today’s modern world, but the most impactful was the French Revolution. Western Civilization has many historic milestones building to the world as we know it, but none set such broad themes that are felt in our everyday life. Many of these themes have become so ingrained into the way we live that we can’t understand a world without them. For this reason, the effects of the French Revolution molded the westernized world more so than any other event. I consider the French Revolution the catalyst to how our world is shaped today. It’s ideas and events continue to echo through our lives century after century.
Napoleon was a military general that participated in multiple war victories. His interests included history, law, and mathematics. His strengths as a leader benefitted in planning financial, legal, and military plans. His aspiring attitude made him believe he was destined to be the savior of France (Coffin & Stacey, 494). He favored a republic over a constitutional monarchy. When Napoleon came to power, he immediately consolidated personal power by overthrowing the five-man Directory and created a Republic. Napoleon used his status and power during the Revolution to bring out and surface Revolution ideals and help his people. Napoleon’s role in European history was the savior of the French Revolution due to the fact he accomplished most objectives that the people hoped for. Goals of the French Revolution included overthrowing the old regime of an absolute monarch, write a basic and worthy constitution, and give more rights to the third estate and limit the first and second estates power in the Estates-General.
Jacques Louis David rose in popularity by inspiring the French Revolution with his Oath of the Horatii. David then found himself a leader in the Revolution after the martyr of his friend Marat. After all this David shifted his artistic style/narrative and promoted peace. What happened to David for his passion and politics to begin with instigation and later a pacifier? By discussing Jacques Louis David’s three paintings, Oath of the Horatii, The Death of Marat, and The Intervention of the Sabin Women, you will see the shift in his art and narrative.
Napoleon was a great soldier that graduated from military school at the age of sixteen and quickly worked his way through the ranks. Napoleon was a brilliant leader in battle and consistently defeated armies larger than his own; including when he forced the Austrians to make peace after defeating four of their generals. In 1799 Napoleon and his colleagues overtook the French government and established power. He revised the constitution in 1802 to make himself consul for life, and then again in 1804 to make himself Emperor of France. Soon after Napoleon came to power he restructured the administration, simplified the court system, and began monitoring the schooling system; French law was also put in the Napoleon Code which guaranteed the rights and liberties that were gained through the revolution. Napoleons violent behavior caused war with Britain to break out, who allied with Russia and Austria. Prussia later allied themselves with Russia; creating a huge alliances against France and Napoleon. Napoleon successfully extended his reign over large parts of Europe and put each state under the Napoleon Code, which gave citizens new rights and privileges. In 1812 all of Europe turned against Napoleon, which lead to his exile in 1814. He regained power in 1815 just to loose it later that year. He died in exile in Saint Helena in 1821.
During the eighteenth century, France was one of the most richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution is the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.
During the late 1700's, two great revolutions occurred, the American Revolution and the French Revolution. These two historical events happened at the same time, but had a great number of differences and very little similarity. When French Revolution occurred, it turned into a very violent and bloody event, while the American Revolution was almost nonviolent, aside from the war. In 1774, King Louis XVI made a decision that could have prevented the French Revolution by breathing new life into the French economy: he appointed Physiocrat Robert Turgot as Controller General of Finance.
French Revolution brought a great number of great ideas, but ideas are not beneficial unless they are realized and stabilized. The man to stabilize the concepts of French Revolution was Napoleon Bonaparte. He started out as an Italian general and ended up being one of the greatest historical figures. First, Directors requested Napoleon's support while organizing a coup d'etat. Then, Bonaparte fought Britain in order to benefit France. Lastly, he was called to help creating a new constitution and ended up as the First Consul of France. At home, he ruled using flattery, but also he strongly resisted the opposition. Napoleon is a pro-revolutionist because he denied all the privileges of the aristocracy, created a new constitution, and also established the Napoleonic Code.
Napoleon crossing the Alps is also is the title given to the five versions of oil on canvas equestrian portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte painted by the French artist Jacques-Louis David between 1801 and 1805. Initially commissioned by the Spanish Ambassador to France, the composition shows a strongly idealized view of the real crossing that Napoleon and his army made across the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass in May 1800. Napoleon comes across to me as a leader in many different of ways. Jacques- Louis David is the creator of this painting. He has put certain devices and effects in his work to help the viewers come to a certain opinion and have a certain type of an impression of Napoleon. This was after Napoleon had took his army a crossed the Alps. He surprised and defeated an Austrian army. His calm, controlled figure is guiding a wildly rearing horse is symbolic of his vision of himself as bringing order to post revolutionary France. This was Jacques-Louis David’s earliest painting. This piece of work was propaganda. Propaganda is communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community towards some cause. As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense, often presents information primarily in order to influence its audience.
When I came to this question, it made me laugh I little. David was a friend of Robespierre, the inciter of the French Revolution. Napoleon, on the other hand, wanted to kill as many Frenchmen as possible. When the Revolution was over, David, who had been associated with Robespierre. Was sentenced to prison. What the textbook did not say, however, was that David was given his freedom only because he was a cowardly liar that claimed he had never been in league with Robespierre! In the end, Napoleon was impressed with David's work probably because his personality was much like his own. Napoleon would set boundaries for other people, only to break them himself; something David did often. (Kleiner, 757) Napoleon also admired David' style because it imitated the Neoclassic era, which Napoleon identified with the power of the Romans, a trait he aspired to. In France, David's art promoted Napoleon by making him look like a hero (Napoleon Crossing St. Bernard 27-1a).
During the late 18th century, both France and the British colonies in America experienced wars the opened the eyes of nations. The French Revolution and American Revolution drastically changed political thinking. In the French Revolution, monarchism was abandoned and political power was given to the people until the country became out of control, and a military dictatorship was necessary to regain control of France. In the American Revolution, a new nation was formed as the British colonies tore themselves away from the English monarchy. In the end, both France and the new United States of America moved away from absolute rule by a king or queen and wanted to put the political power in the hands of their people. However, there are many differences as well as similarities along the way to their political reformation.
Davenport, John C. The French Revolution and the Rise of Napoleon. New York: Chelsea House, n.d. Print.
The French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, was a time where the monarchy was overthrown, a republic was formed, and limits were put on the church. The French Revolution ended with the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The French Revolution created France’s legislative assembly, which is still in place today. Many would argue that the Enlightment was a cause of the French Revolution, but the Enlightment was not one of the main drivers for the Revolution. The bad living conditions, France’s monarchy, and the involvement in the American Revolution and other wars caused the French Revolution.