ThE FrEnCh ReVoLuTiOn D. Results of the French Revolution
1. Across Europe there was an increased belief in the ideals of France. The political concepts of republicanism and democracy, the personal beliefs of liberty, equality before the law and national brotherhood all became commonplace.
2. These ideals also meant that other nations around Europe were inspired to achieve similar freedoms. Minorities in countries that had not been allowed to vote now demanded it as their natural right. As we will see, one of these countries was Ireland.
3. The French offered to militarily assist any nation that wanted to follow their lead. Ireland, among others, took up this offer in the 1790s.
4. The bourgeoisie (middle class) had gained a lot of power. Before the revolution all the power in France had been with the king and the rich but afterwards the bourgeoisie were far more important in politics.
5. Through the use of conscription (forcing all able-bodied men over the age of 18 into the army) a huge French army was created and won significant victories across Europe. As a result of these victories, a young general called Napoleon Bonaparte became very popular and eventually dissolved the Directory in 1799 and became France’s new leader. In 1804 he crowned himself Emperor of France. Napoleon ruled over France’s expansion throughout most of Europe. He was finally defeated at Waterloo, Belgium by the combined forces of Britain, Austria, Russia, Prussia and the Netherlands. Napoleon was captured and imprisoned on the island of St Helena where he remained until his death in 1821.
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Fig 9.14 Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France (1804) and oversaw France’s expansion throughout most of Europe until the Battle of Waterloo.
Fig 9.15 French-controlled Europe at the height of Napoleon’s expansion in 1812.