During the end of the 18th Century and the first half of the 19th Century, a series of liberal revolutions spread across Europe, inspired by the French Revolution of 1789.

1. The age of liberal revolutions
(1789 – 1871)

5. The constitutional monarchy (1789 – 1792)
• Leaders: Moderated bourgeoisie
• Objective: Make an agreement with the king and the privileged
classes, to make France a constitutional monarchy.
• Measures:
• Abolished feudalism
• Approved the Declarations of Rights of Man and Citizen.
• Constitution of 1791: Separation of powers, national sovereignty, legal
equality, census suffrage. The king had right to veto.
• National Guard: New army created to defend the Revolution.
• Church properties were expropriated and sold.

6. The constitutional monarchy (1789 – 1792)
• Opposition:
• In France: The privileged classes and monarchy.
• In Europe: All the Absolute Monarchies of Europe.
• The Austrian Army invaded France after the request of Louis XVI.
• The king tried to escape but was arrested. (June 1792)

7. The Social Republic (1792 – 1794)
• Causes:
• The betrayal by the king and the military invasion of Austria led to the revolt of
common people “sans-culottes”.
• The Palace of Tuileries was stormed and the Royal Family imprisoned.
• The 1st French Republic was proclaimed.
• Phases of the Social Republic:
• Girondin Convention: (1792 – 1793)
 Moderated Bourgeoisie. Introduced universal male suffrage. Luis XVI and Queen
Marie Antoinette were executed (1793).
 Enemies: Absolute monarchies of Europe created a coalition. Counter-
revolutionary revolts broke out in France.
• Jacobin Convention: (1793 – 1794)
 Radical Bourgeoisie, had the support of most popular sectors (Sans-culotte)
 New constitution: Popular sovereignty, right to social equality.
 Social laws: Prices and Salaries, education became compulsory, church lands were
sold, counter-revolutionary assets distributed among the poors…
 Creation of Committee of Public Safety: Executive power lead by Maximilien
Robespierre.
 Mass levy to reject Austrian invasion
 Law of Suspects: To stop conspirators. Imposed a “Reign of terror”
Storm of Tuileries. 1792
Sans-
culotte

8. The conservative Republic (1794 – 1799)
• Leaders: Moderated Bourgeoisie
• Objective: Finish the jacobine “Reign of terror” and set up a
moderated government controlled by the rich bourgeoisie.
• Measures:
• Made a coup and killed Robespierre and his followers.
• New Constitution: Executive power controlled by a collegial
government called “Directory”. Restored census suffrage.
• Opposition:
• Aristocracy: Opposed the directory. Wanted to re-establish monarchy
and their privileges.
• Common people: Supported the return of Jacobines.
• Army: Wanted to controlled the government and finish the political
chaos.
• Coup d’Etat of Napoleon: Novembre 1799. Ended the
directory, establish a “Consulate”: authoritarian estate
controlled by himself.
Coup against Robespierre
“Coup of Thermidor” (1794)
Coup of Napoleon “Coup of
Brumaire” (1799)

9. Napoleon rules Europe
• The Consulate: (1799 – 1804)
 Internal Policy:
 System of government: autocratic and authoritarian.
 Supported by moderated bourgeoisie and the army.
 Division of France into Departments controlled by prefects.
 Social measures:
 Constitution of 1800: Not include separation of powers or declaration of rights. Liberties
were limited. Public opinion censored.
 New Civil Code was drawn up.
 Creation of state schools (lyceès) to educate an elite of civil servants.
 Economy:
 Reform of public financial sector: Creation of the Bank of France, creation of new banknotes.
 New commercial code to stimulate the economy.
 International policy:
 Allowed exiles to return
 Signed a Concordat with the Church.

10. • The Napoleonic Empire: (1804 – 1815)
• Crowned by the Pope in 1804.
• In 1803 began his conquest of Europe with a large army and the use
of new military tactics defeated:
• Austria, Naples, Holland, Prusia, Poland, Spain and Russia.
• In 1808 invaded Spain and made his brother Joseph king of Spain.
• In 1811 his Empire reached its zenith: From Germany to Spain.
Napoleon controlled most of Western Europe.
Napoleon rules Europe

11. The defeat of Napoleon
• Reactions in the countries occupied:
• Support of the liberals: Abolishment of absolute monarchies and manorial
rights.
• Anti-French sentiment by the common people: Due to the indiscriminate
violence of the soldiers of the French army.
Leandro Fernández de Moratin. A liberal
supporter of the French king. (Afrancesado)
Francisco de Goya. “Los desastres de la Guerra”. A group
of French soldiers tortured a Spanish war prisoner.

12. The defeat of Napoleon
• The failure of his invasions of Russia
in 1808 and the revolt in Spain
against Joseph Bonaparte (1812)
marked the decline of his empire.
• In 1815, the imperial armies were
finally defeated in Waterloo by
Great Britain and Prusia.
• After his defeat, Napoleon
abdicated and was sent to exile in
the island of Saint Helena, where he
died in 1821.