Unit 6: The French Revolution (up to Napoleon)

This unit focuses on the various causes that led to a revolution in France in 1789 as well as each of the significant phases of the revolution through the rule of Napoleon. 

Kahoot Review Game Link
Class Calendar:
November 26
  • Main Idea: Introduction to the French Rev/Connections to the Enlightenment
  • ​Unit 6 - French Revolution Study Guide
  • Introduction to French Revolution: Notes on the social classes and growing tension between them, growing financial crisis, lack of leadership.
  • Video / Discussion: French Revolution by the History Channel, Clip 1. "Causes of the French Revolution."
  • Assigned Reading:  Due November 29:  “French Revolution: Was There A Casual Relationship Between the American and French Revolutions?” History in Dispute, Volume 12: The American Revolution. p. 127-134. (Hand out)  You are to highlight and underline key passages, those which support or refute each's viewpoint as to what was most important in causing the French Revolution. Complete the following reading guide: Causes of the French Revolution Reading Guide .

November 27
  • Main Idea: Causes of the French Revolution and Early Days
  • Lecture / Notes: 3-Estates Review,  The growing unrest in France---Crisis and Potential Solutions. Jacques Necker, The Cahiers, and proposed Estates-General
  • Read and Discuss: (1) “The Cahiers: Discontents of the Third Estate.” P. 55 Sherman

November 28
  • Main Idea: Causes of the French Revolution and Early Days
  • Review main causes of the French Rev
  • Read / Discuss: Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, “What Is the Third Estate?” p. 55-56. Sherman.  How does this revolutionary document reflect the growing unrest in France?  What does Sieyes propose to the King? How does it reflect the views of the Enlightenment?
  • Notes: The Estates-General; Tennis Court Oath, Storming of the Bastille
  • Optional Activity - Due 12/03:  Cake Day Instructions. / Cake Day Samples 1  /  2  / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 

November 29
  • Socratic Seminar:  “French Revolution: Was There A Casual Relationship Between the American and French Revolutions?” History in Dispute, Volume 12: The American Revolution. p. 127-134. (Hand out)   Causes of the French Revolution Reading Guide .

November 30
  • Main Focus: The Moderate Phase of the French Revolution: The National Assembly. (Read pages 214-218.) 
  • Review: Political cartoon about the 3rd Estate and the Cahiers. What were the chief complaints?
  • Notes: The Revolutionary Changes by the National Assembly; The women's march on Versailles.  (See also: Complete the readings from Ellis "World History" textbook for "The Moderate Phase of the French Revolution - The National Assembly." p 214-218. 
  • Read and discuss The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
  • Cake Day = December 3rd.


December 3
  • Main Focus:  The Moderate Phase of the French Revolution: The Legislative Assembly. (Read pages 219-221)
  • Review ​with the French Revolution by the History Channel, Clip 2. "The National Assembly - Women's March on Versailles and Clip 3 The King's Flight and Arrest at Varennes."
  • Read and discuss:  (1) "Levee en Masse" (Handout) and (2) "La Marseillaise" (Handout)
  • Prepare for the Trial of Louis XVI

December 4
  • Main Focus: Trial of Louis XVI
  • Trial of Louis XVI

​December 5:
  • Main Idea: The Radical Phase: The Legislative Assembly. (Read pages 219-221)
  • Lecture: The Legislative Assembly to Radicals Seize Control. (See Also: Read p. 219-221; p. 223-226 in Ellis "World History" about the Legislative Assembly. 
  • Read and Discuss: Maximilien Robespierre, “Speech to the National Convention—February 5, 1794: The Terror Justified.” p. 60 Sherman
  • Assess the validity of the following quotation from Robespierre: "Terror is only justice: prompt, severe and inflexible; it is then an emanation of virtue; it is less a distinct principle than a natural consequence of the general principle of democracy, applied to the most pressing wants of the country."

December 6:
  • Main Idea: The transition to moderation after terror.
  • View and discuss the final clip of the video about the French Revolution and Robespierre
  • Notes: The Directory and the changes brought to France by the Revolution through 1799 and Introduction to Napoleon. 
  • Work Time on French Revolution Review Project

December 7: 
  • Round Robin DBQ Exercise: "Was Terror Justified in the French Revolution" 
​
December 10 - December 11: 
  • French Revolution Review Project Work Time

December 12-13 Dedicated Finals Review
  • Fall Semester Final Exam Review Guide (Not Graded)

December 17-20 Final Exams Schedule



Napoleon:




Assigned Reading - Due 2-15: Laurent Joffrin's "Napoleon: Classical Dictator" (Hand out) Look for how Joffrin views Napoleon and how Napoleon reflected the values of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution in his rule. Look also for ways that Napoleon went against those same values. Was France better off because of Napoleon?

Day 1: Jan 9
Main Focus: Napoleon's rise to power
Notes: Introduction to Napoleon (Early days to Consolate).  
Video: Watch and discuss video about Napoleon's rise and fall.
Assigned Reading - Due 1/15: Laurent Joffrin's "Napoleon: Classical Dictator" (Hand out) Look for how Joffrin views Napoleon and how Napoleon reflected the values of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution in his rule. Look also for ways that Napoleon went against those same values. Was France better off because of Napoleon?

Day 2: Jan 10
Main Focus: Napoleon's Reforms and Empire
Notes: Napoleon's Achievements and Reforms.  The rise and fall of Napoleon's empire.
Visual: Discussion of Visual(Figure 21.1) Jacques Louis David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps.” P. 75. * How well does his artwork depict reality? What words come to mind as you view this image? What elements of the painting make you feel the way that you do? How does this image compare to a later artist's conception of the event?
Readings from Chapter 21 in Sherman (Memoirs: Popularity and Secret Police)
Assigned Reading Due 1-15: Laurent Joffrin's "Napoleon: Classical Dictator" (Hand out) Look for how Joffrin views Napoleon and how Napoleon reflected the values of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution in his rule. Look also for ways that Napoleon went against those same values. Was France better off because of Napoleon?

Thursday, February 15: 
Main Focus: Evaluation of Napoleon
Seminar: Laurent Joffrin's "Napoleon: Classical Dictator" (Hand out)Look for how Joffrin views Napoleon and how Napoleon reflected the values of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution in his rule. Look also for ways that Napoleon went against those same values. Was France better off because of Napoleon?

No School Feb 16 - February 19.



Wednesday, February 21: 
Main Focus: The Congress of Vienna (p 237-238) and Evaluation of Napoleon
Notes: The Congress of Vienna / Images of Napoleon
Small Group Jigsaw: Primary source readings in Sherman p 72 - 74.
Unit Resources

KEY NOTES:
HAND OUTS: READINGS:
  • Ellis and Esler. World History: The Modern Era. Chapter 6 (Pages 208-240.)
  • Kagan, Western Heritage: Chapter 19 (p. 625-663) (Additional Resource)
  • “French Revolution: Was There A Casual Relationship Between the American and French Revolutions?” History in Dispute, Volume 12: The American Revolution. p. 127-134. (Hand out)
  • Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, “What Is the Third Estate?” p. 55-56. Sherman
  •  “The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.” p. 57-58 Sherman AND Ellis & Esler p. 222.
  • William Doyle, "The French Revolution Transformed Many Elements of French Society." Oxford, UK: Oxford Press, 1989. p. 138-145. (Viewpoint #5 Hand Out)
  • Simon Schama, "The French Revolution Did Not Transform French Society." (Viewpoint #6 Hand Out)
  •  Maximilien Robespierre, “Speech to the National Convention—February 5, 1794: The Terror Justified.” p. 60 Sherman
  • Visuals (Handouts) Jacques Louis David’s “Marat Assassinated” *
  • French Revolution by the History Channel (On Youtube.com): Part 3, Part 4, Part 5,(These are the ones watched in class,)  French Revolution Documentary Guide Sheet
  • Horrible Histories: Storming of the Bastille  /  Surviving the French Army 
  • Music: "Royals" A Parody of the French Revolution. / La Marseillaise Music

LINKS:  External Resources

KEY TERMS:
Louis XV
Jacques Necker
Louis XVI
Marie Antoinette
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
Third Estate
Estates-General
Bourgeoisie
National Assembly
Tennis Court Oath
Bastille
Marquis de Lafayette
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Varennes
Émigrés
Olympe de Gouges
Bread Riots
Jacobins
Girondins
sans-culottes
Maximilien Robespierre
Jean-Paul Marat
Georges Danton
Marseillaise
levée en masse
Committee of Public Safety
Reign of Terror
Thermidor


EVENTS – See Revolution Timeline Chart on page 662 Kagan / Napoleon’s Timeline on page 686 Kagan:
Old Regime - Eve of the Revolution (1781-1789)
Estates General (May 1789)
National Assembly (1789 - 1791)
Tennis Court Oath (June 1789)
Storming of the Bastille (July 14 1789)
Great Fear (Late July 1789)
Declaration of the Rights of Man (Aug 1789)
Legislative Assembly (1791 – 1792)
National Convention (1792-1795)
Reign of Terror (June 1793-1794)
Thermidorean Reaction (July 1794)
Directory (1795-1799)



ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
1. What factors contributed to a revolution in France, one of the most prosperous and powerful nations of Europe? What does this explanation add to the significance of the revolution?
2. A motto of the French Revolution was “equality, liberty, and fraternity.” How did the revolution both support and violate this motto? Did French women and peasants benefit from the revolution?
3. Why did a coalition of European countries take up arms against France? How did France respond to this external threat? What were the results?
4. Why did the Reign of Terror occur? How was it justified by the Committee of Public Safety?
5. With the advantage of hindsight, what might the monarchy have done to retain control and minimize revolutionary change?



PROJECT / SKILLS / DEBATE / DISCUSSION: