French Revolution and Napoleon Exam Review

This cheat sheet provides a concise review of the French Revolution and Napoleon, covering key political regimes, chronological events, major figures, and core historiographical debates to prepare for a comprehensive exam.

Core Principles

The French Revolution was a complex period marked by shifts in political regimes, from monarchy to republic and eventually empire.
Key events like the storming of the Bastille, the Reign of Terror, and Napoleon's rise shaped the course of French history.
Historiographical debates analyze the Revolution through lenses of political thought, social history, and conspiracy theory.
The Revolution's legacy is debated, with Napoleon seen as both a preserver of revolutionary gains and a restorer of old structures.
Understanding the 'lived experience' of contemporaries versus the structured narrative of historians is crucial for grasping the Revolution's chaos and fear.
The Revolution involved internal conflicts, such as the Vendée uprising and Federalist revolts, leading to its characterization as a civil war.

Action Steps

Review major political regimes and their dates (1789-1830).
Memorize key chronological events and 'journées' (popular uprisings).
Understand the roles and significance of key figures.
Grasp the core historiographical tensions and debates.
Familiarize yourself with strategic vocabulary and crucial quotes.
Practice answering essay questions by synthesizing readings, lectures, and discussions.

Key Terms

Assignats: Paper money issued by the French revolutionary government, backed by nationalized Church lands, which suffered from severe inflation.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy: Law that subordinated the Catholic Church in France to the state, leading to a split between 'juring' and 'refractory' priests.
Federalism: A label used by the Convention to delegitimize provincial opposition, often interpreted as an attack on 'indivisible' sovereignty.
General Maximum: Wage and price controls implemented in September 1793, demanded by the Paris sections.
Inviolability: The constitutional status of the King (1791) that Vergniaud argued only the 'people alone' could revoke.
Levée en masse: Total mobilization of the population for war, decreed in 1793.
Sans-culottes: Working-class radicals of the French Revolution, often characterized by their trousers and demands for price controls.
Terror: A period of state-sanctioned violence and repression from September 1793 to July 1794, aimed at eliminating perceived enemies of the Revolution.

Pro Tips

Connect abstract ideological shifts to specific emotional and physical responses of historical actors.
Bridge intellectual frameworks of scholars with visceral experiences from primary sources.
Treat the Terror not as inevitable 'mob rule' but as a series of attempts to build institutions.
Analyze 'what else was possible' when evaluating institutional failures.
Synthesize arguments from multiple perspectives to construct nuanced answers.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Relying solely on narrative history without theoretical synthesis.
Viewing the Terror as purely 'mob rule' rather than a response to institutional breakdown.
Ignoring the 'lived experience' of contemporaries in favor of a structured historical sequence.
Failing to connect specific events to broader historiographical debates.
Not being specific when arguing Napoleon's role as revolutionary or counter-revolutionary.

Statistics

Estimated deaths in Vendée uprising: 150,000
Percentage of country under military control during the Directory: ~40%

Timeline

June 1789 – Sept. 1791: National Assembly (Constituent Assembly): Established constitutional monarchy, abolished privilege, issued Declaration of Rights.
Sept. 1791 – Aug. 1792: Legislative Assembly: Declared war on Austria; Monarchy abolished after Tuileries attack.
Sept. 1792 – Oct. 1795: National Convention: Republic declared, Louis XVI executed, Reign of Terror, Fall of Robespierre.
Sept. 1793 – July 1794: The Terror: Period of intense repression and executions.
Oct. 1795 – Nov. 1799: The Directory: Attempted republican stability, marked by hyperinflation and coups.
Nov. 1799 – Nov. 1804: The Consulate: Napoleon as First Consul, consolidation of power.
Dec. 1804 – April 1814: First Empire: Napoleon crowned Emperor.
July 1815: Second Restoration: Monarchy restored after Napoleon's final defeat.

People

Maximilien Robespierre: Key leader during the Reign of Terror, advocating for virtue and the elimination of enemies.
Napoleon Bonaparte: Military leader who rose to power, establishing the Consulate and Empire, consolidating revolutionary changes while limiting political freedom.
Pierre Vergniaud: Girondin orator who warned against the 'monstrosity' of the Convention's power and advocated for popular ratification in Louis XVI's trial.