The+Legacy+of+the+Revolutionary+Era+(pg.+82-93)

= Chp 5: The Legacy of the Revolutionary Era = = (pg. 82 - 93) =

This is Napoleon's tomb in the center of the Dome Church of Les Invalides. Commissioned in 1842, it is crafted in red porphyry from Russia, and the green granite base underneath is from the Vosges (a mountain system in eastern France, near Germany). A crown of laurels and inscriptions surround the tomb, reminders of the great achievements during the Napoleonic era. The body of Emperor Napoleon was laid inside on April 2nd, 1861.

Before he was brought to France, Napoleon was buried close to a spring, in the shadows of weeping willows in the "Geranium valley" of the island of Saint Helena. He was carried abroad the "Belle Poulle" ship under the Prince de Joinville command back to France on October 15th, 1840 with permission from the British government.

NOTES

Intro:

 * French rev + Napoleon's rule ended in 1812, continued to influence European lives
 * shaped lives, beliefs + societies

Traces of the revolutionary era

 * French streets named after famous generals of war
 * weights and measures (ex. kg, meter, liter) invented by revolutionaries in 1795
 * flags of Europe use tricolor model revolutionaries created in 1789
 * the way society is organized..
 * 1) LIBERALISM:

Liberalism

 * rev began when in 1789 estates general declared it = "national assembly"
 * wrote a constitution.. began with "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen": gave citizens equal rights and liberties.. ideas all over europe
 * 1815: old rulers took back thrones, got rid of constitutions.... millions of "liberals" wanted constitution that gave them liberty + equality + rights

Nationalism

 * key: France = NATION, property of of the people
 * revolutionaries:
 * first set up NATIONAL ASSEMBLY for people
 * then adopted tricolor flag (white = king, red+blue = people)
 * revolutionary wars set up (broken up or united into) new nations (ex. 300 german rulers merged into 30 states)
 * 1815: politicians that defeated France redrew map of Europe (Congress of Vienna) -->
 * recreated old states (ex. royal families back in power),
 * german confederation (39 states in total) replaced N's Rhine Confederation
 * new borders = nothing to do with nationality
 * states started revolutions to changed the way they were ruled

Revolution

 * liberals and nationalists started revolutions in 1820, 1830, and 1848... many are students
 * ex. GERMANY: wanted it to be considered as one land, united people, want a constitution, want the princes to understand that they exist for the country, not the other way around (1818)
 * 1830: Netherlands: Belgians revolted against Dutch King William, didn't like the way they were governed (wanted free press, Dutch held better gov positions + jobs + court positions because they had birthright)
 * king didn't listen, battle raged, belgians drove dutch out, Belgium = independent country
 * cartoon published in french magazine, depicting 1830 revolutions (liberty volcano)
 * 1848: Budapest: Hungarians rebelled against Austrian authorities (wanted free press, responsible government, national guard, equal tax, end to feudalism, jury system, equal rights, etcetc)

Images of Revolution

 * 19th century revolutionaries borrowed images from French rev:
 * LIBERTY (created 1792): young woman, name = Marianne, clubbed "despotism" monster, holds liberty cap (worn by freed Roman slaves, fashionable amongst sans culottes 1792)
 * also appears countless paintings, statues, models... as well as Statue of Liberty given to US from French to show friendship + commemorate American independence 100th anniversary (copper, 97 m high, 200 tonne)
 * appeared in Italian socialist newspaper, statue of Liberty created by Chinese student revolutionaries in 1989 (tiananmen square, made from blocks of polystyrene, students demanded greater freedom)

Legends and myths of revolution

 * most lasting: NAPOLEONIC LEGEND:
 * memoirs + quotes written down by friends, published after death + established him as great historical figure
 * 1840: British allowed reburial of Napoleon... 100,000 ppl paid respects in freezing weather.. buried in Invalides church THEN transferred to precious stone tomb. more visited than any tourist attraction in Paris
 * arch de troimphe in paris: dedicated to N, built between 1806-1836, largest triumphal arch in world, decorated with Napoleon's greatest victories, has names of 172 victories that French armies won during rev/napoleonic era
 * bank of france issued 20 franc coins w/ his portrait
 * cigar + brandy brands named after him
 * lullabies sang about him

SUMMARY
The French Revolution shaped the lives, beliefs and societies of Europeans afterwards. Not only did it influence the way we measure things, the streets names and the flags of Europe, it also made thousands of Europeans rebel for Liberalism (as they were used to having a constitution which gave them equal rights) and Nationalism (the idea of being one nation, the nation being a property of the people), which were taken away from them once the revolution ended. After the revolution ended in 1815, a new German Confederation of 39 states replaced Napoleon’s Rhine Confederation, and politicians drew a new map of Europe, the new borders having nothing to do with the nationality of the people within. In 1820, 1830 and 1848 rebellions took place in Germany, the Netherlands and Budapest, all wanting equal rights and freedom.

The most famous image from the French revolution is Liberty, a maiden named Marianne who appeared in countless paintings, statues and models. Two of her more famous appearance are the Statue of Liberty which was given to the US as a present, and in the Tiananmen Square Rebellion, where Chinese students constructed a replica of Liberty using polystyrene, demanding greater freedom.

The Napoleon legend lasts till now. Memoirs and quotes written by his friends are published, and the body of Napoleon now rests in a huge tomb of precious stone. The Arch de Troimphe in Paris is dedicated to him, his portrait is shown on banknotes, and cigar brands are named after him. He still stands as one of the most important figures in the history of mankind.

QUESTIONS
How did the Beijing students know of Liberty?

How long did it take to construct the Statue of Liberty?