Crain Brinton’s “Anatomy of Revolution”
STAGES1. Symptoms- middle class expresses
anger over economic restraints
2. The Rising Fever- escalation of anger
reaches violent climax (eg Bastille,
Battle of Concord/Lexington)
3. Crisis- moderates are inept. Radicals
come to power (e.g. “Reign of Terror”).
Revolution slows down; people only
support it because of fear.
4. Convalescence- Revolution winds down
and country recovers. Strong central
ruler leads (e.g. George Washington)
HAITIAN REVOLUTION
(1789-1804)
I. Social Turmoil
1. White plantation owners politically
discriminated against gens de couleur (mixedrace planters)
2. Sugar plantations notorious for hash working
conditions
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Mortality rate very high. Most slaves were African
born as a result
3. Events of 1789 in France caused political
instability in Saint Domingue. Whites and gens
de couleur fight.
4. Toussaint L’Ouverture, former slave, leads
slave only successful slave rebellion in history
AGE OF NAPOLEON
1796-1815
I. Rise to Power
1. Excelled as artillery officer. Drove British forces from
French port of Toulon
2. Victories against Austrians. Took all of Italy, much of
central Europe
3. Failed to occupy Egypt
4. Returned and led coup d’etat in 1799. Set up 3-man
Consulate; became First Consul; Consul for life in
1802.
5. Invited Pope to crown him Emperor of France
II. Napoleon’s reforms
1. Set up system of public schools- lycee
2. Napoleonic Code
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Legal rights
Religious toleration
Meritocracy
Women lost power they had gained in Revolution
3. Made peace with Catholic Church through
Concordat of 1801
III. Building an Empire
1. Conquers Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, parts of
Prussia
2. Abolishes Holy Roman Empire and creates
Confederation of the Rhine
3. Conquers Spain and places his brother on
throne
4. Forced alliances on Prussia, Austria, and
Russia
5. Britain: strong navy. Napoleon imposed
Continental System
IV. Retreat and Defeat
1. Rise of “Nationalism” works against Napoleon
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Resent foreign rule and Continental System
2. Resistance in Spain, brutal repression
3. Russia withdraws from Continental System
and Napoleon marches for Moscow on June
22, 1812
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690,000 men largest army ever assembled
4. Russians used “scorched earth policy” as they
retreat deep into Russia.
5. Moscow is deserted, residents set fire to their
own capital!!!
V. Exile and a Curtain Call
1. Combined armies of Russia, Britain, Austria,
and Prussia defeat Napoleon at Battle of
Nations 1813.
2. Exiled to island of Elba…but he escapes in
1815!!!!
3. Battle of Waterloo is final defeat. June 18,1815
4. Died on island of St. Helena in 1821
VI. Legacy: Congress of Vienna 1815
1. Goal- create lasting peace. Established
balance of power and protected monarchies
2. Created Prussian buffer around France and
restored Bourbon line (Louis XVIII)
Revolutions Sweep Europe!
1. “National self-determination” sentiments spread
across the globe
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Greece gains independence from Ottomans in 1820
Britain, France, and U.S. extend voting rights (franchise)
2. Nationalist democratic revolutions in Europe
1848