Responses to the French Revolution and Napoleon
595,602-603
Revolutionary ideals inspired a slave revolt led by Toussaint L’Ouverture in the French colony of Saint
Domingue, which became the independent nation of Haiti in 1804.
Early in the French Revolution a club called Friends of the Blacks advocated the abolition of slavery, yet in the
French Indies (Haiti) the French planters opposed the idea of freedom for slaves.
1. Why were the French planters opposed to the abolition of slavery?
In 1791 revolts began in Saint Domingue plantations, 1792 National Assembly issued a decree enfranchising all
free blacks and free people of color (defeat the slave rebellion). By 1793 Spain (other side of the island) started
to support the slave rebellion – making L’Ovuerture a Spanish officer – then the British blockaded the French
territory also. Therefore the French in Feb 1794 abolished slavery over all French territories including the
Caribbean colonies.
2. How did the ideals of the revolution inspire a slave revolt in Saint Domingue?
3. L’Overture is often called the George Washington of Haiti. Do you agree of disagree with this
characterization and why?
Revolution, war, and rebellion demonstrated the emotional power of mass politics and nationalism.
Nationalism: Nationalism involved the unique cultural identity of a people based on a common language,
religion, and national symbols. The spirit of French nationalism had made possible the mass armies of the
revolutionary and Napoleonic eras.
Fitche: To the German Nation 1806. Read the excerpt in your packet.
1. How does Fitche define a “nation” in the first paragraph?
2. To what religious disputes is he referring in the third paragraph? (context)
3. Why does the German “nation” not have a country of its own when he writes this document (what were the
long and short term causes)
4. In the last paragraph, Fitche argues that there should be something different from either Napoleon or the Holy
Roman empire – he calls for a new Germany. How does he use the ideals of the Enlightenment and the
Revolution to justify his position?
Goya and Spanish nationalism
Napoleon puts his brother on the
throne as King of Spain. In 1807,
Napoleon, bent on conquering the
world, brought Spain’s king, Charles
IV, into an alliance with him in
order to conquer Portugal.
Napoleon’s troops poured into
Spain, supposedly just passing
through, But Napoleon’s real
intentions soon became clear: the
alliance was a trick. The French
were taking over.
On 2nd, 1808, hundreds of Spaniards
rebelled. On May 3rd, these Spanish
freedom fighters were rounded up
and massacred by the French. Their
blood literally ran through the streets
of Madrid. Even though Goya had
shown French sympathies in the
past, the slaughter of his countrymen
and the horrors of war made a
profound impression on the artist.
1. How does Goya’s painting demonstrate the emotional power of nationalism?
2. How did the ideal of nationalism work against the French during the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars?
While many were inspired by the revolution’s emphasis on equality and human rights, others condemned
its violence and disregard for traditional authority
Read the excerpt from Edmund Burke in the packet and answer the following questions:
1. What is the tone of Burke’s response to the Revolution?
2. In what ways does Burke think Revolutionary leaders failed the nation?
3. What does Burke is the proper basis/foundation for a stable, prosperous and free country?
How does Religion unite many of the responses to the French Revolution?