First Outline for Term Paper

Term Paper Outline

Thesis: In 1804 after the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte became emperor and influenced Europe because of the sole fact that he was a politically stable leader amidst the worst turmoil the country had seen in ages by implementing many of his reforms, such as the Napoleonic code and through his many wars against other European countries.

Definitions: French Revolution- the revolution that began in 1789, overthrew the absolute monarchy of the Bourbons and the system of aristocratic privileges, and ended with Napoleon's overthrow of the Directory and seizure of power in 1799

Napoleonic Code- the civil code of France, enacted in 1804 and officially designated in 1807.

Napoleonic Wars- the intermittent wars (1796–1815) waged by France principally against England, Prussia, Austria, and Russia.

Sources: Primary: BBC and Internet Modern sourcebook, some letters from Napoleon and his military personnel

Secondary sources: the Kaplan guide, Wikipedia, and several websites with the biography of napoleon

I. Historical information leading up to Napoleon’s Reign.

a. The third estate consisted of everyone from wealthy merchants to lower peasants.

b. They owned about 40% of the land.

c. Prices rose 65% while wages only increased 22%.

d. Third Estate became the National Assembly.

e. The government switched to the Committee of Public safety and then the Directory.

f. Napoleon was given military position and on the return of his last set up a coup d’état and seized control.

II. Napoleons government and how he stabilized the government.

a. He became the First consul of the triumvirate.

b. Passed the Concordat which made peace with the church.

c. He enforced law and order in France at the time of his leadership.

d. Created peace with Britain.

III. Napoleons many wars.

a. Fought the British, the Russians, and the Austrians.

b. Was defeated in a naval battle against the British.

c. He recreated Poland.

d. Peninsular war with Spain which was a guerilla war.

e.

1. War between Britain and France 1803-1814
2. War of the Third Coalition 1805
3. War of the Fourth Coailition 1806-1807
4. War of the Fifth Coalition 1809
5. The invasion of Russia 1812
6. War of the Sixth Coalition 1812-1814
7. Gunboat war 1807-1814
8. War of 1812

IV. Napoleons code that he set up throughout Europe.

a. It was divided into a criminal and civil code.

b. Citizens were considered equal before the law.

c. Women lost the legal rights they had formally gained.

d. The army and bureaucracy were the means of advancement.

V. Napoleons ideas and reforms throughout Europe.

VI. Effects of the Reign of Napoleon.

a. Because of his position of power and the stability he gave France, he was able to go to war with many countries and to expand the French Empire.

b. He went into the new world and gained the Louisiana territory from the Spanish but then sold it to the United States.

c. Signed many peace treaties with other countries in Europe.

d. Made peace with the church.

VII. Conclusion

a. With out Napoleons stable leadership, the continent of Europe would not be the same as it is today. Even thought he had some tough times, and may have had some defeats, he still stayed strong and was able to provide a stable base for France to get back on its feet.

Term Paper Thesis

In Europe during the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France and became the Emperor in 1804, from which he decidedly manipulated and influenced much of the country as well as Europe through his many wars, codes, and many of his ideas of public works and reforms in order to become one of the most powerful and tyrannical figures in European history .

French Revolution and Egyptian Revolution

French Revolution and Egyptian Revolution

1. Compare / Contrast Louis XVI and Mubarak.

Similarities	Differences
Both ruled as absolute monarchies: Louis XVI- Absolute ruler and Mubarak- Dictator	Louis was executed. Mubarak was forced out of office.
Both failed to improve financial situation	Mubarak tried to help financial situation but failed. Louis didn’t even try.
Both dismissed ministers that tried to help with financial reforms	Louis made sure that no one could kick him out of office. But the revolution succeeded. Mubarak allowed people to run against him but they never won.
Both distanced themselves from the common people. Louis at Versailles and Mubarak at his presidential palace.	Mubarak held office for 30 years from 1981 to 2011, while Louis XVI ruled from 1774-1791
Both were forced out of office because of revolutions
Louis assigns nobles to positions of power. Mubarak assigns his friends to positions of power in his cabinet.

2. In each case, WHY were the people protesting? (Cite primary sources).

In the French Revolution the people were protesting because of the financial situation. The government was taking advantage of the poor making them pay all the taxes in times of inflation and famine. The nobles and clergy were exempt from paying and taxes at all. Even though making the upper class pay taxes could have helped the situation in France, Louis refused to make them pay and so faced the consequences when they got so fed up they revolted and had him executed.

http://history.hanover.edu/texts/cahier.htm

http://history.hanover.edu/texts/cahiers3.html

The Egyptian revolution is similar to that of the French revolution. The people were tired of being oppressed by the dictator Mubarak and decided to oust him. He was known for spending money on himself and they say that Mubarak may be wealthier than Bill Gates. The people of Egypt wanted to end corruption and police repression.

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/egypt

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112523026521335.html

3. What role did women play?

Women played an important role in the French Revolution. They were responsible for the march on Versailles, which was when nearly 100,000 women protested. They was the famous Olympe de Gouge who was a famous writer of the pamphlet Rights of Women prompting other women to realize they should have equal rights as men and to fight for those rights. Marie Antionette was disliked by the people of France for being promiscuous and having sympathy for the enemy. Women were part of the Egyptian revolution but were not as famous for it. They took part in the marches, protests, and other activities in the Egyptian revolution. These women helped support the men in the protests with food and water. But they also marched against the presidential palace as well.

4. What concerns are their about the current situation in Egypt? How might they relate to the days following the fall of Louis XVI?

There are concerns on whether or not the military is going to take control of the country. Since they suspended the constitution to get rid of parliament, the people in charge may wish to take control and stay in power. Others think that Mubarak may not have been the only problem and that others still exist and the situation may not get better. In the days following the fall of Louis XVI there were still some protests just like in Egypt but they went right back to an absolute dictator this time in the form of Napoleon.

5. How did/are people express(ing) their views?

In both cases, the people are expressing their views both peacefully and violently. They are using guns, Molotov cocktails and other explosive devices in Egypt. It is violent in which people are getting hurt in Egypt. In France, nearly 14,000 people were killed for expressing their ideas. They marched, printed pamphlets, joined in the estates general and later their own national assembly, wrote a constitution that was never used, and eventually guns. The Egyptian revolution consisted of marching and protests with bombs, guns, and explosions.

6. Are the current protests violent?

Yes the current protests are violent. People were known for attacking each other and those relating to the government that was going to be overthrown. There were bombs in the streets along with people shooting guns and throwing Molotov cocktails.

7. What do people on the ground in Cairo think is going to happen now? (Directly contact reporters and bloggers in Egypt via Twitter during this class period).

While attempting to contact reporters on the ground in Egypt, my actions were futile and no one got back to me. However, from what others have said in class, the situation is looking hopeful. People are celebrating their freedom and continuing limited protests to further more demands and freedoms. Right now the military has taken charge to bring stability to the region. This can work as long as they do not greedy with power. If all goes well within a year a new democracy will be installed.

8. Based on your study of the French Revolution and your current observations of the situation in Egypt, what do you think are possible outcomes? How are the possible outcomes in Egypt alike or different with outcomes in France -- both in the short and long term.

Military will step in and take control. Suspended the constitution and fired parliament. Some possible outcomes for Egypt include successfully implementing a new government, one that they people will support. However, on the negative side, the military leaders may wish to gain power, and take control. More protests may ensue and more people injured, but right now it is calming down and people happy with the way the revolt went.

Kaplan multiple choice

40%
8/20

The Question: Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the Terror as an instrument of the French Revolution.

The Question: Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the Terror as an instrument of

the French Revolution.

In the summer of 1793 France was going through major change. France was in the midst of a revolution and fighting broke out all over the place. Eventually, the National Convention took control of the government in France and tried to restore order. However, with the Prussian and Austrian armies to the north and east, the British navy threatening the coasts, and the country in economic turmoil, the new republic had many problems. Starting in August, the Committee of Public Safety started issuing new reforms in which to control the public and to restore order. During the year of 1793, the Committee of Public Safety instituted the Terror as an instrument in the French Revolution which enabled the government to try to squash the rebellions, but at the same time it caused much grief and anger at the new government.

The Terror was no doubt harsh. However, it accomplished the goal it was created for: to cause terror and discourage people from rebelling against the new government. In the time of the Terror over 14,000 people were killed all across France from the nobles to the peasants. Nearly 25% of the deaths in Paris were nobles while the clergy, middleclass, and peasants made up the other 75% (doc. 2). With these statistics, it shows that the government was not afraid to kill anyone, even nobles, to get what it wanted. This put terror in everyone and showed that no one is safe if they go against the government. The main reason for the executions was due to any number of acts of treason against the state, including conspiracy, counter revolution opinions, clergy who refused allegiance to the state, and corruption (doc. 3). Even talking about revolting against the state was cause for execution. This put fear into the people, and made sure no one would go against the state. General Ronsin supports the Terror especially when over 4,000 people where killed. It made an example to other departments with seeds of rebellion to show how futile it would be to imitate them (doc. 5). In documents of public opinion, some people were supporting the tribunal in its execution affairs. If the people were nobles they could understand going against the state, but to the middle class and peasants “the law is just” (doc. 12). Also, if the tribunal executed the guilty and let the innocent go free, then the public was satisfied with this (doc. 9).

On the other hand, the Terror was extremely disadvantageous. In some ways it caused more harm than good. In a report on public opinion, every area in Paris was dissatisfied with the revolutionary committee (doc. 13.) This is probably because so many people were killed by guillotines or firing squads. The citizens of France were not happy with the way the Committee of Public Safety was handling the reforms. The government became too oppressive and killed anyone who voiced counter revolutionary ideas. Many citizens were imprisoned and people complained about this, because in reality they were true patriots but expressed to much human passion and for this put in jail (doc. 10). Camille Desmoulins was a former ally of Robespierre. However, he had his disagreements and wondered how the government could kill all of its enemies by means of guillotine. With this course of action, for every person killed, it caused the state to have ten more enemies (doc. 6.)

All in all as long as the state is stronger than the citizens of the country, oppression like the Terror can succeed. However, if it isn’t than the government will topple. The Terror was advantageous in that it subdued the people and the government was still in power. However, it caused much dissent with the citizens and caused the state to have many enemies.

Candide

Candide by Voltaire

Which do you prefer: Pangloss's optimism or Martin's pessimism? Why?

Thesis: Throughout the novel, there was the constant optimism by Pangloss that everything that happens is the best that could possibly happen. Pangloss was a German philosopher who in his own right was correct in his theory of optimism because the order of events lead from one thing to another and without each and every event, Candide would not be happy at the end of the book.

I. Pangloss was the teacher of Candide and imparted on him the knowledge and wisdom that whatever happens is the best possible course of action.

a. Candide continued to be optimistic and shared his views with everyone while trying to get back to his love, Cunegonde.

b. Throughout the novel the order of events eventually lead Candide around the world searching for Cunegonde and making new friends, eventually going from Germany to many areas of the world such as Eldorado, Buenos Ares and Italy.

II. Candide has only one goal in mind.

a. Throughout the entire novel Candide has one goal which is to find Cunegonde and be rich with her.

b. When he finds out that she is alive, he is filled with joy that they are now together, however, his adventures take them apart.

c. After she is married to the governor of Buenos Ares, Candide’s only goal is to get rich and to get her back.

III. Candide has many discussions about God and if everything happens if it is for the best.

a. Candide was always faithful in the belief of his mentor Pangloss and that of everything happens for the best, and from this he continues to stay strong and believe.

b. Even when he kills people, he is tortured, and long way from Cunegonde, Candide believes it is the best possible solution.

c. At the end of the book, he realizes that he is happy, and if it was not for all the bad and the good events in his life, he would not be happy at the end of the novel.

IV. Pangloss has the right idea that optimism is the course of action to take because God makes everything happen the way it does because it is the best possible outcome.

a. Pangloss follows the belief of Leibnitz and that God knows all and makes everything happen the way it does because it is the best possible outcome.

b. Without Candide believing in this, he may have given up, and he may not have lived happily ever after with the women he had loved for so long even though she is ugly.