Question

In this lesson, you learned about the changes that occurred in and because of France from 1789 to 1815. Three different eras were discussed: The French Revolutionary Era (1789–1799), The Napoleonic Era (1799–1815), and the Bourbon Restoration (after 1815).

Consider this: in many ways, a historian's work is like that of a detective. Historians carefully try to put together the pieces of history by looking at primary and secondary sources. This is similar to the way detectives look at evidence when trying to solve a case. In this assessment, you will have an opportunity to work like a true historian. You will study evidence and develop a logical conclusion based on the sources presented to you.

In this assessment, you will analyze the sources based on the era, and you will also use information you have learned in this lesson to support your responses.

You will be analyzing sources during and after the French Revolutionary Era. You will use the documents to evaluate how the different eras during the late 18th and early 19th centuries shaped the identity and character of the people of France. You will need to answer each analysis question in a short paragraph of complete sentences. You will first analyze each of them with two separate questions and then you will consider the big picture of the 26 extraordinary years of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Era with a reflection question.

Answer 1

The sources that I am being analyzing, and my analysis of them are:

• Source 1: Excerpt from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789)
  This document outlines the basic rights of all people, including the right to life, liberty, and property.
  It also states that the government is instituted to protect these rights, and that it must be based on the consent of the governed.
  This reflects the ideals of the French Revolution, which were based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• Source 2: Excerpt from Napoleon's Code Civil (1804)
  This law code established a system of civil law, which is based on the principle of equality before the law.
  It also established a system of property rights, and it guaranteed freedom of religion.
  This reflects the changes that took place in France during the Napoleonic Era, which was a time of great legal reform.
• Source 3: Excerpt from a letter written by a French woman during the Bourbon Restoration (1815)
  This letter reflects the challenges faced by France during the Bourbon Restoration.
  The letter writer expresses her fear of the return of the monarchy, and she expresses her hope for a more democratic future.
  She also expresses her concern about the economic hardships that France was facing at the time. This reflects the political and economic instability that characterized the Bourbon Restoration.

`\boxed{\bold{Reflection:}}`

The different eras during the late 18th and early 19th centuries had a profound impact on the identity and character of the people of France. The French Revolution gave rise to a new sense of national identity, and it also led to the development of a more democratic and egalitarian society.

The Napoleonic Era led to the expansion of French culture and language, and it also helped to spread the ideals of the French Revolution throughout Europe. The Bourbon Restoration was a time of great turmoil, but it also led to the development of a more unified French nation.

The 26 extraordinary years of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Era were a time of great change and upheaval for France. These years had a profound impact on the identity and character of the French people, and they helped to shape the modern nation of France.