#english_history 

## Revolution in France
In France the revolution had been made by the "bourgeoisie", or middle class. In England the middle class had acted together for centuries and had become the most powerful class in Britain. They had no sympathy with the French revolutionaries and were frightened by the danger of "awakening" the working classes.

Several [[Radicalism in Great Britain and the loss of American colonies|radicals]] sympathised with the cause of the French revolutionaries, and called for reforms in Britain. But in England both the gentry and the bourgeoisie felt they were being attacked, and the radicals were accused of putting Britain in danger.

The Whig Party was split:
- those who feared the revoltuion adn joined William Pitt "the Younger" (the son of Lord Chatham)
- those who wanted reform stayed with the radial Charles James Fox

Not all the radicals sympathised with the revolutionaries in France: 
- Edmund Burke wrote Reflections on the Revolution in France and quarrelled with the other radicals
- Tom Paine was an avowed supporter and escaped to France

Hardly any working class voices were heard, but it should be noted that the first definitely working-class political organisation, the **"Corresponding Society"**, was established at this time. It was forcefully closed in **1798**.

Britain declared war on France in 1793 after France had invaded the Low Countries (Belgium and Holland). Britain decided to fight France at sea because it had a stronger navy. The British admiral, **Horatio Nelson**, won brilliant victories over the French near the coast of Egypt, at Copenhagen, was finally at Trafalgar in **1805**, where he destroyed te French-Spanish fleet, although Nelson himself was killed there.

Then **Arthur Wellington** defeated Napoleon with the help of the Allies in 1814 and in 1815 after his return.