Chapter 21Chapter 21Part 4Part 4

The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

The Age of RousseauThe Age of Rousseau1792-17991792-1799

The National Convention 1792-1795The National Convention 1792-1795 Most of the members of the National Most of the members of the National

Convention were Jacobins and republicansConvention were Jacobins and republicans They were well-educated middle class folkThey were well-educated middle class folk

Sept 1792: France was proclaimed a Sept 1792: France was proclaimed a republicrepublic

The Monarchy was abolishedThe Monarchy was abolished The Republic was based on Equality, The Republic was based on Equality,

Liberty and FraternityLiberty and Fraternity

The National ConventionThe National Conventiondivided into 2 factions:divided into 2 factions:

The MountainThe Mountain: radical republicans, : radical republicans, urbanitesurbanites

Led by Robespierre and DantonLed by Robespierre and Danton Called the Mountain because they sat Called the Mountain because they sat

on the upper most left side of the hallon the upper most left side of the hall

The Girondins:The Girondins: were moderate and were moderate and ruralrural

The Sans-culottesThe Sans-culottes

Were radical members of the Were radical members of the working-classworking-class

Were a big influence on the National Were a big influence on the National ConventionConvention

Had an economic agenda skilled at Had an economic agenda skilled at inciting violenceinciting violence

Were involved in the Storming of the Were involved in the Storming of the Bastille, the March to Versailles, the Bastille, the March to Versailles, the September MassacresSeptember Massacres

The Sans-culottesThe Sans-culottes

Believed the National Convention Believed the National Convention was too moderatewas too moderate

Threatened the National Convention Threatened the National Convention with mass uprisings …and they with mass uprisings …and they could delivercould deliver

In the MeantimeIn the Meantime

The French Revolutionary army successfully The French Revolutionary army successfully stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of Valmy (Sept. 1792)Valmy (Sept. 1792)

The battle was indecisive BUT was a great The battle was indecisive BUT was a great moral victory for the French Revolutionary moral victory for the French Revolutionary armyarmy

The Battle of Jemappes: the French were The Battle of Jemappes: the French were able to occupy the Austrian Netherlands as a able to occupy the Austrian Netherlands as a result of defeating the Austriansresult of defeating the Austrians

February 1793February 1793

The French declared war on Britain, The French declared war on Britain, Holland, and Spain while still at war Holland, and Spain while still at war with the first Coalition (Austria and with the first Coalition (Austria and Prussia)Prussia)

January 1793January 1793

Louis XVI was convicted of treason Louis XVI was convicted of treason and executedand executed

Those who had supported regicide Those who had supported regicide knew that they were in big trouble if knew that they were in big trouble if the government fellthe government fell

By the Spring of 1793…the military By the Spring of 1793…the military was in troublewas in trouble

May 1793May 1793

The Mountain, with support of the The Mountain, with support of the Sans-culottes ousted the GirondinsSans-culottes ousted the Girondins

The Mountain believed that the The Mountain believed that the Girondins would ally with Girondins would ally with conservatives and royalists to conservatives and royalists to remain in powerremain in power

EnragesEnrages

Were leaders of the radical working class in Were leaders of the radical working class in ParisParis

They were even scarier than the Sans-They were even scarier than the Sans-culottes!culottes!

They seized and arrested 31 GirondinsThey seized and arrested 31 Girondins

Many Girondins left Paris to work against the Many Girondins left Paris to work against the revolutionary governmentrevolutionary government

By this time, many in France had lost faith in By this time, many in France had lost faith in the Revolutionary governmentthe Revolutionary government

Remember Marat?Remember Marat?

Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Sans-culottes, and Enrages)Sans-culottes, and Enrages)

1793 He was stabbed (killed) while in the 1793 He was stabbed (killed) while in the tub by Charlotte Corday (who supported tub by Charlotte Corday (who supported the Girondins)the Girondins)

She was later executedShe was later executed Women’s political clubs were closed down Women’s political clubs were closed down

by the governmentby the government

The Death of MaratThe Death of Maratby Jacques-Louis Davidby Jacques-Louis David

The Committee of Public The Committee of Public SafetySafety

1793-17941793-1794 Led by RobespierreLed by Robespierre Was an emergency government Was an emergency government National Convention was abolishedNational Convention was abolished

Robespierre was influenced by Robespierre was influenced by Rousseau and was a fanatic Rousseau and was a fanatic regarding revolutionary idealismregarding revolutionary idealism

The Committee of Public The Committee of Public SafetySafety

Worked closely with the Sans-culottesWorked closely with the Sans-culottes Another leader: Louis Saint-JustAnother leader: Louis Saint-Just

Imposed Imposed The Law of Maximum:The Law of Maximum: A A planned economy to deal with food planned economy to deal with food shortages, supplies for the war, etcshortages, supplies for the war, etc

Would help France wage “total war” Would help France wage “total war” against its enemiesagainst its enemies

The Law of MaximumThe Law of Maximum

The Government decreed maximum allowable The Government decreed maximum allowable prices fixed in paper assignats for key itemsprices fixed in paper assignats for key items

The price of bread was fixed at levels the The price of bread was fixed at levels the poor could affordpoor could afford

Rationing was introducedRationing was introduced Small workshops were nationalized, raw Small workshops were nationalized, raw

materials and grain were requisitioned by the materials and grain were requisitioned by the governmentgovernment

Government produced arms and munitionsGovernment produced arms and munitions Was an early version of socialismWas an early version of socialism

SlaverySlavery

Was abolished in the French Was abolished in the French colonies (Haiti)colonies (Haiti)

The War EffortThe War Effort

Lazare Carnot reorganized the French Lazare Carnot reorganized the French armyarmy

Levee en masseLevee en masse the whole country was the whole country was conscripted!conscripted!

The largest army in European history: The largest army in European history: One million strongOne million strong

The first coalition was in declineThe first coalition was in decline

French VictoriesFrench Victories

Fed French nationalismFed French nationalism

The Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror 1793-17941793-1794

The Law of Suspects:The Law of Suspects: Accused Accused enemies of the revolution were tried enemies of the revolution were tried in front of Revolutionary Tribunalsin front of Revolutionary Tribunals

Were tried for treasonWere tried for treason Louis XVI was convicted and executed Louis XVI was convicted and executed

through this lawthrough this law Marie Antoinette was executed later Marie Antoinette was executed later

in the yearin the year

The Law of SuspectsThe Law of Suspects

Was responsible for the death of about Was responsible for the death of about 40,000 people40,000 people

Most were guillotined (more humane)Most were guillotined (more humane)

The Reign of Terror was a political weaponThe Reign of Terror was a political weapon All classes were threatened, tried, executedAll classes were threatened, tried, executed

8% of victims were nobles8% of victims were nobles 14% were bourgeoisie14% were bourgeoisie 6% Clergy6% Clergy 70% peasants or laborers70% peasants or laborers

Most people were Most people were arrestedarrested

While engaging in open revolts While engaging in open revolts against the governmentagainst the government

300,000 were imprisoned300,000 were imprisoned

In the end…NO ONE WAS SAFE!In the end…NO ONE WAS SAFE!

Soon, leading Jacobins were Soon, leading Jacobins were victimsvictims

Danton and his followers were Danton and his followers were arrested and executed!arrested and executed!

The Republic of VirtueThe Republic of Virtue

Created by RobespierreCreated by Robespierre A new political culture designed to A new political culture designed to

promote revolutionary virtuepromote revolutionary virtue

A New calendar was introduced…A New calendar was introduced…eliminated references to religious, Greco-eliminated references to religious, Greco-Roman Gods, etc.Roman Gods, etc.

Changed names of months and days and Changed names of months and days and number of days in months, months in number of days in months, months in years, etcyears, etc

1794 The Cult of the 1794 The Cult of the Supreme BeingSupreme Being

A Deistic natural religion which A Deistic natural religion which recognized the existence of God and recognized the existence of God and the immortality of the human soulthe immortality of the human soul

Notre Dame Cathedral became The Notre Dame Cathedral became The Temple of ReasonTemple of Reason

Catholics were firmly against the Catholics were firmly against the government by this timegovernment by this time

The Thermidorian The Thermidorian Reaction 1794Reaction 1794

Robespierre had gone too farRobespierre had gone too far Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs

helped to topple Robespierrehelped to topple Robespierre

Robespierre was denounced in the Robespierre was denounced in the Convention, was arrested, tried, and Convention, was arrested, tried, and executed…along with his followersexecuted…along with his followers

The working class had stopped supporting The working class had stopped supporting Robespierre when their fellows were Robespierre when their fellows were targeted by the Law of Suspectstargeted by the Law of Suspects