French RepublicSection 3

National Convention of 1792

• 1st meeting in September• Universal Manhood Suffrage– The way delegates were elected– Meant every adult male could vote

3 Groups emerge

• Girondians– Named after department of Gironde– Republicans that feared domination by Paris

• Jacobins– Republicans who favored domination by Paris– Radicals– Wanted reforms to benefit all classes

• Other Delegates

• National Convention governed for 3 years– Declared end of monarchy– Write new constitution– Still fight war– Brought Louis XVI to trial• Charged with plotting against the security of France• Sentenced to death• Beheaded on January 2, 1793

– France defeats Austria and Prussia

Really, France?#you’ve got to be kidding me!

• France then attacks Austrian Netherlands• European monarch countries unite against

France– Pushed out of Netherlands

• Allied countries invade France…AGAIN– Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, parts of Germany

Committee of Public Safety

• 1793• Set up to direct army in times of warfare to

ward off invasions• Adopted Conscription– Draft– 18 – 25– Unmarried– Abled body– Young French develop a sense of NATIONALISM

Reign of Terror• Legislature worked to suppress all opposition to

new government• Tried and killed anyone and everyone disloyal

to the government• Robespierre and Danton– Leaders– Even had Marie Antoinette killed

• Eventually legislatures say enough– Had Robespierre killed– End of Reign of Terror– Many wanted the monarchy back

Good things National Assembly accomplished

• Opened elementary schools• Stopped inflation• Addressed human rights abuses• Established religious toleration• Adopted metric system• Calendar (didn’t last)• Army Victorious

Constitution of 1795• Established 2 houses

– Lower• 500 men• Proposed laws

– Upper• 250 men• Accepted or rejected proposals • Elected 5 member “DIRECTORY”

– Executive Branch

• Eliminated Universal Manhood Suffrage– Only male property owners could vote– Wealthy controlled France once again

• Lasted 4 years

Napoleon Bonaparte26 years old, 5’2” tall

• General in Wars with Great Britain, Austria, Sardinia (Germany)

• Stopped uprising in Paris that would have stopped the creation of the Directory

• Advance career by marriage– Josephine de Beauharnais– Made Commander of French Army in Italy

Napoleonic Wars

• 1796 – 1815• Genius in military tactics• France gains land and prestige

• Mistake– Fought British in Egypt– Embarrassing defeat– Leaves army and goes back to France– Lies about victory (lack of)

Napoleon Takes Power• France losing territories• British alliance pushing France out• People fear invasion• 1799 – legislature gets rid of 4/5 Directors• Napoleon has Army surround legislature• Those left turn government over – Coup d’etat – seizing power by force

“I found the crown of France lying on the ground, and I picked it up with my sword.”

--Napoleon Bonaparte