Political Reforms From Political Reforms From the French Revolutionthe French RevolutionEvents of the Reign of Events of the Reign of

TerrorTerror

Eric Lu, Christopher Micek, Eric Lu, Christopher Micek,

Frank Yee, Gary Chen, and Frank Yee, Gary Chen, and Ewelina GadekEwelina Gadek

Rights of MenRights of Men

► All men were proven to be equal (excluded All men were proven to be equal (excluded groups including slaves and women)groups including slaves and women)

► Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Press Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Press were issued out. The commoners could not were issued out. The commoners could not be immediately be immediately

► The commoners could no longer be treated The commoners could no longer be treated with less privileges than the wealthy and/or with less privileges than the wealthy and/or powerful (nobles and clergies) powerful (nobles and clergies)

Reforms On The Roman Catholic Reforms On The Roman Catholic ChurchChurch

► The Church was stripped of power and of land. The Church was stripped of power and of land. ► Assignats were issued out as currency for the properties of Assignats were issued out as currency for the properties of

the Church. Used to escape financial crisis for a while.the Church. Used to escape financial crisis for a while.► No longer able to collect tithes or 10% taxes from the No longer able to collect tithes or 10% taxes from the

commoners. Clergymen were paid by the People or state.commoners. Clergymen were paid by the People or state.► The Public had more control over the uses of the Church. The Public had more control over the uses of the Church.

(Used as shelters to house the homeless. Monasteries that (Used as shelters to house the homeless. Monasteries that were not affiliated with the public were shut down.)were not affiliated with the public were shut down.)

The Limited MonarchyThe Limited Monarchy

► In September 1791, the In September 1791, the French created a constitution, French created a constitution, transforming the absolute transforming the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy into a constitutional or limited monarchy.or limited monarchy.

► King Louis XVI maintained King Louis XVI maintained position of highest authority, position of highest authority, but had to answer to new but had to answer to new legislative body, called the legislative body, called the Legislative Assembly.Legislative Assembly.

► Abolished the nobility as a Abolished the nobility as a social order, kept power from social order, kept power from guilds and monopolies.guilds and monopolies.

► Established poll tax and Established poll tax and prohibited servants from prohibited servants from voting. voting.

• Maximilien Robespierre was the mastermind behind the reign of terror.He was the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, the executive committee of the National Convention, and the most powerful man in France.

• Used terror to promote their revolutionary agenda, eliminating those who opposed with death.

• Using the efficient Guillotine those who were against or opposed the Committee of Public Safety were killed quickly and fast. “in late 1793–1794, during which he had more than 15,000 people executed at the guillotine”

• Robespierre rule and usage of the guillotine came to an end when the foreign invaders no longer posed a threat and the economy stabilized.