The “Second” The “Second” French RevolutionFrench Revolution

The National Convention The National Convention (1792):(1792):

Girondin RuleGirondin Rule: 1792-1793: 1792-1793

Jacobin RuleJacobin Rule: 1793-1794: 1793-1794[“Reign of Terror”][“Reign of Terror”]

Thermidorian ReactionThermidorian Reaction: 1794-1795: 1794-1795

The Directory The Directory 1795-1799 1795-1799

Radical Takeover – The working class poor of Paris begin to exert Radical Takeover – The working class poor of Paris begin to exert more influence over the revolution and demand more drastic more influence over the revolution and demand more drastic changes to France’s political, social, and economic systemschanges to France’s political, social, and economic systems

Attitudes Attitudes & actions & actions

of of monarchymonarchy& court& court

Attitudes Attitudes & actions & actions

of of monarchymonarchy& court& court

Fear ofFear ofCounter-Counter-RevolutiRevoluti

onon

Fear ofFear ofCounter-Counter-RevolutiRevoluti

onon

ReligioReligiousus

divisiodivisionsns

ReligioReligiousus

divisiodivisionsns

PoliticPoliticalal

divisiodivisionsns

PoliticPoliticalal

divisiodivisionsns

WarWarWarWar

EconomEconomicic

CrisesCrises

EconomEconomicic

CrisesCrises

The Causes of The Causes of Instability in FranceInstability in France

1792 - 17951792 - 1795

The Causes of The Causes of Instability in FranceInstability in France

1792 - 17951792 - 1795

The JacobinsThe JacobinsJacobin Meeting HouseJacobin Meeting House

They held their meetings in the They held their meetings in the library of a former Jacobin library of a former Jacobin monastery in Paris.monastery in Paris.

Started as a debating society.Started as a debating society.

Membership mostly middle Membership mostly middle class.class.

Created a vast network of clubs.Created a vast network of clubs.

The The Sans-Culottes:Sans-Culottes:The Parisian Working The Parisian Working

ClassClass Small Small

shopkeepers.shopkeepers.

Tradesmen.Tradesmen.

Artisans.Artisans.

They shared many of They shared many of the ideals of their the ideals of their

middle class middle class representatives in representatives in

government.government.

The The Sans-Sans-CulottesCulottes

Depicted as Savages by a British Cartoonist.Depicted as Savages by a British Cartoonist.

The Storming of the The Storming of the Tuilieres:Tuilieres:

August 9-10, 1792August 9-10, 1792

This was triggered in part by the publication in This was triggered in part by the publication in Paris of the August 3 Brunswick Manifesto, which Paris of the August 3 Brunswick Manifesto, which

confirmed popular suspicions concerning the king’s confirmed popular suspicions concerning the king’s treason. King and Queen survived but were treason. King and Queen survived but were

imprisoned afterwards by the Legislative imprisoned afterwards by the Legislative Assembly.Assembly.

The September The September Massacres, Massacres, 17921792

(The dark side of the (The dark side of the Revolution!)Revolution!)

Rumors that the anti-revolutionary political prisoners Rumors that the anti-revolutionary political prisoners were plotting to break out & attack the revolutionary were plotting to break out & attack the revolutionary armies defending France, while the Prussians armies defending France, while the Prussians attacked from the front.attacked from the front.

Revolutionaries open prisons and massacre Revolutionaries open prisons and massacre suspected anti-revolutionaries - suspected anti-revolutionaries - over 1000 killed!over 1000 killed!

It discredited the Revolution among its remaining It discredited the Revolution among its remaining sympathizers abroad.sympathizers abroad.

The National The National ConventionConvention

(1792-1795)(1792-1795) Its first act was the formal Its first act was the formal abolition of the monarchy on abolition of the monarchy on September 22, 1792.September 22, 1792.

The Decree of FraternityThe Decree of Fraternity

it offered French assistance to any it offered French assistance to any subject peoples who wished to subject peoples who wished to overthrow their governments.overthrow their governments.

When France sneezes, When France sneezes, all of Europe catches all of Europe catches

cold!cold!

When France sneezes, When France sneezes, all of Europe catches all of Europe catches

cold!cold!

The National The National Convention and Convention and

the Political the Political SpectrumSpectrum

JacobinJacobinss

MontagnarMontagnardsds

(“The (“The Mountain”)Mountain”)

GirondistsGirondistsMonarchíeMonarchíe

nn(Royalists)(Royalists)

1790s:1790s:The PlainThe Plain

(swing (swing votes)votes)

TODAY:TODAY:

The Politics of the The Politics of the National Convention National Convention

(1792-1795)(1792-1795)

The MountainThe Mountain Girondists

Girondists

Power base in Paris.Power base in Paris.

Main support from the Main support from the sans-culottessans-culottes..

Would adopt extreme Would adopt extreme measures to achieve their measures to achieve their goals.goals.

Saw Paris as the center of Saw Paris as the center of the Revolution.the Revolution.

More centralized [in Paris] More centralized [in Paris] approach to government.approach to government.

Power base in the Power base in the provinces.provinces.

Feared the influence Feared the influence of the of the sans-culottessans-culottes..

Feared the Feared the dominance of Paris dominance of Paris in national politics.in national politics.

Supported more Supported more national national government government centralization centralization [federalism].[federalism].(Jacobins)

Three Major Radical (Jacobin) Leaders:

1.Maximilien Robespierre

2.Georges Danton

3.Jean-Paul Marat

Maximillian Maximillian RobespierreRobespierre

(1758 – 1794)(1758 – 1794)

““Terror is Terror is nothing nothing other than other than justice, justice, prompt, prompt, severe, severe, inflexible.”inflexible.”

““The secret The secret of freedom of freedom lies in lies in educating educating people, people, whereas the whereas the secret of secret of tyranny is in tyranny is in keeping keeping them them ignorant.”ignorant.”

Georges Jacques Georges Jacques DantonDanton

(1759 – 1794)(1759 – 1794)

“At last I perceive that in revolutions the supreme power finally rests with the most abandoned.”

Jean-Paul Jean-Paul MaratMarat

(1744 – 1793)(1744 – 1793)““Five or six Five or six hundred hundred heads cut heads cut off would off would have have assured assured your your repose, repose, freedom freedom and and happiness.”happiness.”

““Let us tax Let us tax the rich to the rich to subsidize subsidize the poor”the poor”

Because of a debilitating illness, Marat was eventually forced to work from home. He was assassinated (in the tub while taking a medicinal bath) by Charlotte Corday, a Girondist sympathizer, in July, 1793.

The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David

Louis XVI as a Louis XVI as a PigPig

c For the Mountain (and most Jacobins), the For the Mountain (and most Jacobins), the king was a traitor.king was a traitor.

c The Girondins felt that the Revolution had The Girondins felt that the Revolution had gone far enough and didn’t want to gone far enough and didn’t want to execute the king [maybe exile him].execute the king [maybe exile him].

Louis XVI’s Head Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, 1793)(January 21, 1793) - The trial of the king The trial of the king

was speeded up by was speeded up by the discovery in a the discovery in a secret cupboard in secret cupboard in Tuilieres Palace of Tuilieres Palace of 100s of private 100s of private documents.documents.

- They proved They proved conclusively Louis’ conclusively Louis’ knowledge and knowledge and encouragement of encouragement of foreign intervention.foreign intervention.

- The National The National Convention votedConvention voted387 to 334387 to 334 to to execute the execute the monarchs.monarchs.

Marie Antoinette as a Marie Antoinette as a SerpentSerpent

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette on the way to the on the way to the

GuillotineGuillotine

Attempts to Attempts to ControlControl

the Growing the Growing CrisisCrisis

1.1. Revolutionary Tribunal in ParisRevolutionary Tribunal in Paris made to made totry suspected counter-revolutionaries.try suspected counter-revolutionaries.

A.A. Representatives-on-MissionRepresentatives-on-Mission sent to the provinces & to the army.sent to the provinces & to the army. had wide powers to overseehad wide powers to oversee

conscription.conscription.

B. B. Watch Committees [Watch Committees [comité de comité de surveillancesurveillance]] keep an eye on foreigners & keep an eye on foreigners &

suspects.suspects.C. Sanctioned the trial & execution of C. Sanctioned the trial & execution of rebels and émigrés, should they ever rebels and émigrés, should they ever return to France. return to France.

Attempts to Attempts to ControlControl

the Growing the Growing CrisisCrisis

2.2. The printing of more The printing of more assignatsassignats to to pay for the war pay for the war (…leads to inflation)(…leads to inflation)..

3.3. Committee of Public Safety [CPS]Committee of Public Safety [CPS] to oversee and speed up the work of to oversee and speed up the work of

the government during this crisis.the government during this crisis.

4.4. Committee of General Security Committee of General Security [CGS][CGS]

responsible for the pursuit ofresponsible for the pursuit ofcounter-revolutionaries, thecounter-revolutionaries, thetreatment of suspects, & other treatment of suspects, & other internal security matters.internal security matters.

Committee for Public Committee for Public SafetySafety

(directs the “Reign of Terror”)(directs the “Reign of Terror”)

Revolutionary Tribunals.Revolutionary Tribunals. 300,000 arrested.300,000 arrested. 16,000 – 40,000 executed.16,000 – 40,000 executed.

Reign of Terror:(Sept. 5, 1793 - July 27, 1794)

• Despite military successes, the Convention continued to face problems domestically

• Danton and his Jacobin political party came to dominate French politics

• Committee of Public Safety– Headed by Danton (and later Robespierre)

– Those accused of treason were tried by the Committee’s Revolutionary Tribunal

• Guillotine became known as the “National Razor”

• Including innovative thinkers like Olympe de Gouges and Madame Jeanne Roland

The Guillotine:The Guillotine:An “Enlightenment An “Enlightenment

Tool”Tool”??

Oh, thou charming Oh, thou charming guillotine, guillotine,

You shorten kings and You shorten kings and queens;queens;

By your influence divine,By your influence divine,We have re-conquered our We have re-conquered our

rights.rights.Come to aid of the CountryCome to aid of the Country

And let your superb And let your superb instrumentinstrument

Become forever permanentBecome forever permanentTo destroy the impious To destroy the impious

sect.sect.Sharpen your razor for Pitt Sharpen your razor for Pitt

and his agentsand his agentsFill your divine sack with Fill your divine sack with

heads of tyrants. heads of tyrants.

(Invented as a quick and painless way too execute someone, but was also very efficient,

and was used to kill thousands)

Different Social Different Social Classes Executed Classes Executed

28%

31%

25%

8%

7%

The “Monster” The “Monster” GuillotineGuillotine

The last guillotine execution in France was in The last guillotine execution in France was in 19391939!!

The Terror The Terror Intensified:Intensified:

March to July, 1794March to July, 1794

Law of 22 PrairialLaw of 22 Prairial [June 10, 1794]. [June 10, 1794]. Trials were now limited to deciding only on Trials were now limited to deciding only on

liberty OR death, with defendants having no liberty OR death, with defendants having no rights.rights.

Were you an Were you an “enemy of the people?”“enemy of the people?” (the law (the law was so broadly written that almost anyone was so broadly written that almost anyone could fall within its definition!)could fall within its definition!)

1,500 executed between June & July.1,500 executed between June & July.

Danton & the

“Indulgents”

Danton & the

“Indulgents”

Jacques Hébert & the

Hérbetists

Jacques Hébert & the

Hérbetists

Executed in April, 1794Executed in April, 1794Executed in March, 1794Executed in March, 1794

End of the Reign of Terror (1794)

• Members of the Girondist political party tried to end the Reign of Terror initiated by the Jacobin political party

– This opposition to the Committee of Public Safety caused many Girondists to be tried and executed for treason

• Eventually, even Georges Danton wanted to end the executions– This resulted in Danton being tried and executed for treason

• Maximilien Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety– He continued the executions– Convention came to blame Robespierre for the Reign of Terror

• Thermidorean Reaction– July 27, 1794 – ended the Reign of Terror– Convention sent Robespierre and other members of the Committee of

Public Safety to the guillotine • Robespierre was guillotined on July 28, 1794

The “Thermidorean The “Thermidorean Reaction,” 1794Reaction,” 1794July 26July 26 Robespierre gives a Robespierre gives a

speech illustrating new speech illustrating new plots & conspiracies. plots & conspiracies.

he alienates more and more members he alienates more and more members of the National Conventionof the National Convention

many felt threatened by his many felt threatened by his implications.implications.

July 27 July 27 the Convention arrests the Convention arrests Robespierre. Robespierre.

July 28 July 28 Robespierre is tried & Robespierre is tried & guillotined! guillotined!END OF THE “RADICAL PHASE” OF END OF THE “RADICAL PHASE” OF

THE REVOLUTIONTHE REVOLUTION

The Arrest of Robespierre

The Revolution The Revolution ConsumesConsumes

Its Own Children!Its Own Children!

Danton Awaits Danton Awaits Execution, 1793Execution, 1793

Robespierre Lies WoundedRobespierre Lies WoundedBefore the Revolutionary Before the Revolutionary Tribunal that will order Tribunal that will order him to be guillotined, him to be guillotined,

1794.1794.

“Saturn Devouring his Son”

By Francisco Goya (circa 1820)

Parting ReformsPassed by the Convention

The “Cultural The “Cultural Revolution”Brought About Revolution”Brought About

by the Conventionby the Convention It was premised upon Enlightenment It was premised upon Enlightenment principles of rationality.principles of rationality.

The metric system of weights and The metric system of weights and measuresmeasures

Was defined by the French Academy of Was defined by the French Academy of Sciences in 1791 and enforced in 1793.Sciences in 1791 and enforced in 1793.

It replaced weights and measures that had It replaced weights and measures that had their origins in the Middle Ages.their origins in the Middle Ages.

The abolition of slavery within France in The abolition of slavery within France in 1791 and throughout the French colonies 1791 and throughout the French colonies in 1794.in 1794.

The Convention legalized divorce and The Convention legalized divorce and enacted shared inheritance laws [even for enacted shared inheritance laws [even for illegitimate offspring] in an attempt to illegitimate offspring] in an attempt to eradicate inequalities.eradicate inequalities.

REMINDER REMINDER

All this time, the French Revolutionaries are fighting

a war against foreign coalition of European

Monarchies

The The Levee en Masse:Levee en Masse:An Entire Nation at Arms! – 500,000 SoldiersAn Entire Nation at Arms! – 500,000 Soldiers

An army based on merit, not An army based on merit, not birth!birth!

Growing Foreign Coalition against the French Revolution

• Convention drafted Frenchmen into the army to defeat the foreign Coalition– These troops were led by General Carnot– The people supported military operations because they

did not want the country back under the Old Regime

• Rouget de Lisle wrote the “Marseillaise” (listen)– Became the French national anthem– Inspired troops as they were led into battle

• After two years (1793-1795)– Coalition was defeated– France had gained, rather than lost, territory

Constitution of the Year III of the Republic (1795)

• With the foreign invaders defeated and the Reign of Terror at an end, the Convention inaugurated its new constitution

• Constitution of the Year III of the Republic (1795) created the Directory

• the proletariat loses influence

Government under the Directory

Directory (1795-1799)

Review Questions

Bibliographic ResourcesBibliographic Resources

““Hist210—Europe in the Age of Hist210—Europe in the Age of Revolutions.”Revolutions.”http://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/courses/europe1/chron/rch5.htm

“ “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Exploring the French Revolution.”Exploring the French Revolution.” http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/

Matthews, Andrew. Matthews, Andrew. Revolution and Revolution and Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849. . CambridgeCambridgeUniversity Press, 2001.University Press, 2001.

“ “The Napoleonic Guide.” The Napoleonic Guide.” http://www.napoleonguide.com/index.htm