The “Second” The “Second” French RevolutionFrench Revolution

The National Convention:The National Convention:

Girondin Rule: 1792-1793Girondin Rule: 1792-1793

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

Thermidorian Reaction: 1794-Thermidorian Reaction: 1794-17951795

The Directory The Directory 1795-1799 1795-1799

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

EconoEconomicmic

CrisesCrises

EconoEconomicmic

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

which confirmed popular suspicions which confirmed popular suspicions concerning the king’s treason.concerning the king’s treason.

The September The September Massacres, Massacres, 17921792

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

Buveurs de sangBuveurs de sang [“drinkers of blood.”] [“drinkers of blood.”] over 1000 over 1000 killed!killed!

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

The National The National ConventionConvention

(September, 1792)(September, 1792) 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 The Year IYear I of the French Republic. of the French Republic.

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 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)MontagnardsMontagnards Girondist

sGirondist

s 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 localized localized government government [federalism].[federalism].

Louis XVI as a Louis XVI as a PigPig

c For the Montagnards, the king was a For the Montagnards, the king was a traitor.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 (January 21, 1793)21, 1793)c The trial of the king--The trial of the king--

hastened by the hastened by the discovery in a secret discovery in a secret cupboard in the cupboard in the Tuilieres of a cache Tuilieres of a cache of documents.of documents.

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

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

The Death of “Citizen” The Death of “Citizen” Louis CapetLouis Capet

Matter for Matter for reflectionreflection

for the crowned for the crowned jugglers.jugglers.

So impure bloodSo impure blooddoesn’t soil our land!doesn’t soil our land!

Marie Antoinette as a Marie Antoinette as a SerpentSerpent

The “Widow Capet”The “Widow Capet”

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette on the Way to the on the Way to the

GuillotineGuillotine

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Died in October, Died in October,

17931793

Attempts to Attempts to ControlControl

the Growing the Growing CrisisCrisis

1.1. Revolutionary Tribunal in ParisRevolutionary Tribunal in Paris try trysuspected counter-revolutionaries.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.

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

Revolutionary Tribunals.Revolutionary Tribunals. 300,000 arrested.300,000 arrested. 20,000+ executed.20,000+ executed.

Maximillian Maximillian RobespierreRobespierre(1758 – 1794)(1758 – 1794)

Georges Jacques Georges Jacques DantonDanton

(1759 – 1794)(1759 – 1794)

Jean-Paul Jean-Paul MaratMarat

(1744 – 1793)(1744 – 1793)

““The Death of Marat”The Death of Marat”by Jacques Louis David,by Jacques Louis David,

17931793

The Assassination of The Assassination of MaratMarat

by Charlotte Corday, by Charlotte Corday, 17931793

The Assassination of The Assassination of MaratMarat

by Charlotte by Charlotte CordayCorday

Paul JacquesPaul JacquesAimee Baudry, Aimee Baudry, 1919cc

[A Romantic[A RomanticView]View]

Legislation Passed by Legislation Passed by the the

National ConventionNational Convention1.1. Law of General MaximumLaw of General Maximum September 5, 1793.September 5, 1793. Limited prices of grain & other essentials to 1/3Limited prices of grain & other essentials to 1/3

above the 1790 prices & wages to ½ of 1790above the 1790 prices & wages to ½ of 1790figures.figures.

Prices would be strictly enforced.Prices would be strictly enforced. Hoarders rooted out and punished.Hoarders rooted out and punished. Food supplies would be secured by the army!Food supplies would be secured by the army!

2.2. Law of SuspectsLaw of Suspects September 17, 1793.September 17, 1793. This law was so widely drawn that almost anyoneThis law was so widely drawn that almost anyone

not expressing enthusiastic support for the not expressing enthusiastic support for the republic could be placed under arrest!republic could be placed under arrest!

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!

The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of Terror

Terror is nothing other than Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre-- Robespierre

Let terror be Let terror be the order of the order of

the day!the day!c The Revolutionary The Revolutionary

Tribunal of Paris alone Tribunal of Paris alone executed 2,639 executed 2,639 victims in 15 months.victims in 15 months.

c The total number of The total number of victims nationwide victims nationwide was over 20,000!was over 20,000!

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 Guillotine:The Guillotine:An “Enlightenment An “Enlightenment

Tool”Tool”??Oh, thou charming guillotine, Oh, thou charming guillotine, You shorten kings and queens;You shorten kings and queens;

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

Come to aid of the CountryCome to aid of the CountryAnd let your superb instrumentAnd let your superb instrument

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

Sharpen your razor for Pitt and his Sharpen your razor for Pitt and his agentsagents

Fill your divine sack with heads of Fill your divine sack with heads of tyrants. tyrants.

War of Resistance to the War of Resistance to the Revolution:Revolution:

The Vendee Revolt, 1793The Vendee Revolt, 1793

VendeeVendee Revolt, Revolt, 17931793

Drowning the Traitors!Drowning the Traitors!

Vendee Vendee Symbol:Symbol:

For God & For God & the King!the King!

Why was there a Why was there a RevoltRevolt

in the in the VendeeVendee??1.1. The need for 500,000 French troopsThe need for 500,000 French troops

for the war effort.for the war effort.2.2. Rural peasantry still highly taxed.Rural peasantry still highly taxed.3.3. Resentment of the Civil Constitution ofResentment of the Civil Constitution of

the Clergy.the Clergy.4.4. Peasants had failed to benefit fromPeasants had failed to benefit from

the sale of church lands.the sale of church lands.

TARGETS:TARGETS:Local government Local government officialsofficialsNational GuardsmenNational GuardsmenJurying priestsJurying priests

Religious Terror:Religious Terror:De-Christianization De-Christianization

(1793-1794)(1793-1794) The Catholic Church was linked with real The Catholic Church was linked with real

or potential counter-revolution.or potential counter-revolution.

Religion was associated with the Religion was associated with the Ancien Ancien RégimeRégime and superstitious practices. and superstitious practices.

Very popular among the Very popular among the sans-culottessans-culottes..

Therefore, religion had no place in a Therefore, religion had no place in a rational, secular republic!rational, secular republic!

The De-Christianization The De-Christianization ProgramProgram

1.1. The adoption of a new The adoption of a new Republican Republican CalendarCalendar::

abolished Sundays & religious holidays.abolished Sundays & religious holidays. months named after seasonal features.months named after seasonal features. 7-day weeks replaced by 10-day 7-day weeks replaced by 10-day

decades.decades. the yearly calendar was dated fromthe yearly calendar was dated from

the creation of the Republic the creation of the Republic [Sept. 22, 1792][Sept. 22, 1792]

The Convention symbolically divorced The Convention symbolically divorced the state from the Church!!the state from the Church!!

The New Republican CalendarThe New Republican Calendar

New Name Meaning Time Period

Vendemaire Vintage September 22 – October 21

Brumaire Fog October 22 – November 20

Frimaire Frost November 21 – December 20

Nivose Snow December 21 – January 19

Pluviose Rain January 20 – February 18

Ventose Wind February 19 – March 20

Germinal Budding March 21 – April 19

Floreal Flowers April 20 – May 19

Prairial Meadow May 20 – June 18

Messidor Harvest June 19 – July 18

Thermidor Heat July 19 – August 17

Fructidor Fruit August 18 – September 21

The De-Christianization The De-Christianization ProgramProgram

2.2. The public exercise of religion wasThe public exercise of religion wasbanned.banned.

3.3. The Paris Commune supported the:The Paris Commune supported the: destruction of religious & royal statues.destruction of religious & royal statues. ban on clerical dress.ban on clerical dress. encouragement of the clergy to give up encouragement of the clergy to give up

their vocations.their vocations.

4.4. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was turned into the was turned into the “Temple of Reason.”“Temple of Reason.”

5.5. The deportation of priests denounced byThe deportation of priests denounced bysix citizens.six citizens.

The “Temple of The “Temple of Reason”Reason”

Come, holy Liberty, inhabit this Come, holy Liberty, inhabit this temple, temple,

Become the goddess of the French Become the goddess of the French people.people.

The Festival of Supreme The Festival of Supreme BeingBeing

A new secular holidayA new secular holiday

Backlash to theBacklash to theDe-Christianization De-Christianization

ProgramProgram It alienated most of the populationIt alienated most of the population(especially in the rural areas).(especially in the rural areas).

Robespierre never supported it.Robespierre never supported it. he persuaded the Convention tohe persuaded the Convention to

reaffirm the principle of religiousreaffirm the principle of religioustoleration.toleration.

He modified excesses of de-Christianization He modified excesses of de-Christianization by promoting festivals that acknowledged the by promoting festivals that acknowledged the existence of a deity and the immortality of existence of a deity and the immortality of the soul.the soul.

But they also has a secular purpose of But they also has a secular purpose of directing spiritual yearnings into patriotic directing spiritual yearnings into patriotic undertakings and promote Republican virtueundertakings and promote Republican virtue

The The Radical’s Radical’s

Arms:Arms:

No God!No God!No Religion!No Religion!

No King!No King!No No

Constitution!Constitution!

The Terror Intensified:The Terror 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

Hébetists

Jacques Hébert & the

Hébetists

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

French Victory at French Victory at FleurusFleurus

June 26, 1794.June 26, 1794. France defeated Austria.France defeated Austria. This opened the way to the This opened the way to the

reoccupation of Belgium!reoccupation of Belgium!

The “Thermidorean The “Thermidorean Reaction,” Reaction,” 17941794

P July 26 July 26 Robespierre gives a Robespierre gives a speech illustrating new speech illustrating new plots & conspiracies. plots & conspiracies.

he alienated members of the CPS & CGS. he alienated members of the CPS & CGS. many felt threatened by his implications.many felt threatened by his implications.

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

P July 28 July 28 Robespierre is tried and Robespierre is tried and guillotined!guillotined!

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.

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

About by the ConventionAbout by the Convention It was premised upon Enlightenment It was premised upon Enlightenment

principles of rationality.principles of rationality. The metric system of weights and measuresThe metric system of weights and measures

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

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

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

Read More About the Read More About the RevolutionRevolution