The French Revolution

liberté égalité fraternité

Madame Guillotine

Nicknamed “The National Razor”

Primary method of execution during the Terror because it was thought to be “more humane”

Maximilien Robespierre

Born in Arras, France Lawyer Founder of French

Democracy “The Incorruptible”

Staunch disciple of Rousseau (The Social Contract)

Wanted the monarchy abolished in favor of a Democracy

Wanted to de-Christianize France in favor of Reason

The End of the Monarchy

September 22, 1792, the monarchy in France was officially abolished

The First Republic of France was born!

The End of Louis XVI

December 11, 1792 Louis XVI was put on trial for violating the rights of his subjects

He was found guilty & sentenced to death

The order for Louis XVI to appear before the National Convention

on December 11, 1792

Louis XVI’s ExecutionJanuary 21, 1793

Discontent of the Sans-Culottes

The execution of Louis did not solve France’s problems

The National Assembly, now known as the National Convention, faced enormous problems

Problems…

The value of assignats (French paper currency) used to finance the revolution had fallen by 50%

There was still price inflation and continued food shortages

Problems (cont.)…

France was on the brink of civil war, not to mention they were at war with Austria, Prussia, Holland, Spain, and Great Britain

Finally, in June 1793, the Jacobins took over power in the National Convention, as well as the nation

Problems (cont.)…

While this helped out with the crisis France was in, this is also when things took a radical turn

Although the Jacobins were a group of many, one man stepped forth as their leader; Maximilien Robespierre

The Republic of Virtue

1793-1794 Under leadership of Robespierre Goal - de-Christianize France:

› Close or sell churches› Created a new calendar with the first day

beginning on Sept. 22, 1792

RevolutionaryClock

Republic of Virtue (cont.)

The ROV also strove to:› detest bad faith and despotism› punish tyrants and traitors› assist the unfortunate and respect the weak› defend the oppressed› do all the good one can to one's neighbor› behave with justice towards all men

Reign of Terror

Extremes measures were taken in order to reach their goal

This time period (1793-1794) is known as the “Reign of Terror”

Anyone considered an enemy of the state was arrested, tried, and usually executed

Committee of Public Safety

Created by the NC in April of 1793, it had 9 members (later it would have 12)

It was formed as an administrative body to supervise and expedite the work of the NC but became the central power in the FR

Responsible for the executions of approximately 40,000 French citizens

Trial of Marie Antoinette

Accused of immorality & treason

Tried October 14-15, 1793

Marie Antoinette’s ExecutionOctober 16, 1793

Homework

Marie Antoinette Bio Worksheet Due next class

Bell Ringer

Describe life during the Reign of Terror

Discuss with your partner1 minute

The End of the Terror(and subsequently Robespierre)

It’s All Going Terribly Wrong…

“Part of the problem for the leaders of the revolution was that they represented a bourgeoisie who were a minority of the population. The Montagnards were a minority within that minority. Now even that minority was fragmenting, so each faction became gradually aware that, for an even smaller minority to impose its will, it would need to eliminate the other factions decisively.”

Mark Steel in Vive La Revolution

Enough is Enough

Not long until › the revolutionaries turned on each other› the masses became fed up› Robespierre made one too many enemies

The Downward Spiral Begins

April 1794: The Jacobins wiped out the better part of the Girondins

In his attempt to de-Christianize France, Robespierre became involved in creating a new state religion “The Cult of the Supreme Being”

Cult of the Supreme Being

Although Robespierre wished to de-Christianize France, he mostly wanted to get rid of the Catholic Church

He despised atheism, and so created a religion based on reason, social awareness, and democratic ideals

To kick off his new religion, he held a Festival of the Supreme Being in June 1794

Really? He Did What?

Festival included:› Choir of 2,400 children› Choir of blind children› Monumental effigy of Atheism was set on

fire revealing a monument to Wisdom inside

› Procession of apx. 300,000 people to the Champs des Mars -

› 50 foot tall paper mâché statue of Hercules

The Story of the Carmelite Nuns

Robespierre’s Demise

Festival perceived as a departure from reality by many

He appeared before the NC saying, “People! You should be informed that there exists within your bosom a league of scoundrels who are at war with public virtue!”

Refused to say who. Why is this a problem?

Arrested

NC voted to arrest Robespierre and several other Jacobins

In a skirmish/suicide attempt (?) Robespierre ended up with a bullet in the jaw

Several other Jacobins (including Robespierre’s brother) successfully committed suicide

Those who remained alive, didn’t do so for long…

9th - 10th of Thermidor, Year II (July 27, 1794)

Lasting Impact

The Rights of Man Democracy The new Republic

The Modern State

The Directory

With the Terror at an end, the NC moved in a more conservative direction› Limited power of Committee of Public

Safety› Re-opened churches› New constitution› 2 legislative houses› New executive office - the Directory

The Directory (1795-1799)

Committee of 5 Chosen by Council of Elders Became very corrupt thereby gaining

many enemies 1799 - coup d’état (sudden overthrow

of government by military force) Enter Napoleon Bonaparte…