The French Revolution: Part III

The Radical & Violent Stage: 1792-1794

Louis & Marie’s Escape Plot…• June 1791

– Louie disguised as a servant

– But it was not to be. Louis began to treat this serious occasion as an excursion -- he ordered extra stops so that he could stop for his favorite meals.

– The King and Queen were caught and returned to the city.

– The people view him as a traitor to the revolution

Fear begins to spread…

• Countries surrounding France increased border patrols to stop the “French Plague” from spreading.

• Emigres – Nobles, Clergy who fled the Revolution in told stories where they fled.

• Predictions that the revolution would end up with “Plots and assassinations”

The Sans-CulottesThey were the poorest, working class

radicals of the 3rd Estate.

They get their name for the long pants they wore.

Completely different from the fashionable, short, knee length Culotte.

Sans-Culottes = without Culottes

This group felt that a moderate (peaceful) revolutiondidn’t solve any of the problems and they were majorplayers in driving the revolution into a more radical

Phase.

The French Revolution enters the Radical Phase

The bloodiest days of the revolution.

Bye, Bye National Assembly

• More radical revolutionaries (Sans-Culottes) took control of the National Assembly…

• Land owned by Nobles (rich) was seized.

The Sans-Culottes destroyed prisons, street fights broke out And barricades were set up throughout the city.

More than 1000 people were killed.

The Republic & Year 1 in France

• On September 21st and 22nd, 1792, the monarchy was officially abolished and a republic established.

• The 22nd of September, 1792 was now known as day one of the year one.

Death of a King• In December, Louis XVI was placed on trial for

violating the liberty of his subjects.

• Louis was convicted by a single vote…put to death.

• January 21, 1793, Louis was executed like an ordinary criminal.

• From this time on, the Revolution had no recourse but to move forward.

http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/louis_trial.html

The Committee of Public SafetyTakes Control

• 12 member committee with absolute power is created.

• Everyone is forced to pay taxes to support the revolution.

• Any Counter-Revolutionary (anti-revolution) was seen as a threat.

Maximilien Robespierre

Leader of the Committee of Public Safety:

Believed France could achieve a “republic of virtue”

only through the use of terror.

“Liberty cannot be secured,Unless criminals lose their

Heads.”

Robespierre was thetop leaders in the

“Reign of Terror”

The Reign of Terror“Hail the Republic!” “Death to the traitors!”

• July 1793 – July 1794– Revolutionary courts conducted quick trials– 15,000-17,000 people died.– Anyone against the Republic was killed– Crimes:

• “Down with the republic”• Owning a book with King Louis XVI seal on it.

– Method of execution…The Guillotine

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/LouisXVIExecutionBig.jpg

The Reign of Terror Ends

• By 1794 the terror ended

• Robespierre’s power and leadership dwindled.

• Robespierre is soon arrested and guillotined…

Soon there will be a New ruler of France…