Chapter 18 Section 2 Radical Revolution and Reaction French Revolution Chapter 18 Section 2 Radical Revolution and Reaction

Participants in the French Revolution had different ideas about how to carry out revolutionary ideas and achieve their goals. The French Revolution became more radical because of internal divisions and because of fear from foreign invasions.

First Republic In September 1792, the National Convention met to draft a new constitution. One law gave all Frenchmen equal rights. One law ended special rights of 1st & second Estates. Government sold church lands to help pay off national debt. Established a French Republic

Louis XVI Tries to Flee France New laws about the church divided people who were backing the Revolution. Catholic peasants remained loyal to the church. They were angry that the church would become a part of the state. Many peasants opposed the Revolution’s reforms. Louis was fearful for his safety in France. One night he and family tried to escape the country. They were caught, brought back to Paris, and lived under guard. He would be condemned and beheaded by the guillotine.

Fear of Change affects neighbors Monarchs and nobles in many European countries feared that peasant uprisings would break out in their countries. Austria and Prussia propose to put Louis XVI back on the throne. War efforts begin poorly for France, but when Opposing armies threaten to march on Paris the peasants rise up. Faced with the threat of Parisian radicals, members of the Legislative Assembly gave up the idea of a limited monarchy and gave power to the Committee of Public Safety led by Maximilien Robespierre.

Robespierre "Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible"

Republic of Virtue Turn to page 589 in your text books. Read about the Republic of Virtue. Write 5 informational bullets on it.

The Directory Committee of 5 Known mainly for corruption Economic problems continued Relied on military power Overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte, who seized control of the government