The French Republic Key Terms and People: Maximilien Robespierre, guillotine, counter-revolution, Reign of Terror, Revolutionary Tribunal, Committee for Public Safety, nationalism Guiding Questions: What changes did the radical government make in French society and politics? What was the Reign of Terror, and how did it end? Main Idea: An extreme government changed French society and tried through harsh means to eliminate its critics within France.

Where we left off… September Massacres: -War between Austria and the Legislative Assembly-not going well due to counter-revolutionary (people against the revolution) movement. -War between revolutionaries and those loyal to the king. -Royal family is in jail.

The Fate of the King 2/3 of the people were under the age of 45 Most distrusted the king. First step was to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic (remember the Legislative Assembly tried to establish a constitutional monarchy).

The Execution of Louis XVI Louis was put on trial for his crimes. Of course he is guilty, but do they kill him or not? They voted for his execution. On January 23, 1793 Louis went to the guillotine in the Place de la Concorde, where a statue of his predecessor, Louis XV, once stood.  At the scaffold he said "I forgive those who are guilty of my death."

The Reign of Terror After the death of Louis in 1793, the Reign of Terror began. Marie Antoinette tries to befriend the people with a parade of people headed to their death. The guillotine-execution machine, the new instrument of justice, was put to work. Public executions were considered educational. Women were encouraged to sit and knit during trials and executions.

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The Reign of Terror Led by Maximilien Robespierre, wanted to prevent counter-revolution from spreading and established the Committee for Public Safety to do this. Most of the people rounded up were ordinary people who were accused of saying something critical of the revolutionary government. Watch Committees-neighborhood undercover enforcement who kept detailed journals are encouraged to arrest suspicious people. Revolutionary Tribunal-court established during the French Republic to try and execute those guilty of being against the revolution. More than 30,000 were killed in 18 months following Louis XVI’s death.

Suspension of Civil Liberties Civil liberties were suspended. People were not given a fair trial (arrested, tried, and killed on suspicion alone) The promises of the Declaration of the Rights of Man were forgotten. Terror was the order of the day. In the words of Maximilien Robespierre, "Softness to traitors will destroy us all." "Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible"

The Republic of Virtue (do not write) Tried to model France after Ancient Rome. De-Christianize country; Cult of the Supreme Being Notre Dame was designated a “temple of reason” They adopted a new calendar -12 months made up of 3 10 day weeks. -Months renamed based on nature. -10th day (Sunday) was a day of rest. -Each day was made up of 10 hours. -Each hour was made up of 100 minutes. (144 actual minutes) -Each minute was 100 seconds. (86.4 regular seconds)

The Festival of the Supreme Being

A Nation in Arms The Committee of Public Safety-raised a huge army of over one million in less than a year. The invading forces were pushed back. Rise in French nationalism. Wars became the “people’s war”

The Directory Robespierre called for a new purge in 1794, his own friends felt threatened and wanted Robespierre stopped. Robespierre was arrested and sent to the guillotine and was the last victim of the Reign of Terror.  People were tired of radicalism, and by 1785 the republic was gone, France was ruled by 5 men called The Directory. The Directory was conservative, corrupt, and ineffectual. In 1799, a Coup d’etat, a sudden overthrow of the government, led by the successful and popular general Napoleon Bonaparte, toppled the Directory by a plebiscite vote. Napoleon seized power

Note Check What changes did the radical government make in French society and politics? What was the Reign of Terror, and how did it end?