Aim: Why did the French Revolution become a “Reign of Terror”? Do Now: How would you like your grades to be determined?

Liberty!!! Equality!!! Fraternity!!!

I. An Unstable France Small groups (factions) compete for power Famine and fear spread

Women March on Versailles

Marie Antoinette “Let them Eat Cake”

C. European monarchs are threatened--> leads to war

II. The Reign of Terror Radicals take over the National Assembly--> National Convention 1. Write a new constitution 2. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette arrested and executed

Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, 1793) The National Convention voted 387 to 334 to execute the monarchs.

Marie Antoinette on the Way to the Guillotine

Marie Antoinette Died in October, 1793

Committee for Public Safety 1. Led by Maximilien Robespierre Revolutionary Tribunals. 300,000 arrested. 16,000 – 50,000 executed.

Maximillian Robespierre (1758 – 1794)

Let terror be the order of the day! The Reign of Terror Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre Let terror be the order of the day! The Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris alone executed 2,639 victims in 15 months. The total number of victims nationwide was over 20,000!

Previous Forms of Torture Burning at the stake Strangulation Broken on a wheel Hanging Dismemberment Torn apart by horses Beheaded by an axe Be sure to tip the executioner or he might hit your shoulders or back… …on purpose!

The “Monster” Guillotine The last guillotine execution in France was in the 1977!