The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror When the French Revolution loses its head…

Reform among the Estates In August 1789 the National Assembly takes away privileges from the 1st and 2nd Estates. Now commoners were equal to the nobles and clergy The church is reformed. Church land is taken. Peasants in the countryside who were devote Catholics did not like this They turned away from the National Assembly

The Declaration of Rights of Man Stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights” Including “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression” Guaranteed to citizens: Equal justice Freedom of speech Freedom of religion

The King and Queen try to escape The royal family is caught trying to escape the country The people start to turn away from the King more and more Power is shifted to the National Assembly and away from the King

Limited Monarchy Early reforms in 1791 wanted to create a constitutional monarchy. Created a Legislative Assembly: was the National Assembly Given the power to create laws And approve of reject declaration of war King Louis is losing more power every day

Death of the Monarchy On September 21st 1792 The National Assembly is dissolved and the National Convention is created The National Convention ends the monarchy and declares that Louis was now only a citizen (then a prisoner) France was now a republic Women were not given the right to vote though… Louis is given a trial and then executed in January 1793

Robespierre takes power By 1793 Maximilien Robespierre becomes the leader of the Committee of public safety He was essentially a dictator and had total power over France He used terror as a way of controlling the people Forcing them to remain true in their virtues

The Reign of Terror In 1793 and 1794 people were tried and executed for ‘crimes against the people’ 16,594 were killed in France 2,639 were killed in Paris Many former leaders of the French Revolution were killed The queen was also executed People began to be killed for the smallest of crimes Cutting down trees, stealing bread, any charge of treason The Reign of Terror ends with the execution of Robespierre on July 28th, 1794 People were now tired of the Terror and the killing

Who takes power after this time? Napoleon Bonaparte is given command of the French army after the Terror ends. We will talk more about him soon