Chapter 21 Part 4 The French Revolution

The “Miracle of Valmy” The French Revolutionary Army successfully stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of Valmy Sept. 20, 1792 The French Revolutionary Army successfully stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of Valmy Sept. 20, 1792 A 2 nd rate battle it becomes a HUGE moral victory for the French and other victories start to occur A 2 nd rate battle it becomes a HUGE moral victory for the French and other victories start to occur The very next day... The very next day...

Sept. 21, 1792 France declared a REPUBLIC (1 st ) National Convention ( ) replaces Legislative Assembly National Convention ( ) replaces Legislative Assembly Landslide election of Jacobins and Republicans (well-educated middle class) Landslide election of Jacobins and Republicans (well-educated middle class) Marks “true” political democracy in France Marks “true” political democracy in France The Monarchy was abolished The Monarchy was abolished The Republic was based on Equality, Liberty and Fraternity The Republic was based on Equality, Liberty and Fraternity

The National Convention divides into 2 factions: The Mountain: radical republicans, pro-Paris, pro-strong centralized Govt. The Mountain: radical republicans, pro-Paris, pro-strong centralized Govt. Called the Mountain b/c they sat on highest bleachers left side of the hall Called the Mountain b/c they sat on highest bleachers left side of the hall Led by Robespierre and Danton Led by Robespierre and Danton The Girondins: moderate and rural (bitter rivals to the Mountain) The Girondins: moderate and rural (bitter rivals to the Mountain)

a note on Maximillian Robespierre The most controversial person of the Fr. Rev. The most controversial person of the Fr. Rev. Truly believed in transferring Rousseau’s Social Contract into reality Truly believed in transferring Rousseau’s Social Contract into reality Known as “The Incorruptible” for his morals Known as “The Incorruptible” for his morals Convinced he knew “the General Will” Convinced he knew “the General Will” If French would not be “free and virtuous” voluntarily, then they would be “forced to be free” If French would not be “free and virtuous” voluntarily, then they would be “forced to be free”.

The Sans-culottes Members of the Parisian working-class, shopkeepers, skilled artisans Members of the Parisian working-class, shopkeepers, skilled artisans Definitely influenced National Convention Definitely influenced National Convention Involved in the Storming of the Bastille, Bread March to Versailles, the September Massacres Involved in the Storming of the Bastille, Bread March to Versailles, the September Massacres Girondins dislike/distrust them as time goes by, Mountain uses them Girondins dislike/distrust them as time goes by, Mountain uses them

The Sans-culottes Believed the National Convention was too moderate Believed the National Convention was too moderate Threatened the National Convention with mass uprisings …and they could deliver Threatened the National Convention with mass uprisings …and they could deliver

January 1793 Citizen Louis Capet (Louis XVI) convicted of treason and guillotined Citizen Louis Capet (Louis XVI) convicted of treason and guillotined Out of 721 votes, those who had supported regicide knew that they were in big trouble if the government fell Out of 721 votes, those who had supported regicide knew that they were in big trouble if the government fell February 1793 France declares war on: February 1793 France declares war on: Britain, Spain, Netherlands (+Austria/Prussia) Britain, Spain, Netherlands (+Austria/Prussia)

May 1793 Mountain believes Girondins would ally with conservatives and royalists to remain in power Mountain believes Girondins would ally with conservatives and royalists to remain in power Arrest and behead 31 leading Girondins Arrest and behead 31 leading Girondins W/ support of Sans-culottes and Enrage´s W/ support of Sans-culottes and Enrage´s Constitution suspended Constitution suspended

Enrages Leaders of the radical working class in Paris Leaders of the radical working class in Paris Even scarier than the Sans-culottes Even scarier than the Sans-culottes After leading members guillotined, many Girondins left Paris to work against the revolutionary government After leading members guillotined, many Girondins left Paris to work against the revolutionary government By this time, many in France had lost faith in the Revolutionary government By this time, many in France had lost faith in the Revolutionary government

Marat Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Sans- culottes, and Enrages) Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Sans- culottes, and Enrages) My favorite K-College prof despised Marat the most & I carry on the tradition My favorite K-College prof despised Marat the most & I carry on the tradition 1793 stabbed to death while soaking his diseased skin in a bathtub by Charlotte Corday (Girondin supporter) 1793 stabbed to death while soaking his diseased skin in a bathtub by Charlotte Corday (Girondin supporter) She was beheaded She was beheaded Women’s political clubs were closed down by the government Women’s political clubs were closed down by the government

The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David

July 1793-July 1794: The Reign of Terror Cornerstone was 12-man Committee of Public Safety Cornerstone was 12-man Committee of Public Safety Received dictatorial powers from Nat. Conv. Received dictatorial powers from Nat. Conv. Ran Gov’t (which they centralized from Paris), made war decisions, planned the economy, dealt with justice and law Ran Gov’t (which they centralized from Paris), made war decisions, planned the economy, dealt with justice and law Law of Suspects: Accused enemies of Rev. tried by Revolutionary Tribunals (treason usually #1) Law of Suspects: Accused enemies of Rev. tried by Revolutionary Tribunals (treason usually #1)

Committee of Public Safety, cont. Used Sans-culottes, Enrage´s, Paris Commune, Hebertists, Cordeliers, women, to attain their goals Used Sans-culottes, Enrage´s, Paris Commune, Hebertists, Cordeliers, women, to attain their goals Another leader: Saint-Just Another leader: Saint-Just Mountain sent out “deputies on a mission” (like Louis XIII’s ____________) to keep eye on countryside Mountain sent out “deputies on a mission” (like Louis XIII’s ____________) to keep eye on countryside Necessary since revolts broke out across France Necessary since revolts broke out across France

Law of the Maximum/ Nationalization The Government decreed maximum allowable prices fixed in paper assignats for key items The Government decreed maximum allowable prices fixed in paper assignats for key items Price of bread fixed at levels the poor could afford Price of bread fixed at levels the poor could afford Rationing was introduced Rationing was introduced Small workshops were nationalized, raw materials and grain were requisitioned by the government Small workshops were nationalized, raw materials and grain were requisitioned by the government Government produced arms and munitions Government produced arms and munitions These measures indispensible for France to wage “total war” against its enemies (foreign & domestic) These measures indispensible for France to wage “total war” against its enemies (foreign & domestic) Was an early version of socialism Was an early version of socialism

The Terror About 40,000 people die About 40,000 people die Most guillotined; but at Nantes 2000 people drowned chained to barges which were sunk drowning victims Most guillotined; but at Nantes 2000 people drowned chained to barges which were sunk drowning victims Reign of Terror was a political weapon directed at all classes—NO ONE WAS SAFE! Reign of Terror was a political weapon directed at all classes—NO ONE WAS SAFE! 8% of victims were nobles 8% of victims were nobles 14% were bourgeoisie 14% were bourgeoisie 6% Clergy 6% Clergy 70% peasants/laborers 70% peasants/laborers

The War Effort Lazare Carnot reorganized the French army Lazare Carnot reorganized the French army Levee en Mass—forced conscription: single men combat, married men making arms and transport, women make & work in hospitals, tents (+clothes) Levee en Mass—forced conscription: single men combat, married men making arms and transport, women make & work in hospitals, tents (+clothes) Spring ,000 man army Spring ,000 man army Turned around war and began to make inroads against the First Coalition Turned around war and began to make inroads against the First Coalition

Reign of Terror, War Effort, & the Planned Economy Bloody... but it worked Bloody... but it worked Created tremendous fear Created tremendous fear Created tremendous nationalism (but not just in France as time would show) Created tremendous nationalism (but not just in France as time would show) Brought French Revolutionary ideals to conquered areas Brought French Revolutionary ideals to conquered areas also abolished slavery in French colonies (albeit short-lived) also abolished slavery in French colonies (albeit short-lived)

The Republic of Virtue Created by Robespierre Created by Robespierre A new political culture designed to promote revolutionary virtue A new political culture designed to promote revolutionary virtue New calendar introduced…eliminated references to religious, Greco-Roman Gods, etc. New calendar introduced…eliminated references to religious, Greco-Roman Gods, etc week days in a month; 10 th day rest & celebrate virtues such as “Heroism” “Stoicism” “Hatred of Tyrants and Traitors” 3 10-week days in a month; 10 th day rest & celebrate virtues such as “Heroism” “Stoicism” “Hatred of Tyrants and Traitors”

1794 The Cult of the Supreme Being A Deistic natural religion which recognized the existence of God and the immortality of the human soul A Deistic natural religion which recognized the existence of God and the immortality of the human soul Notre Dame Cathedral became The Temple of Reason Notre Dame Cathedral became The Temple of Reason Catholics were firmly against the government by this time Catholics were firmly against the government by this time

The Thermidorian Reaction: July 1794 French finally get their fill of Robespierre French finally get their fill of Robespierre Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs helped to topple Robespierre Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs helped to topple Robespierre July 27 Robespierre was delivering a speech and shouts of “Down with the tyrant” met him and by sunset of the next day, he had been tried & executed (Danton had preceded him …followers killed also) July 27 Robespierre was delivering a speech and shouts of “Down with the tyrant” met him and by sunset of the next day, he had been tried & executed (Danton had preceded him …followers killed also) The working class had stopped supporting Robespierre when their fellows were targeted by the Law of Suspects The working class had stopped supporting Robespierre when their fellows were targeted by the Law of Suspects