The Republic Main Idea An extreme government changed French society and tried through harsh means to eliminate its critics within France.

A Radical Government Factions Leaders Executions In 1792, the radical representatives were in charge of the National Convention. The constitutional monarchy came to a violent end, and France became a republic. Mountain Middle and poor Most radical Girondins Moderates Support Cont. Monarchy The Plain (swing voters) Personal rivalries Factions Marat advocate of violence Danton Compromiser Robespierre Dedicated radical No group had program or plan of action Leaders 1/21/1793- King put to death by guillotine Europeans reacted with horror Lost European support Revolution savagery condemned Executions

National Convention takes Control Committee of Public Safety set up to manage military defense Drafted all able-bodied men between 18 and 45 for service Established the Revolutionary Tribunal to protect the Revolution by rooting out people who threatened it Transforming Society Leaders tried to end connections to old ways of life, including religion Clergy members lost positions; churches closed in Paris Robespierre created cult of Supreme Being to replace Catholicism Metric system, new calendar with 3/10 week months were introduced

The Reign of Terror Course of Revolution An Outbreak of Civil War Revolutionary leaders feared counterrevolution Took drastic actions to keep power accusations, trials, and executions 300,000 arrested An Outbreak of Civil War Peasants only wanted an end to feudal dues unhappy with military draft Catholics and monarchy supporters opposed the Revolution in a civil war The government put down the counterrevolution to regain control. Mountain leads Accusations and Trials Robespierre used the Revolutionary Tribunal to rid the country of dissenters Started trials with the Girondins wanted a Constitutional Monarchy Anyone who had ever criticized the Revolution was in danger.

No Escape from the Terror Death by Guillotine Most common sentence - death by guillotine Condemned paraded through Paris in open carts to awaiting stages Mobs watched at scaffold; executions took less than one minute No one was spared Peasants /laborers largest victims Danton and Robespierre 17,000 executed in 10 months “Oh Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name!” The Terror’s Victims France started over with new constitution in 1795 The Directory established (1795) Voting limited to property owners High prices, bankruptcy, and citizens’ unrest continued Power vacuum developed-No one in control After the Terror

Governments of the French Revolution National Assembly (1789-1791) Legislative Assembly (1791-1792) Convention (1792-1795) Directory (1795-1799)

Reign of Terror