Chapter 21 Part 4 The French Revolution

The Age of Rousseau The National Convention The National Convention Most of the members of the National Convention were Jacobins and republicans Most of the members of the National Convention were Jacobins and republicans They were well-educated middle class folk They were well-educated middle class folk Sept 1792: France was proclaimed a republic Sept 1792: France was proclaimed a republic 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 divided into 2 factions: The Mountain: radical republicans, urbanites The Mountain: radical republicans, urbanites Led by Robespierre and Danton Led by Robespierre and Danton Called the Mountain because they sat on the upper most left side of the hall Called the Mountain because they sat on the upper most left side of the hall The Girondins: were moderate and rural The Girondins: were moderate and rural

The Sans-culottes Were radical members of the working-class Were radical members of the working-class Were a big influence on the National Convention Were a big influence on the National Convention Had an economic agenda skilled at inciting violence Had an economic agenda skilled at inciting violence Were involved in the Storming of the Bastille, the March to Versailles, the September Massacres Were involved in the Storming of the Bastille, the March to Versailles, the September Massacres

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

In the Meantime The French Revolutionary army successfully stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of Valmy (Sept. 1792) The French Revolutionary army successfully stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of Valmy (Sept. 1792) The battle was indecisive BUT was a great moral victory for the French Revolutionary army The battle was indecisive BUT was a great moral victory for the French Revolutionary army The Battle of Jemappes: the French were able to occupy the Austrian Netherlands as a result of defeating the Austrians The Battle of Jemappes: the French were able to occupy the Austrian Netherlands as a result of defeating the Austrians

February 1793 The French declared war on Britain, Holland, and Spain while still at war with the first Coalition (Austria and Prussia) The French declared war on Britain, Holland, and Spain while still at war with the first Coalition (Austria and Prussia)

January 1793 Louis XVI was convicted of treason and executed Louis XVI was convicted of treason and executed Those who had supported regicide knew that they were in big trouble if the government fell Those who had supported regicide knew that they were in big trouble if the government fell By the Spring of 1793…the military was in trouble By the Spring of 1793…the military was in trouble

May 1793 The Mountain, with support of the Sans-culottes ousted the Girondins The Mountain, with support of the Sans-culottes ousted the Girondins The Mountain believed that the Girondins would ally with conservatives and royalists to remain in power The Mountain believed that the Girondins would ally with conservatives and royalists to remain in power

Enrages Were leaders of the radical working class in Paris Were leaders of the radical working class in Paris They were even scarier than the Sans-culottes! They were even scarier than the Sans-culottes! They seized and arrested 31 Girondins They seized and arrested 31 Girondins Many Girondins left Paris to work against the revolutionary government 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

Remember Marat? Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Sans- culottes, and Enrages) Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Sans- culottes, and Enrages) 1793 He was stabbed (killed) while in the tub by Charlotte Corday (who supported the Girondins) 1793 He was stabbed (killed) while in the tub by Charlotte Corday (who supported the Girondins) She was later executed She was later executed 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

The Committee of Public Safety Led by Robespierre Led by Robespierre Was an emergency government Was an emergency government National Convention was abolished National Convention was abolished Robespierre was influenced by Rousseau and was a fanatic regarding revolutionary idealism Robespierre was influenced by Rousseau and was a fanatic regarding revolutionary idealism

The Committee of Public Safety Worked closely with the Sans-culottes Worked closely with the Sans-culottes Another leader: Louis Saint-Just Another leader: Louis Saint-Just Imposed The Law of Maximum: A planned economy to deal with food shortages, supplies for the war, etc Imposed The Law of Maximum: A planned economy to deal with food shortages, supplies for the war, etc Would help France wage “total war” against its enemies Would help France wage “total war” against its enemies

The Law of Maximum 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 The price of bread was fixed at levels the poor could afford The price of bread was 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 Was an early version of socialism Was an early version of socialism

Slavery Was abolished in the French colonies (Haiti) Was abolished in the French colonies (Haiti)

The War Effort Lazare Carnot reorganized the French army Lazare Carnot reorganized the French army Levee en masse the whole country was conscripted! Levee en masse the whole country was conscripted! The largest army in European history: One million strong The largest army in European history: One million strong The first coalition was in decline The first coalition was in decline

French Victories Fed French nationalism Fed French nationalism

The Reign of Terror The Law of Suspects: Accused enemies of the revolution were tried in front of Revolutionary Tribunals The Law of Suspects: Accused enemies of the revolution were tried in front of Revolutionary Tribunals Were tried for treason Were tried for treason Louis XVI was convicted and executed through this law Louis XVI was convicted and executed through this law Marie Antoinette was executed later in the year Marie Antoinette was executed later in the year

The Law of Suspects Was responsible for the death of about 40,000 people Was responsible for the death of about 40,000 people Most were guillotined (more humane) Most were guillotined (more humane) The Reign of Terror was a political weapon The Reign of Terror was a political weapon All classes were threatened, tried, executed All classes were threatened, tried, executed 8% of victims were nobles 8% of victims were nobles 14% were bourgeoisie 14% were bourgeoisie 6% Clergy 6% Clergy 70% peasants or laborers 70% peasants or laborers

Most people were arrested While engaging in open revolts against the government While engaging in open revolts against the government 300,000 were imprisoned 300,000 were imprisoned In the end…NO ONE WAS SAFE! In the end…NO ONE WAS SAFE!

Soon, leading Jacobins were victims Danton and his followers were arrested and executed! Danton and his followers were arrested and executed!

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 A New calendar was introduced…eliminated references to religious, Greco-Roman Gods, etc. A New calendar was introduced…eliminated references to religious, Greco-Roman Gods, etc. Changed names of months and days and number of days in months, months in years, etc Changed names of months and days and number of days in months, months in years, etc

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 1794 Robespierre had gone too far Robespierre had gone too far Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs helped to topple Robespierre Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs helped to topple Robespierre Robespierre was denounced in the Convention, was arrested, tried, and executed…along with his followers Robespierre was denounced in the Convention, was arrested, tried, and executed…along with his followers 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