RADICAL REVOLUTION AND REACTION Chapter 22.2

MOVE TO RADICALISM

National Convention abolishes monarchy and forms First French Republic

French citizens began forming clubs with different opinions and goals

The radical club called Jacobins called for the execution of the king Later called for execution of all those associated with the king

Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on charge of treasonExecution created new enemies at home and abroad

MOVE TO RADICALISM

Execution of Louis XVI began shift to radicalism

Commune: local Paris gov’t led by Georges Danton

Demanded radical change

Britain, Portugal, Spain, and the Dutch joined Austria and Prussia and declared war on France to put an end to the revolution

National Convention gave power to the Committee of Public Safety (CPS) led by Maximilien Robespierre to meet this crisis

REIGN OF TERROR

Robespierre and the CPS adopted policies to protect France from domestic threatsPolicies became known as the Reign of Terror

Revolutionary courts were set up to prosecute counter-revolutionaries and traitors40,000 killed; 16,000 by guillotineRobespierre assured citizens bloodshed was temporary

Revolutionary armies created to enforce CPS policy

Robespierre wanted to create a Republic of Virtue made up of “good citizens”

REIGN OF TERROR

Women took a more active role in government

Nat’l Convention pursued “de-Christianization”

First French Repub. forms largest army in Euro. history to defend itself from invaders

Robespierre obsessed with cleansing France

Sentenced to death by colleagues

REACTION AND THE DIRECTORYModerate leaders took control after Robespierre’s death

Ended Reign of Terror

Slashed CPS’s power

Reopened churches

Drafted another new constitution

Constitution of 1795

Only people with large amounts of land/wealth could vote

Set up a council of 5 leaders called the Directory

Corrupt, greedy

The Directory relied on the military to keep power

General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrow the Directory in a coup d'état; seized power