Revolution Brings Reform and Terror

Ch. 7.2

The National Assembly Reforms France

The Rights of Man - Aug. 1789 • National Assembly adopts

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen = the purpose of the revolution

• Ended all the special rights the 1st and 2nd Estates enjoyed

• Revolutionary leaders use the slogan, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

• For men, not for womenA State-Controlled Church• National Assembly seizes church

lands, turns clergy into public officials

• This action alarms many peasants, who are devout Catholics

• Many opposed the Revolution’s reforms

The National Assembly Reforms France

Louis Tries to Escape• For months, the assembly

worked on plans for a new govn’t

• Louis, worried about his future & attempts to escape France

• Revolutionaries catch the royal family near Netherlands’ border

• Louis and Marie Antoinette are imprisoned

The Escape attempt1) Made the King and queen more

unpopular2) Decreased the power of the

king3) Increased the power of the

king’s enemies

Divisions DevelopA Limited Monarchy• In September 1791, National Assembly finishes

new constitution • A constitutional monarchy is formed in France

(for awhile) taking away most of the King’s power

• Legislative Assembly—new body created to pass laws (the National Assembly turned over power)

Factions Split France• Major problems, including debt, food shortages

remainAssembly split into • Radicals – wanted sweeping changes in the

way govn’t was run• Moderates – wanted some change in govn’t• Conservatives - wanted a limited monarchy

and few changes in govn’tGroups outside of the Assembly wanted influence:• Émigrés—nobles who flee country, want Old

Regime back in power (i.e. Nobles)• Sans-culottes (w/o short pants)—lower class

(wage earners and small shopkeepers) who want more change from the Revolution and a greater voice in governement

War and Execution What caused French people to take

extreme measures?Problems with Other Countries• Austrians and Prussians want Louis XVI in

charge of France; France (National Assembly) declares war

France at War• Prussian forces soon threaten to attack

Paris, France if King/Queen are harmed• The French people thought the King and

Queen were planning on helping the enemy• Mob breaks into prisons and released the

inmates • killed over 1,000, including many nobles who

support king• Pressured by mob, Legislative Assembly

deposes the king then dissolves the assembly

• National Convention takes office in September, forming French republic

continued War and ExecutionJacobins Take Control• Jacobins—radical political

organization behind 1792 governmental changes

*Jean-Paul Marat (major members): he edited a newspaper L’Ami du Peuple. Ruthless and is murdered in 1793, & becomes a martyr

*George Danton – a lawyer devoted to the Paris’s poor.

Jacobins want the death of the monarchy and everyone who supports the King

• Guillotine—machine designed during the Revolution to behead people

• National convention order thousands of people into the army

Robespierre Assumes ControlRobespierre Assumes ControlMaximilien Robespierre—Jacobin

leader rules France for a year • Believes in the Enlightened

philosophes view of a better govn’t (no capitol punishment, wants a constitutional monarchy, but changes as the revolution goes on).

• Becomes leader of the Committee for Public Safety,

• He becomes a dictator

The Death of King Louis XVI

*The Monarchy was deposed & abolished in Aug. 1792. The Royal Family was imprisonedDeclared Louis XVI a common citizen and tried for treasonAfter a close vote, Louis XVI is found guilty of treason and beheaded (Jan. 1793) THE FRENCH REPUBLIC IS BORN!!!!Reign of Terror (1793 – 1794) —Robespierre’s rule, which includes killing many opponents “enemies of the Rev.”Thousands die during the Terror, including former allies and Marie Antoinette85 percent of those who die during the Terror are middle or lower class

Reign of Terror

• Jailed in a small dark cell

• Her children are taken away from her

• Marie Antoinette was convicted of treason executed (Oct. 1793)

• She was 38 years old

Marie Antoinette – Last Queen of France

End of the TerrorAnother Change in Government• In July 1794, Robespierre

arrested, executed ending the Reign of Terror

• Terror results in public opinion shifting away from radicals

• Over 40,000 die Moderate leaders write new

constitution• Two-house legislature and five-

man Directory restore orderNew government makes Napoleon

Bonaparte commander of armies

Whatever Happened to Robespierre?