The Reign of Terror:

Revolutionary France

A State Controlled Church

•National Assembly’s Early Reforms: –State controlled church.–Catholic Church lost land, independence.•Land sold to help settle France’s debts.

Louis XVI Tries to Escape

• The Royal Family attempted to escape to Austria between June 20th and 21st of 1791. They were recognized and caught.

• Seen as repudiation of French Revolution; permanently damaged his standing. Provoked charges of treason and led directly to his execution in 1793.

A Constitutional Monarchy?

• National Assembly created new constitution in September 1791.

• Created new lawmaking body called the Legislative Assembly which replaced the National Assembly.

• King still held onto executive authority.

Factions Emerge

• Among the Legislative Assembly, three groups: radicals, moderates, conservatives.

• Outside factions as well:• Émigrés, people who

fled France and wanted to undo Revolution.

• Sans-culottes, Parisian people who wanted greater change; typically shop-keepers and workers.

War Breaks Out

• Austria and Prussia want Louis restored as absolute monarch, Legislative Assembly declares war.

• France has bad start; Prussians start advancing.

Radicalization

• Prussian commander says Paris will be leveled if the king is harmed. August 10, 20,000 people storm the palace where the royal family lived; killed the guards and made the royal family prisoners.

• In September, rumors start in Paris that imprisoned royalists were going to break out and seize the city; thousands of prisoners killed.

• New constitution adopted; monarchy abolished, all men have the vote. New governing body is called the National Convention.

The Jacobins in Control

• New leaders members of the radical Jacobin Club.

• Members include Georges Danton and Jean-Paul Marat.

• Charismatic leaders and speakers, they espoused a radical ideology.

• The National Convention, under Jacobin control, reduced Louis to a regular citizen, and then had him executed on January 21, 1793.

The Execution of Louis XVI

Robespierre

• Robespierre, a Jacobin, gained power in early 1793.

• Sought to build a “republic of virtue” by eliminating the past of France.

• Closed all churches, eliminated Sunday, and changed the calendar.

• Became head of Committee of Public Safety; ruled as dictator, and used the CPS to protect revolution from its enemies.

• Executed his enemies ruthlessly; including fellow Jacobins who challenged his rule, such as Georges Danton.

Robespierre, ctd.

• The political cartoon to the right shows Robespierre putting the executioner through the guillotine because nobody else is left.

Marie Antoinette Executed October 16, 1793

New Name Meaning Time Period

Vendemaire Vintage September 22 – October 21

Brumaire Fog October 22 – November 20

Frimaire Frost November 21 – December 20

Nivose Snow December 21 – January 19

Pluviose Rain January 20 – February 18

Ventose Wind February 19 – March 20

Germinal Budding March 21 – April 19

Floreal Flowers April 20 – May 19

Prairial Meadow May 20 – June 18

Messidor Harvest June 19 – July 18

Thermidor Heat July 19 – August 17

Fructidor Fruit August 18 – September 21

The New Calendar

Thermidorean Reaction

• In July of 1794, the National Convention turned on Robespierre.

• Before being executed, either tried to kill himself or was shot in the face by someone else; conflicting accounts.

• July 28, 1794, he was executed at the guillotine.

• New government formed yet again.