18.3 Radical Days of the Revolution
1793 revolution entered the radical
phase.
The Monarchy is Abolished
– Well trained Prussian troops cutting down French
recruits
– Royalist officers deserting and joining emigres
Tensions Lead to Violence
– Parisians storm royal palace
– Noble and Priest prisoners attacked “September
Massacre”
Radicals take Control and Execute the
King
– New legislative body call the National Convention
– Suffrage, right to vote – extended to all male
citizens not just property owners
– Abolished monarchy
– Established French Republic
• Jacobins led convention and seized lands of nobles
– Louis convicted as traitor by single vote January 1793
– October Marie Antoinette was also executed
Terror and Danger Grip France
– Convention Creates a New Committee
• Jacobins vs. Girondins
• Food shortages and inflation effect sans-cullotes
• Committee of Public Safety
– Dealt with the threats to France
– Issued mass levy tax to pay for war effort
– 12 member committee in charge of trials and executions
Terror and Danger Grip France
• Robespierre “the incorruptible”
– Robespierre (ROHBZ pyehr)
– Shrewd lawyer rose quickly among
the Jacobins
– Embraced Rousseau’s idea of
general will as source of legitimate
law
» Promoted religious toleration
and abolish slavery
» Republic of virture could be
achieved only through terror
» “Liberty cannot be secured
unless criminals lose their
heads
Terror and Danger Grip France
– Guillotine Defines the Reign of
Terror
• Robespierre “chief architect of
the Reign of Terror 9/1793 to
7/1794
– 300,000 arrested – 17,000 were
executed
– Many died from disease in prison
– Members of the Convention
eventually turned on the
Committee of Public Safety
– Robespierre arrested and
executed the next day
The Revolution Enters its third Stage
– Constitution 1795 set up a 5 man Directory and
two house legislature elected by male citizens of
property.
– Middle class and professional people of
bourgeoisie dominant force during this stage
The Revolution Enters its third Stage
– Directory held power from 1795 – 1799
• Problems Directory Faced
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Corrupt leaders
War with Austria and Great Britain
Revival of royalist feelings
Catholics welcoming emigres
1797 supporters of constitutional monarchy won majority of
seats in legislature
– Politicians begin to turn to rising military star NAPOLEON
Bonaparte
Revolution Brings Change
– 10 year revolution
•
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Dislodged the old order
Overthrew the monarchy
Brought church under state control
Title “citizen” applied to all people regardless of social
class
Revolution Brings Change
– Nationalism Spreads
• Revolution and war gave people strong sense of
national identity
• Nationalism – strong feeling of pride in and devotion to
one’s country, spread throughout France.
• French nationalistic songs become popular
Revolution Brings Change
– Revolutionaries Push for Social Reform
• State schools to replace religious ones
• Organized systems to help the poor, old soldiers and
widows
• Gov’t abolished slavery (problems in Haiti)