Revolution Brings
Reform and Terror
Chapter 7
Section 2
Main Ideas
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The revolutionary government of France made
reforms but also used terror and violence to
retain power.
Some governments that lack the support of a
majority of their people still use fear to control
their citizens.
Introduction
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Peasants, nobles and
church officers all felt the
Great Fear.
Peasants began attacking
the upper classes’ houses.
Right before the March on
Versailles, some nobles
and clergy members
responded with a late night
meeting.
The Assembly Reforms France
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August 4, 1789 – noblemen
declare their love for liberty
and equality.
Joined with members of the
National Assembly to
sweep away their
privileges over the Third
Estate.
By morning the Old
Regime was dead.
The Rights of Man
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A few weeks later, a document
is drafted reflecting the ideals
similar to the DOI.
Known as the Declaration of
Rights of Man and of the
Citizen, it stated that “men are
born and remain free and equal
in rights”.
Adopt “Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity” as their slogan.
A State-Controlled Church
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Many of the early reforms
focused on the Church.
The assembly took over
Church lands and declared
that Church officials were
to be elected and paid as
state officials.
The Church lost both its
land and political
independence.
Proceeds from the sale
would help France pay off
its debt.
Alarmed Peasants
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Peasants were devout Catholics and were
alarmed by the assembly’s actions.
Mixing Church and State offended them.
Louis Tries to Escape
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Due to the new relationship
between church and state,
Louis XVI pondered his fate as
a monarch.
He was warned he and his
family were in danger.
They attempt to escape to the
Austrian Netherlands.
They were caught and returned
to Paris.
This upset the radicals and
sealed his fate.
A Limited Monarchy
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Louis reluctantly approved
the new constitution in 1791.
It called for a limited
constitutional monarchy.
It created a new legislative
body, the Legislative
Assembly.


Create laws and
approve/decline declarations of
war.
King has power to enforce
laws.
Emigres and Sans-Culottes

Emigres – wanted to restore the Old Regime
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Nobles
Sans-Culottes – wanted even greater
changes.

Workers and small shop keepers.
France at War
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After a few months of war with Austria
and Prussia, the Legislative Assembly
sets aside the constitution and
dissolved itself.
A new governing body, National
Convention, arose.

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Abolished the monarchy.
Declared France a republic.
Gave men the right to vote.
Jacobins Take Control
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Jacobin Club – radical
political organization
Jean-Paul Marat – prominent
Jacobin
 Called for death to all those
who support the king.
National Convention was
guided by Jacobins.
Declared Louis XVI a
common citizen and prisoner.
Tried him for treason.
He met the guillotine on
January 21, 1793.
War Continues
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National Convention
also has to deal with
Austria and Prussia.
To reinforce the army,
the Jacobins initiate a
draft.
300,000 citizens
between 18-40.
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Included women.
Army grew to 800,000
people.
Robespierre Assumes Control
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Maximilien Robespierre, a
Jacobin, gained power.
Wiped out France’s past.
Changed the calendar – 12
months, 30 days and renamed
each.
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No Sundays  religion was
outdated and dangerous.
Closed all churches in Paris.
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Trend continued throughout France.
Robespierre
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Became the leader of the
Committee of Public Safety.
Governed France as a
dictator.
Became known as the Reign
of Terror.
Tried “enemies” in the
morning, guillotined in the
afternoon.
Around 40,000 people died
during the Reign of Terror.
End of Terror
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Members of the
National Convention
turned against
Robespierre.
They demanded his
arrest and execution.
He, too, met the
guillotine (July 28,
1794).
New Government
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Two-house
legislature
Executive body of five
men – Directory
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Moderates
They returned order
to France.
Found a general to
command France’s
armies – Napoleon
Bonaparte.