Radical Revolution in France

1. Radical Revolution in France World History I

2. The Move to Radicalism • After gaining power, the sans-culottes began arresting and murdering supporters of the king. • In September 1792, the National Convention began its sessions. • Abolished the monarchy and established the French Republic. • The convention then split into two factions (dissenting groups), the Girondins and the Mountain. • The Mountain represented the interests of the radicals in Paris, while the Girondins represented areas outside of the city. • The Mountain convinced the National Convention to condemn Louis XVI to death via the guillotine.

4. Crisis in France • The National Convention, now France's official government, still did not have control over all of France. • Peasants in western France and inhabitants of many cities refused to accept the authority of the National Convention. • The execution of Louis XVI outraged many European monarchs. • A coalition of Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Britain, and the Dutch Republic took up arms and planned to invade France to stop the revolution. • In response to these crises, the National Convention gave special powers to a committee of 12 men known as the Committee of Public Safety.

5. The Reign of Terror • The Reign of Terror is the name given to the period in 1793-94 where the Committee of Public Safety took control of France. • They acted to defend France from foreign and domestic threats. • They set up courts throughout France to prosecute enemies to the revolutionary republic. • Over the course of the Reign of Terror, close to 40,000 people were killed, usually by guillotine. • Executions were held in areas that rebelled against the National Convention.

6. The Reign of Terror, cont. • Armies continued to bring rebellious cities back under the control of the National Convention. • The Committee of Public Safety continued to massacre people who rebelled against them. • Maximilien Robespierre was now in charge of the Committee of Public Safety. • He created a new order, the Republic of Virtue. • It implemented laws to deal with wartime emergencies. • The Republic of Virtue was also part of the dechristianization of France. • After attempts at eliminating Christianity, Robespierre realized that dechristianization would not be successful because France was overwhelmingly Catholic.

7. More Revolution in France • In response to the threat of attack by a group of European countries, France raised a huge army. • France’s army helped create modern nationalism. • Since the French Army was a creation of the people’s government, the people took great pride in it. • By Summer 1794, the French had largely defeated their foes. • The French government feared Robespierre becoming too powerful, so they gathered enough votes to have him executed. • The Terror was over and revolutionary ideas decreased.

8. The Directory • The Committee of Public Safety’s power was reduced after the Reign of Terror ended. • Churches were allowed to reopen and a new Constitution was drafted, creating a two-chambered legislature. • Five directors were selected to act as the executive committee, or the Directory. • The Directory was corrupt, had many political enemies, and couldn’t solve France’s economic problems. • In 1799, a coup d'état, or sudden overthrow of the government took place led by successful and popular French general Napoleon Bonaparte.