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Revoutionary France. After the fall of the bastille. Kings authority had collapsed in Paris Peasant rebellions contributed to a time known as the “Great Fear” – peasants would break into lords’ houses The National Assembly reacts and abolished all legal privileges of the nobility and clergy.
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After the fall of the bastille • Kings authority had collapsed in Paris • Peasant rebellions contributed to a time known as the “Great Fear” – peasants would break into lords’ houses • The National Assembly reacts and abolished all legal privileges of the nobility and clergy. • Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen – charter of basic liberties that proclaimed all men equal, everyone should be taxed, etc.
TERROR and class warfare • Soon after seizing control the revolutionaries began to round up members of the upper class. • Then, in an organized fashion, the new government begins to execute large numbers of the aristocracy. • Between 1792 and 1794 an estimated 10,000 members of the aristocracy were guillotined
Guillotine The name “Guillotine” originates from Dr. Joseph Guillotin who was a strong advocate of a more humane method of execution (he did not actually invent the machine himself). In 1791 the National Assembly (the post-revolution government) officially adopted the guillotine as its method of executing prisoners.
Louis XVI concedes • Louis XVI accepts the new decrees and returns to Paris. • They essentially became prisoners in Paris – they were constantly watched. • Meanwhile, a new Republic was formed to govern France – first act? Abolish the monarchy and establish the French Republic • Jacobins – a political and social club that wanted Louis XVI executed. Why?
Death! • The Jacobins convinced the National Convention to condemn Louis XVI to death. PRIMARY SOURCE: The path leading to the scaffold was extremely rough and difficult to pass; the King was obliged to lean on my arm, and from the slowness with which he proceeded, I feared for a moment that his courage might fail; but what was my astonishment, when arrived at the last step, he suddenly let go of my arm, and I saw him cross with a firm foot the breadth of the whole scaffold; and in a loud voice, I heard him pronounce distinctly these words: “I die innocent of all the crimes laid to my charge; I pardon those who had occasioned my death; and I pray to God that the blood you are going to shed may never be visited on France.” -Henry de Firmont
Robespierre • After Louis was executed, other European countries declared war on France. Fearing the new Republic would be destroyed by both domestic and foreign threats, the National Convention gave broad powers to a committee. • Maximilien Robespierre, a radical Jacobin, was given power.
Reign of Terror • Between 1793-1794, Robespierre had power over France. This period was known as the Reign of Terror. • Almost 40,000 people were killed • 16,000 died from the guillotine • People from all classes were killed • 1st and 2nd estate – 15% victims PRIMARY SOURCE: The springs of popular government in revolution are at once virtue and terror: virtue, without which terror is fatal; terror, without which virtue is powerless. Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible; it is therefore an emanation of virtue. -Robespierre
End of Terror • French had defeated foreign enemies • No need for reign of terror, but it continued anyway • Members of the National Convention were afraid of being victims – guillotined Robespierre!
Vocab Review • Estates • Taille • National Assembly • Bourgeoisie • Tennis Court Oath • Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen • Jacobins • Reign of Terror • Versailles • Bastille • Louis XVI • Maximilien Robespierre
