Revolution Brings Reform and Terror

1. Revolution Brings Reform and Terror Chapter 7 Section 2

3. August 4, 1789 • Nobles declared their love of liberty and equality • Motivation = FEAR! • Joined the National Assembly • Did away with the Old Regime Estates

4. The Declaration of the Rights of Man • Statement of revolutionary ideals • Adopted by the National Assembly • “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” • Blend of the U.S. Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence

5. A State-Controlled Church • Early reforms focused on the church • Seized church property & paid off debt • Church officials were to be elected & paid as state officials • Devout Catholic peasants were appalled; they believed the church should be independent from the state…they no longer supported the assembly.

6. Louis XVI tries to escape • Warned that he and his family were in danger • June 1791, they tried to escape to the Austrian Netherlands • They were apprehended at the border and brought back to Paris • This intensified the hatred of his enemies

7. A Limited Monarchy • 1791 the National Assembly had created a new constitution • Louis XVI reluctantly approved • It stripped the king of his absolute authority • It created a Legislative Assembly that would create laws that the king would have to enforce

8. Factions Split France • The countries problems split the Legislative Assembly into 3 groups • Radicals-opposed the idea of a monarchy and wanted many government reforms • Moderates-wanted some changes • Conservatives-wanted few changes

9. Other Influences • Émigrés-wanted to undo the Revolution and reinstate the Old Regime • Sans-Culottes-wanted the Revolution to bring even more changes to France

10. War • Austria & Prussia urged the French people to restore Louis XVI as an absolute monarch • As a result, France declared war • The Prussian commander threatened to destroy Paris if anyone harmed the royal family.

11. War • An angry mob of 20,000 men broke into the castle, killing guards, and imprisoning the royal family • Fear spread that the royal family would be released by a sympathizer…people went wild! • The king was deposed and a new legislature was elected

12. New Legislature • Elected • Declared France a republic • Granted adult male citizens the right to vote

13. Jacobins • Members of a radical political organization • Jean-Paul Marat (a famous member) called for the death of all those who continued to support the king • Louis XVI was now a common citizen and prisoner

14. Maximillen Robespierre • Slowly gained power • Made a new calendar, renamed the months, and included no Sundays • Religion was old-fashioned and dangerous • Wanted to wipe away every trace of France’s past

15. Reign of Terror • Robespierre governed France as a dictator • Had enemies tried in the morning and guillotined in the afternoon • Many “enemies” were fellow radicals who challenged his leadership • Marie Antoinette was also executed • A boy was executed for chopping down a “liberty” tree

16. Reign of Terror • Georges Danton was executed • At his trial he defended himself so well that they denied him the right to speak • “Don’t forget to show my head to the people. Its well worth seeing.”

17. Reign of Terror • As many as 40,000 were executed during this period • 85% were peasants, urban workers, or the middle class; those who actually launched the revolution

18. End of Terror • July of 1794, fearing for their own safety, members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre. • July 28, 1794 Robespierre went to the guillotine

19. A new form of government • 1795 • Placed power firmly in the hands of the upper middle class • Two-House legislature • Directory=an executive body of 5 men • Chose Napoleon Bonaparte to command France’s army