France: 1791-1795France: 1791-1795

Legislative AssemblyNational Convention

Reign of TerrorThermidorian Reaction

Why didn’t the French Revolution end with the

creation of a new Constitution and Government in 1791?

What factors prevented the resolution of the revolutionary

fervor?

Why?: International Phase

• Emigres abroad• Girondins (party of international

revolution)– Marquis de Condorcet

• Declare war on Austria April 1792 Expansion (Avignon, German lands)

• Treaty of Pillnitz (Prussian allies with

Austria) • Conservatism – Edmund Burke

– Reflections on the Revolution in France

The Political The Political SpectrumSpectrum

JacobinJacobinss

MontagnarMontagnardsds

(“The (“The Mountain”)Mountain”)

GirondistsGirondistsMonarchíeMonarchíe

nn(Royalists)(Royalists)

1790s:1790s:The PlainThe Plain

(swing (swing votes)votes)

TODAY:TODAY:

Source: Susan Pojer HGHS

European Reaction

The Jacobins

Sans-Culottes: Parisian Working classSans-Culottes: Parisian Working class

Robespierre

Paris Commune – Aug 1792

• Revolutionary municipal government

• Demanded greater democracy• September Massacres (prompted

by propaganda)• Worsening economic conditions

fueled civil unrest• Losses on the battlefield

(Brunswick Manifesto- July 1792) stirred patriotic excitement

The Radical “Second” The Radical “Second” French Revolution: French Revolution:

OverviewOverviewThe National The National

Convention:Convention:• 1792-1794

– Girondin Rule– Jacobin Rule

• Reign of Terror

– Thermidorian Reaction

The DirectoryThe Directory• 1795-17991795-1799

What sparked the radical turn of the French Revolution in 1792?

““The Death of Marat”The Death of Marat”by Jacques Louis David,by Jacques Louis David,

17931793

The Assassination of The Assassination of MaratMarat

by Charlotte by Charlotte CordayCorday

Paul JacquesPaul JacquesAimeeAimee

Baudry, 19Baudry, 19cc

National Convention

1792-1795

Executed the King and Queen

January 1793

Marie Executed in October 1793

New Government, Again!

• New Constitution– National Convention– “real” democratic reforms

•Universal male suffrage, abolition of slavery, end of all manorial policies (as liberal as it will become!)

• Military Success (Levee in Masse)• Differing views intenstify

Maximillian Maximillian RobespierreRobespierre(1758 – 1794)(1758 – 1794)

The The Incorruptible?Incorruptible?

To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to

forgive them is barbarity.” —

Maximilien Robespierre, 1794

Georges Danton

Reign of Terror: 9.1793 - 7.1794

Committee of Public Safety (12 members)• Revolutionary Courts• Guillotine

• De-Christianization (New Calendar) • Law of General Maximum: Economic

Controls• Law of Suspects: restrictions liberties

(speech, press, assembly)

Gave republicanism a bad name!

Temple of Reason

The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of Terror““Let terror be the order of the Let terror be the order of the

day!”day!”““The government in a revolution is the The government in a revolution is the despotism of liberty against tyranny.despotism of liberty against tyranny. “

Estimates have …Estimates have …

• 16,594 executed 16,594 executed by guillotine by guillotine (2,639 in Paris),(2,639 in Paris),

• another 25,000 in another 25,000 in summary summary executions across executions across France.France.

Different Social Different Social Classes Executed Classes Executed

28%

31%

25%

8%

7%

Thermidorian Reaction

• July 1794• Executed Robespierre and 83

associates• Began the reversal radical

democratic policies (universal male suffrage, abolition of slavery)

• Established the Directory in October 1795

Enter Napoleon…