The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

Main Idea

An extreme government changed French society and tried through

harsh means to eliminate its critics within France.

The Republic

Content Statement 8/Learning Goal:

Describe how Enlightenment ideas influenced the American Revolution,

French Revolution and Latin American wars for independence.

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2Ch 6-2 Vocabulary

Maximilien Robespierre: Leading figure of the French

Revolution; he was known for his intense dedication to the

revolution. He became increasingly radical and led the national

Convention during its most bloodthirsty time.

Guillotine: a device used during the French Revolution for

beheading people.

Counterrevolution: a revolution established against a

government established by a revolution

Reign of Terror: a period during the French Revolution in which

the Robespierre-led government executed thousands of political

figures and ordinary citizens.

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

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The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

In 1792, the radical representatives were in charge of the National Convention.

The constitutional monarchy came to a violent end, and France became a

republic.

• Mountain/Montagnards/ Jacobins

• Middle class and poor

• Most radical

• Girondins

• Moderates

• Support Constitutional Monarchy

• The Plain (swing voters) 1st supported Girondins but switch to

Mountain.

• Personal rivalries

• 2) How were Jacobins and Girondins different?

1)Factions

A Radical Government/The National Convention

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

Reign of Terror

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2Radical Leaders

• Jean-Paul Marat

–advocate of violence

• Georges-Jacques Danton

–Compromiser

–Came to oppose excess of revolution

• Robespierre

–Dedicated radical

–Led National Convention during most blood thirsty

time

• No group had program or plan of action

3)Leaders (eventually all killed during Revolution)

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 24)Executions

• National Convention puts King on Trial

• Montagnards were eager to try and execute the king

• Wanted to prevent a return of monarchy

• King was condemned quickly

• Crash course video: sentenced to death by one

vote.

• 1/21/1793- King put to death by guillotine

• When the deed was done a young guard held up

the dripping head for all to see

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 25)View of Death of the King

• Europeans reacted with horror

• Lost European support – Revolution savagery condemned

– “Every heart burns with indignation in this kingdom,

against the ferocious savages of Paris. . . A Republic

founded on the blood of an innocent victim must

have but a short duration” London Times, January

25, 1793

• America’s response?

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

7)Transforming Society

• Leaders tried to end connections to old ways of life, including

religion

• Clergy members lost positions; churches closed in Paris

• Robespierre created cult of Supreme Being to replace

Catholicism

• Metric system, new calendar with 3/10 week months were

introduced

6)National Convention takes Control

• Committee of Public Safety set up to manage military defense

• Drafted all able-bodied men between 18 and 45 for service

• Established the Revolutionary Tribunal to protect the

Revolution by rooting out people who threatened it

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

8.Course of Revolution

• Many French criticized the Revolution as well as the countries of Great

Britain, Holland, Spain, Austria and Russia

• Revolutionary leaders feared counterrevolution

• Took drastic actions to keep power accusations, trials, and executions.

• This period was known as the Reign of Terror (300,000 arrested; 17,000

executed over 10 months).

10.Mountain leads Accusations and Trials

• Robespierre used the Revolutionary Tribunal to rid the country of dissenters

• 9/10 Who went on trial before Revolutionary Tribunal were found guilty and executed

• Started trials with the Girondins

• Anyone who had ever criticized the Revolution was in danger.

9.An Outbreak of Civil War

• Peasants only wanted an end to feudal dues. Peasants in Vendee begin civil war.

• Catholics and monarchy supporters who opposed the Revolution start a civil war

• The government put down the counterrevolution to regain control.

The Reign of Terror

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 210.Death by Guillotine

• Most common sentence - death by guillotine

• Condemned paraded through Paris in open carts to awaiting stages

• Mobs watched at scaffold; executions took less than one minute

• No one was spared

• Peasants /laborers largest victims

• Danton sent to guillotine by

Robespierre for suggesting relaxing

rule of terror.

• Robespierre eventually arrested and

later executed too.

• 17,000 executed in 10 months

• “Oh Liberty, what crimes are committed

in your name!”

• Reign of Terror ends after death of

Robespierre

10.The Terror’s Victims

• France started over with new

constitution in 1795

• The Directory established (1795)

• Voting limited to property owners

• High prices, bankruptcy, and

citizens’ unrest continued

• Power vacuum developed-No one

in control

11.After the Terror

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

Four Phases (Periods) of the French Revolution

National Assembly (1789-1791)

Legislative Assembly (1791-1792)

Convention (1792-1795)

Directory (1795-1799)

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

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The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2

Reign of Terror

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2Short Response on 6-1/6-2 Quiz

• How did Enlightenment ideas play a role in the

French Revolution? Use specific information

and explain in detail. At least two paragraphs.