The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

From Louis XVI - Napoleon

Background Causes

04/19/23 2

Political reorganization Citizenship and voting based on tax payers Created 83 departments

– Replaced all provincial power– Further crippled nobility

The National Assembly became a house divided. They began to form alliances based on class and belief. The lower classes felt left out…again.

Two New Groups Take Control

Jacobins

RadicalsRadicals wanted the wanted the

king king completely completely out of the out of the picturepicture

Girondins

ModeratesModerates in favor of in favor of

retaining the retaining the constitutional constitutional monarchymonarchy

They Take They Take Control NowControl Now

We better

stop this

This is getting out

of hand

The killed their

King!!!

This is not

good

1792-1793 Other nations of Europe worry that revolution in France will spread to their countries.

Other nations invade France– Austria, Prussia (Germany), Spain, Britain,

wage war on France.– French fight them off

Radicals in France gain even more power

European European neighbors feared neighbors feared that revolution that revolution would spread to would spread to their countries.their countries.

The Counter Revolution

The revolution threatened political and social order across Europe– The Vatican isn’t happy (The French Catholic

church has been attacked and their lands taken away during the Revolution.)

– French Nobility try to fight back.– The King tried to flee, but was caught– Other Monarchs of Europe saw its as a threat

• Frederick II of Prussia vowed to protect Marie Antoinette

France is now a Republic The first acts of the newly named National

Convention: A radical group (Jacobins) took over the

Assembly and declared France a republic.

France is now a Republic In January 1793, the convention tried and

Louis XVI on the grounds of treason.

What’s a Republic?

A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.

The radicals were led by Maximilien Robespierre

and set up the Committee on Public Safety.

Radicals Gain Control Maxmilian Robespierre

and the “Committee for Public Safety”– Begin hunting down all

those seen as a threat to the Revolution

– 1793 Louis XVI and Marie sent to the guillotine

Off With Their Heads!!

Simply put…France did away with the monarchy and decided they would be a Republic and Louis lost his head...

Literally.

The King is Dead!!

The King is dead !!!

On a Side Note…

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of waterJack fell down and broke his crownAnd Jill came tumbling after.Up got Jack, and home did trot As fast as he could caperHe went to bed and bound his headWith vinegar and brown paper.

“Reign of Terror”

– “Reign of Terror” Begins• Around 40,000 people

eventually sent to the guillotine

• Nobles, peasants, workers - anyone Robespierre saw as a threat to the revolution

Time when Robespierre was so afraid of opposition that he executed people that mightmight be a threat.

End of Reign of Terror

1794 – National Convention feels Robespierre has gone over the line– He is arrested, tried, convicted

and executed

– Don’t you just love the irony of it all???

Robespierre Is Killed in 1794

Outcome

After the reign of terror the French were fearful of a too powerful government . The Directory was formed to oversee the balance of responsibilities and appointments.

Increased corruption was the result.

Results of the French Revolution

1. Political power in France shifted from

kings and nobility to the bourgeoisie

(middle class).

2. Increased nationalist feelings in France and elsewhere.

3. Ideals of revolution like “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” spread to other parts of Europe and the world….

Impact of the Revolution Monarchy is gone Old feudal customs are gone Slavery in French colonies abolished

France becomes democratic country– The Directory

• 2 house legislature and committee of 5 Directors

– Inefficient, quarrelsome, – It does not really work

France has LARGE, experienced army– Rising young star in that army – Napoleon Bonaparte