French Terror Bloody Years of the French Revolution

French Terror: Bloody Years of the French Revolution

The people of France had asserted their power over the king but now had to organize and manage it into a functioning and civilized society. Following the revolution, political factions developed over whether or not enough had been done. Feulliants – revolution had done enough and wanted constitutional monarchy Girondins – represented Paris, feared the power of the mob and favor a republic Jacobins – favor a republic, king must be killed to protect the republic Sans Cullotes – Radical branch of Jacobins in Paris. Wore pants to distinguish themselves from the rich. • In fear of revolutions in their own countries, Austria and Prussia declare war on the new French gov’t through the Pillnitz Declaration and aim to reinstall Louis XVI. • An already poor economy and war made food shortages even worse, money worth less and protests ensue. • Sans-Cullotes riot and form the Commune, taking control of Paris and imprisoning the king • Demanded the Legislative assembly call the National Convention = French Republic is born.

Leaders of the People Maximilien Robespierre – Jacobin leader in National Convention who called for universal male suffrage and liberty for all. Known as “the incorruptible” Jean-Paul Marat – newspaper journalist who advocated for violence against the enemies of the revolution, i. e. the rich and nobles. Georges Danton – French minister of justice who gets new recruits for army and helps fend off and even lead attacks on the Prussian/Austrian forces. • Creates the Citizen Army, in which average citizens are trained, armed, and given commands. Army swells to 850, 000 soldiers. Radicalism in France • As a result of the war, National Assembly imprisons thousands of enemies of the revolution. 1792 September Massacre – Sans-Cullotes break into Parisian prison and murder thousands inside. • July 1792, Marat is murdered in his bathtub by Girondin, in hopes of ending radical Jacobins influence. • December 1792, Luois XVI is tried for treason and executed on the guillotine. Marie Antoinette follows.

After the execution of Louis, foreign countries (Austria, Spain, Portugal, Prussia, Britain, and Dutch) formed together to restore order in France. Foreign armies abroad, and domestic riots and uprisings at home. Reign of Terror *Guillotine was a favorite of the reign of terror • As a war measure, the constitution is revoked for an executive oligarchy, ruled by a few Committee of Public Safety – council made to protect French republic from internal and external threats and cement a the new republic. Robespierre becomes unofficial head of committee with massive power. • Attempts made to eliminate all Christian influences. Street names, holidays, calendar is started over with 1792 as year 1. • Secret police sent out to find counter-revolutionaries. Roughly 40, 000 killed, mostly peasants. • French army defeats foreign coalition army and revolutionary threat is gone, but Robespierre continues brutality Robespierre made the vow that his brutal tactics were only temporary, and that soon France would be restored to a Republic of Virtue. • Executes Georges Danton, and Committee of Public Safety has Robespierre executed as an enemy of the state. *16, 000 were killed using a guillotine

The Reign of terror is done and an attempt to create peaceful/stable gov’t a new constitution is made, placing executive power in the hands of the Directory - 5 men who rule France and rely on the army to maintain power. Lasts from 1795 -1799 • The Directory was very corrupt and could not fix the problems of the country. Some called for a new monarchy and others wanted to bring back the absolutist government of Robespierre. • French republic looked to the military for a strong leader to help fix the problems of France. - Powerful general Napoleon Bonaparte performs a Coup d’etat, using his army to put him in power and dismisses the directory in 1799 - Napoleon restructures the government as a consulate (3 rulers) with himself in charge of it all With the French Revolution finally over, feudalistic laws of France are destroyed, the monarch disempowered, and Napoleon turns his attention to the rest of Europe.