Disclaimer: This painting, Liberty Leading the People, by Eugne
Delacroix is not actually a painting of the French Revolution, but
a different event in the 1830s. Nevertheless, it has become heavily
associated with the French Revolution! But first, a quick review of
some important stuff, starting with meLouis XIV! What did they call
me, what did I say, and what did I build? Louis XIV: The Sun King
who said I am the state and built the Palace of Versailles Im Louis
XVIwhat big event took place during my reign (and after)? Why?
Louis XVI: King when the French Revolution began; began because of
poverty and tax policy Im a member of the 1 st Estatewhat is my job
(other than wearing awesome hats)? 1 st Estate: Upper and Lower
Clergy Im a member of the 2 nd Estate what am I and how did I
become a member? 2 nd Estate: Nobility (by birth) As the 3 rd
Estate, we are everyone elsewhat people might that include? 3 rd
Estate: Everyone else (peasants, paid workers, and the bourgeoisie)
Why did Louis XVI call the Estates General? What big thing happened
at that meeting? Meeting of the Estates General: Louis XVI calls a
meeting of the estates to discuss the financial crisis; the
National Assembly is formed by the 3 rd Estate Why are we all
hanging out in this tennis court? Tennis Court Oath: After being
locked out, the National Assembly pledges to meet until a new
constitution was written for France What were the two reasons the
rebels attacked the Bastille? Storming of the Bastille: Angry mob
raids the Bastille, a symbol of the monarchy, for gunpowder What
important ideas were established in the Declaration of the Rights
of Man and of the Citizen? Declaration of the Rights of Man:
Revolutionary ideas of democracy and equality adopted by the
National Assembly What did we want when we Marched on Versailles?
What happened? March on Versailles: Angry women storm the Palace of
Versailles to demand bread; kill guards/nobles and force Royal
Family back to Paris Solets get on to the final stages of the
Revolution! This would be way more awesome if I didnt die
Actuallyscrew France, Im moving to Austria! They will probably like
me better there! EPIC FAIL! I : Monarchy began to collapse A. King
Louis XVI tried and failed to escape to Austria; forced back to
Paris B. Attempted escape led more people to distrust the King By
1791, the people of France were ready for a Constitution! The
Declaration of the Rights of Man formed both the philosophical
basis for that document and was used as the preamble for it as
well! As such, class distinctions were eliminated The new document
established three branches of government: - The National Assembly -
The King and Royal Ministers - The Judiciary My power was
significantly limited But, I was given the Constitutional authority
to veto the laws established by the Assembly! II.The Constitution
of 1791 A. Based on the Ideas of the Declaration of the Rights of
Man B. Created a limited monarchy with three branches (The National
Assembly, the King and his Ministers, and the Judiciary) C. King
exercised power to veto laws made by Assembly D. Social class
distinctions eliminated; church lands were seized for the people
and it was established that religious leadership would be chosen by
the people (very controversial - created many permanent enemies of
the revolution) OH NO! This Revolution is a threat to monarchies
everywhere! War with Austria and Prussia (1792) The Paris Commune
(the frustrated citizens of Paris who had formed a city council),
many of whom were now calling themselves sans-culottes captured the
royal family, imprisoned them, and began to call for a new, more
radical government which would allow all male citizens to vote, not
just those with property or money (as in the Constitution of 1791).
III.War with Austria and Prussia (1792) A. European leaders wanted
to restore absolute monarchy in France to preserve their own
positions as monarchs B. French citizens ("The Paris Commune")
captured/imprisoned royal family and called for new govt. where all
male citizens, not just those with property or money (as in the
Constitution of 1791), could vote; many members of the Commune
began to call themselves the sans- culottes and began the more
radical stage of the Revolution By mid-1792, the Paris Commune and
the sans-culottes were basically running the government of France,
and so they forced the Legislative Assembly (created in the
Constitution of 1791) to call a National Convention. Georges
Danton, the leader of the sans-culottes and the newly appointed
Minister of Justice began to seek revenge on those who aided the
king and resisted the popular will of the Paris Communesoon the
life of the king was at risk By mid-1792, the Paris Commune and the
sans-culottes were basically running the government of France, and
so they forced the Legislative Assembly (created in the
Constitution of 1791) to call a National Convention. In the build
up to the execution of the king thousands were arrested and killed.
Along with Danton, Jean-Paul Marat emerged as a leader of the
people. He published the influential radical journal Friend of the
People. When a man lacks everythinghe is justified in cutting
anothers throat and devouring the palpitating flesh! Ultimately,
Marat was stabbed to death by a woman who supported the Girondins,
a group of royalists from outside Paris, who wanted the restoration
of a limited Monarchy. Marat, like Danton and Robespierre, was a
member of the Mountain, a group of radicals from around Paris who
supported the Republic and the execution of Louis XVI. Both the
Girondins and the Mountain were members of the Jacobin political
clubs. The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David In September of
1792 the newly elected National Convention began to meet. This
assembly had been called to establish a new Constitution, but it
also served as the ruling body of France. The Convention was
dominated by lawyers, professionals, and property owners. These
men, most of whom were under 45, almost all feared the King and,
so, they abolished the monarchy on September 21 st. Beginning in
1793 France transitioned to the French Republican (or
Revolutionary) Calendar to move away from the religious connections
of the traditional calendar. Instead of most days having an
associated saint as in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, each
day has: An animal (days ending in 5) A tool (days ending in 0) A
plant or mineral (all others) British cartoon mocking the French
Revolution IV.The Radical Republic ( ) National Convention A.
Representative democracy established (Sept. 1792) B. New calendar
created to eliminate religious connections C. Louis XVI executed
for treason (Jan. 1793); European monarchies attacked France in
response In response to the impending foreign crisis and the
continuing internal problems (starvation, unrestrained rebellion,
resistance to the revolution, etc.) the Committee of Public Safety
was formed; I served as its first leader.. Georges Danton Danton
was quickly replaced as head of the Committee of Public Safety by
Maximilien Robespierre, a young attorney who believed the
Revolution needed to become more radical. While under his control,
from mid-1793 through 1794, the Committee of Public Safety
protected France from external and domestic threatsthings actually
got pretty good! It allowed for the arrest and execution of those
who, by their conduct, associations, comments, or writings have
shown themselves partisans of tyranny or federalism and enemies of
liberty, etc An estimated 40,000 people (including Marie
Antoinette) died during the Reign of Terror85% of those killed were
commoners Marie Antoinette's last inscription in her prayer book,
which reads: "My God, have pity on me! My eyes have no more tears
to cry for you my poor children; adieu! adieu!" Execution of Marie
Antoinette Yet The Terror continued to keep order in the new
Republic De-Christianization was a major aspect of the new Republic
of Virtue. Robespierre believed that the church was corrupt and
spreading reliance on superstition, rather than reason. Many steps
were taken to de-Christianize France including changing the
calendar, removing saint from street names, closing churches, and
encouraging priests to marry. Notre Dame was even declared a Temple
of Reason. I want a society of good people; we will stop calling
each other mister and madame and replace those salutations with
citizen and citizeness, good citizens will be created through
education, slavery will be abolished in colonies, and we are going
to fix the problems in France! Many of these reforms were
particularly unpopular with the predominantly Catholic nation, even
those who supported the Revolution, and ultimately Robespierre was
forced to abandon his dream of a Republic of Virtue Meanwhile, in
Aug. 1793, to deal with external threats, the Committee of Public
Safety established a policy of universal mobilization for the
military. In a matter of months France had an army of over a
million people, all fighting for the Republic and their ideals,
unlike armies of the past which fought for money. The wars of
France were now the wars of the people of France! The new French
Revolutionary Army fought with the passion of men who believed in
their cause. Within a year, the external forces were no longer a
threat to France and the new Republic had even conquered the
Austrian Netherlands! By mid-1794 the Reign of Terror and mandatory
military service had solved virtually all of Frances problemsexcept
for one! I had my old friend Georges Danton killed! Then, I gave a
big speech about it in which I accused members of the National
Assembly of being disloyal to France! Members of the National
Assembly decided that Robespierre was too big of a threat to be
left free and so he was condemned to be executed. In the process of
that arrest he either attempted to kill himself (as shown below) or
was shot by one of the guards A copy of Robespierres last
declaration to the people of France, stained with his blood from
the arrest/suicide attempt. My deputies executed me because they
were afraid that if they didnt, they would die next! D. Maximilien
Robespierre as dictator during Reign of Terror (July 1793-July
1794) 1. Committee of Public Safety established drastic measures to
save France from her enemies (some real, and some imagined) 2.
passed the Law of Suspects to search out suspected traitors and
execute them in the name of the Revolution 3. 40,000 people
executed (85% commoners), including Marie Antoinette 4. During the
Reign of Terror, Robespierre tried to create the Republic of
Virtue, but realized it probably could not be done 5. Reign of
Terror fixed most problems and became unnecessary by mid-1794, but
Robespierre became obsessed with ridding France of all enemies and
corruption 6. Robespierre became the final victim of the terror
because his deputies feared he would execute them next In 1795 a
new Constitution was established to restore the upper-middle class
to ruling authority. This, once again, took the power out of the
hands of the teeming masses. The government had a bicameral
legislature selected by qualified electors (based on personal
wealth). The Lower House had 500 members and drafted laws. The
Upper House had 250 members and accepted or rejected laws. A five
member executive branch known as the Directory was selected by the
Upper House to carry out and enforce the laws. People of France
Lower House (500) Upper House (250) The Directory (5) Electors
(30,000) Draw This! V.Constitution of 1795 A. After Robespierre's
death, public wanted moderation in govt. B. New Constitution
drafted to give upper middle class ruling power 1. bicameral
(two-house) legislature elected by wealthy a. Lower House 500
people created laws b. Upper House 250 people accepted/rejected law
2. five-person executive body called the Directory elected by the
Upper House C. Committee of Public Safety was stripped of many
powers and churches were allowed to reopen D. The Directory would
struggle to resolve the many problems which had plagued France for
the last fifty years
