DAWN OF A NEW ERA—SECTION 3
By Chris AndersonRandolph-Henry High School
INTRODUCTION 1792: the revolutionary leaders of France have to deal with
the consequences of their declared war on Austria and Prussia Prussian forces had taken over Verdun (a French fort)
capturing Verdun opened up the road to Paris for the Prussians
one French man--Georges-Jacques Danton-- issues a cry for help
thousands of French come to the aid of the revolution 1 week after Danton’s plea, the French win a major victory at
Valmy this victory increased the morale of the French
revolutionaries--the French were again a military power
Georges Jacques Danton
BIRTH OF A REPUBLIC While fighting was occurring
in Valmy, the National Assembly was meeting in Paris
members were trying to form a new government for France
the National Assembly got rid of the monarchy and established a republic in France
from 1792 to 1795, the National Assembly will meet
Only males were allowed to be members of the National Convention lawyers, doctors, middle-
class males the National Convention
wrote France’s 1st democratic constitution this work put political power
in the hands of single legislature
all men could vote under this new constitution
The metric system was adopted as the
official system of weights and measures in France
a new calendar was adopted by the National Convention this calendar marked September 22, 1792 as
the creation date of the French republic
DEATH OF A KING After disposing of the
monarchy, the N. C. had to find out what to do with the king--Louis XVI
Louis’ fate was sealed when a box filled with his secret letters to foreign monarchs was found (November 1792) political radicals used
these letters as evidence, discrediting the royal family
Dec. 1792: Louis XVI was tried and sentenced to die--he was called an enemy of the people he was decapitated by
the guillotine the French people were
happy to see their king die
with the death of the king, the French Republic was sure to last
Execution of Louis XVI
The people of Paris felt that they were almost invincible after the execution of Louis XVI
the rich people of Paris began acting differently after the execution of the king they rejected the fancy
clothes and powder wigs men began wearing full
length pants instead of knee-pants
women began wearing long dress
The wealthy were trying to break away from the monarchy by dressing differently
the members of the Convention began arguing over the future of the French Republic
different political parties developed from these arguments Mountains Girondists Plain
MOUNTAINS Radicals
Rich Paris Citizens Extreme Radicals (Jacobians)
Saw themselves as the defenders of the people
Leaders:Maximillien RobespierreGeorges-Jacques Danton
Jean-Paul Marat
Robspierre Jean-Paul Marat
GIRONDISTS
Moderates Most were from the Southwest of France Felt the Revolution had gone far enough Wanted to protect the rich middle-class
from radical attacks
PLAIN Sat between the Mountains and Girondists Consisted of members who did not want to
choose sides the Plain made up the majority in the
Convention 1793: they will give support to the
Mountains the Plain will help the Mountains become
even more radical, open to extreme, and violent change
SPREADING THE REVOLUTION
Other European monarchies were watching the events in France and were terrified
these monarchs feared the revolution would spread into their own nation
January 1793: Great Britain, Spain, Netherlands, and Sardinia joined Austria and Prussia in an alliance against France
The Convention leaders in France wanted to end royal power everywhere in Europe
Convention leaders ordered French troops to go out into Europe and free the rest of Europe from royal power
French volunteers poured out of France into Europe in an attempt to free Europe from royal control
The French volunteers
were poorly trained; however, they won many battles against the other European nations by using the element of surprise
nevertheless, the other European nations had well trained (professional) forces that issued many defeats to the French volunteer force
the French will eventually surrender
After the surrender, French troops started retreating back into France
the National Convention wanted to ensure that they could keep the foreign nations from invading France
as a way of directing the war effort, the National Convention created the Committee of Public Safety
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY
1793: the committee saw the need for more French troops to help aid the war
the committee instituted conscription (draft)all men between 18 and 45 were called into the
military the committee also wanted the help of all
the French--men and women--to produce needed goods for the war effort
While France was
spreading the revolution to the rest of Europe, the revolutionary leaders were facing more problems in France
in Western France, a civil war was occurring peasants supporting the
monarchy were fighting against the French revolutionaries
these peasants were very angry that their sons were drafted to go fight a war that they opposed
Other parts of France were in economic trouble and, financially, could not support the revolution
food prices in France were and the amount of food was
people in the cities began riots as a way of protesting the high prices and low supply of food
Problems were also occurring within the French
government the Mountain party will win control over the
National Convention once in control, they will arrest the Girondist
members who did not agree with the Mountain’s policies and ideas
members supporting the Girondists will rebel against the Mountains
one Girondist supporter--Charlotte Corday--killed a Mountain leader shortly after, Charlotte was executed by the
guillotine other Girondist supporters would also be
executed for not following the Mountains
Charlotte Corday
REIGN OF TERROR The Mountains had
collected enemies at home and in the rest of Europe
these Mountains--lead by the Jacobins--set out to crush all opposition in France--Reign of Terror this Reign of Terror
lasted exactly 1 year--from July 1793 until July 1794
Neighborhood watch programs were set up to catch suspected traitors
the suspects were handed over to the courts where the suspect would receive a very quick (usually unfair) trial
the courts usually handed down very strict and harsh sentences
many innocent people were wrongly accused
Marie Antoinette, the
king’s wife, was a victim of the Reign of Terror
in all, 17,000 people were executed during this 1 year Reign of Terror
Spring 1794: the leader of the Jocobins (Danton) decided to end the Reign of Terror
a fellow party member (Robespierre) disagreed
Robespierre will have Danton and his followers executed
Robespierre then decided to continue the Reign of Terror for 4 more months
many of Robespierre’s followers were afraid for their own lives
they had Robespierre arrested and guillotined
THE DIRECTORY After Robespierre’s execution, the
Convention handled the government of France
1795: a new constitution was draftedonly men who owned land could vote--this ended
universal male suffrageall control was given to the wealthy middle-classa council of 5 men called directors was created
this new Directory would rule and share power with a 2 house legislature
Many people did not like the Directory many royalists threatened to take over the
government many people were upset because of the increasing
prices and food shortages the Directory had to use the French military to put
down numerous uprisings under the Directory, the gap between the rich and
poor steadily grew the Directory could not slow the growth because of
its own lack of $--the Directory was on the verge of bankruptcy
as the Directory seemed less powerful, the French people looked to the army to keep France from falling into ruin
NAPOLEON As problems raged on in France, the French
military was able to win some victories against the other European monarchies
one military leader was becoming very popular--Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon quickly rose to the rank of general
1795: Napoleon was able to put down an uprising against the Directory
Napoleon
1796: Napoleon will
marry--Josephine de Beauharnais
this marriage will help Napoleon win command of the French army that was fighting in Italy
in Italy, Napoleon illustrated his great strategic mind by defeating the Austrians in Italy and forcing them to sign a peace treaty
This victory over Austria made Napoleon the leading general in France
Napoleon had been fighting in Egypt against Great Britain and faced many setbacks
1799: he hears of the problems occurring in France and leaves his army in Egypt and heads for France
the people of Paris welcomed Napoleon with open arms
Josephine de Beauharnais
Napoleon will quickly realize that the French are tired and frustrated with the
revolution and war He will join in a coup de’etat and take
power away from the Directory the stage will be set for Napoleon’s future
empire