King and Queen Controller

General

National

Assembly

National

Assembly

National

Assembly

National

Assembly

National

Assembly

National

Assembly

National

Assembly

The French Revolution

Stage 3

The Execution of Louis XVI

• June 21, 1791– Royal family attempted to flee France, – Was caught and returned to Paris

The Execution of Louis XVI

• King agreed to sign the Constitution of 1791 • Then proceeded to veto key revolutionary

decrees

The Execution of Louis XVI

• National Convention was elected in September 1792– Very radical

• France also attacked by its neighbors– “a war of people against kings” against Austria

and Prussia.

• November 1792 – royal documents found that showed the king was

negotiating secretly to restore his authority and overturn the Constitution

The Execution of Louis XVI

• National Convention overwhelmingly voted to convict Louis XVI of treason and then voted to sentence him to death in January 1793

The Execution of Louis XVI

“I die innocent of all the crimes of which I have been charged.”

The Queen was executed in October 1793

Robespierre and the Reign of Terror

• National Convention was now at war with all major European powers

• Led by Maximilien Robespierre, it called for drastic measures to save France from “enemies of the nation.”

Robespierre and the Reign of Terror

• 1794– Conscripted nationalist army of 1 million defeated

the united European armies on all fronts– The French people were being “taught” the

“virtues” of the new French Republic

Robespierre and the Reign of Terror

• Revolutionary courts that report only to Robespierre are set up– tried citizens for treason against the revolution– 40,000 French are killed in 2 years

• When Robespierre begins to execute some of those close to him, they in turn have him beheaded.

Napoleon Bonaparte

• After multiple governments, including the disastrous Directory, Napoleon Bonaparte took control in a coup in 1799.

Napoleon Bonaparte

• He turned France into a centrally controlled police state – freedom of speech and press

were restricted– Abolished feudal privileges– Established Napoleonic Code –

a code of laws still in use in part in Europe today

– Centralized education

Napoleon Bonaparte

• Napoleon’s armies took most of continental Europe until losing in Russia in 1812

• After a brief exile on the island of Elba, Napoleon returned and was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo

• He abdicated in 1814 and died in exile in Helena

King Louis XVI recognizes the National Assembly

The Controller-General describes the financial crisis - The C-G reads role cardHave the National-Assembly come up with proposals to solve the financial crisis - remind students that taxing

the Third Estate was a significant problem (The proposals themselves are not that important [historically inaccurate])

They should select a spokes persons to come before the king with the proposals. The spokes person should come and kneel before the king to present the proposal

The king will veto all proposals.

Robespierre announce a revolutionary plan. Robespierre reads the secret documents handed to him by teacher

Vote for trial

Trial of the King

Robespierre asks for those who would defend the king, noting who ever does so. Anyone who wishes to defend the king should stand and plead their case

Vote on whether or not to convict the king. Guillotine him and escort him to the cemetery

Robespierre leads the radical republic

Students are asked to come up with a plan to make France a Republic of Virtue. The plan itself is not important; this is time for Rob. to execute people

Robespierre begins executing people. They should be promptly escorted to the cemetery and asked to sit on the ground quietly.

Reign of Terror EndsTell students that Rob. has lead for 2 years and in that time many people have been executed, sometimes

merely for the crime of owning a book with the King’s seal on it.Ask students if they wish to try Rob. for treason.Students should vote to execute Robespierre