The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
Main Idea
An extreme government changed French society and tried through
harsh means to eliminate its critics within France.
The Republic
Content Statement 8/Learning Goal:
Describe how Enlightenment ideas influenced the American Revolution,
French Revolution and Latin American wars for independence.
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2Ch 6-2 Vocabulary
Maximilien Robespierre: Leading figure of the French
Revolution; he was known for his intense dedication to the
revolution. He became increasingly radical and led the national
Convention during its most bloodthirsty time.
Guillotine: a device used during the French Revolution for
beheading people.
Counterrevolution: a revolution established against a
government established by a revolution
Reign of Terror: a period during the French Revolution in which
the Robespierre-led government executed thousands of political
figures and ordinary citizens.
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
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The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
In 1792, the radical representatives were in charge of the National Convention.
The constitutional monarchy came to a violent end, and France became a
republic.
• Mountain/Montagnards/ Jacobins
• Middle class and poor
• Most radical
• Girondins
• Moderates
• Support Constitutional Monarchy
• The Plain (swing voters) 1st supported Girondins but switch to
Mountain.
• Personal rivalries
• 2) How were Jacobins and Girondins different?
1)Factions
A Radical Government/The National Convention
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
Reign of Terror
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2Radical Leaders
• Jean-Paul Marat
–advocate of violence
• Georges-Jacques Danton
–Compromiser
–Came to oppose excess of revolution
• Robespierre
–Dedicated radical
–Led National Convention during most blood thirsty
time
• No group had program or plan of action
3)Leaders (eventually all killed during Revolution)
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 24)Executions
• National Convention puts King on Trial
• Montagnards were eager to try and execute the king
• Wanted to prevent a return of monarchy
• King was condemned quickly
• Crash course video: sentenced to death by one
vote.
• 1/21/1793- King put to death by guillotine
• When the deed was done a young guard held up
the dripping head for all to see
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 25)View of Death of the King
• Europeans reacted with horror
• Lost European support – Revolution savagery condemned
– “Every heart burns with indignation in this kingdom,
against the ferocious savages of Paris. . . A Republic
founded on the blood of an innocent victim must
have but a short duration” London Times, January
25, 1793
• America’s response?
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
7)Transforming Society
• Leaders tried to end connections to old ways of life, including
religion
• Clergy members lost positions; churches closed in Paris
• Robespierre created cult of Supreme Being to replace
Catholicism
• Metric system, new calendar with 3/10 week months were
introduced
6)National Convention takes Control
• Committee of Public Safety set up to manage military defense
• Drafted all able-bodied men between 18 and 45 for service
• Established the Revolutionary Tribunal to protect the
Revolution by rooting out people who threatened it
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
8.Course of Revolution
• Many French criticized the Revolution as well as the countries of Great
Britain, Holland, Spain, Austria and Russia
• Revolutionary leaders feared counterrevolution
• Took drastic actions to keep power accusations, trials, and executions.
• This period was known as the Reign of Terror (300,000 arrested; 17,000
executed over 10 months).
10.Mountain leads Accusations and Trials
• Robespierre used the Revolutionary Tribunal to rid the country of dissenters
• 9/10 Who went on trial before Revolutionary Tribunal were found guilty and executed
• Started trials with the Girondins
• Anyone who had ever criticized the Revolution was in danger.
9.An Outbreak of Civil War
• Peasants only wanted an end to feudal dues. Peasants in Vendee begin civil war.
• Catholics and monarchy supporters who opposed the Revolution start a civil war
• The government put down the counterrevolution to regain control.
The Reign of Terror
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 210.Death by Guillotine
• Most common sentence - death by guillotine
• Condemned paraded through Paris in open carts to awaiting stages
• Mobs watched at scaffold; executions took less than one minute
• No one was spared
• Peasants /laborers largest victims
• Danton sent to guillotine by
Robespierre for suggesting relaxing
rule of terror.
• Robespierre eventually arrested and
later executed too.
• 17,000 executed in 10 months
• “Oh Liberty, what crimes are committed
in your name!”
• Reign of Terror ends after death of
Robespierre
10.The Terror’s Victims
• France started over with new
constitution in 1795
• The Directory established (1795)
• Voting limited to property owners
• High prices, bankruptcy, and
citizens’ unrest continued
• Power vacuum developed-No one
in control
11.After the Terror
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
Four Phases (Periods) of the French Revolution
National Assembly (1789-1791)
Legislative Assembly (1791-1792)
Convention (1792-1795)
Directory (1795-1799)
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
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The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2
Reign of Terror
The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 2Short Response on 6-1/6-2 Quiz
• How did Enlightenment ideas play a role in the
French Revolution? Use specific information
and explain in detail. At least two paragraphs.