The Reign of Terror Do Now: Predict what will next in the French Revolution.

The Reign of Terror

Do Now: Predict what will next in the

French Revolution

The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of Terror

I. Monarchy Abolished

A. The French Republic - National Convention1. Suffrage to all male citizens2. Voted to abolish monarchy 3. Declared France a republic

I. Monarchy Abolished

B. Death of the King and Queen1. Louis XVI put on trial as a traitor2. January 21, 1793 - King is beheaded

II. The Convention Defends the Republic

A. Problems:1. Country at war at all sides with Europe2. Vendee Region - priest led peasant rebellion against the government3. Sans-Culottes demanded relief from food shortages and inflation

Sans-culottes

Sans-culottes depicted by a British Cartoonist

The Republic DefendedThe Republic Defended

• Committees were set up to organize the wartime effort

• Committee of Public Safety – created to carry out the duties of government– Main task was to save

the revolution at home and abroad

– They would later have totalitarian powers

Georges Danton

II. The Convention Defends the Republic

B. Committee of Public Safety1. 12 member committee almost had absolute power2. Prepared France for all out war between rebels in the country and Europe

Marie Antoinette of to trial.

II. The Convention Defends the Republic

C. Robespierre1. Leader of the Committee of Public Safety2. “The Incorruptible”

3. “Terror is only justice prompt, severe and inflexible”4. “Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads.”

Maximilien Robespierre

New Name Meaning Time Period

Vendemaire Vintage September 22 – October 21

Brumaire Fog October 22 – November 20

Frimaire Frost November 21 – December 20

Nivose Snow December 21 – January 19

Pluviose Rain January 20 – February 18

Ventose Wind February 19 – March 20

Germinal Budding March 21 – April 19

Floreal Flowers April 20 – May 19

Prairial Meadow May 20 – June 18

Messidor Harvest June 19 – July 18

Thermidor Heat July 19 – August 17

Fructidor Fruit August 18 – September 21

Festival of the Supreme Being

II. The Convention Defends the Republic

D. The Reign of Terror1. 40,000 people were killed2. Guillotine became a symbol of horror3. Reign of Terror consumed its own - July 1794 Robespierre was arrested and executed

III. Reaction and the Directory

A. The Directory1. Moderates gain control2. Constitution of 1795

a. set up a 5 man Directory and a 2 house legislature

b. held power from 1795-1799

III. Reaction and the Directory

B. Problems with the Directory1. Dictatorial2. War with Austria and Great Britain3. Corruption4. Renewed revival of royalist feelings

The Arrest of Robespierre

The Fall of RobespierreThe Fall of Robespierre

• Replaced the worship of “Reason” with the “Cult of the Supreme Being”

• Based on Rousseau’s vision of morality and civic religion

• When more suspicions were proclaimed by Robespierre the Convention began to shout back

• July 17 – 9th of Thermidor – Robespierre was arrested – and executed

End of the TerrorEnd of the Terror

• Winter of 1794 Robespierre began to attack the enrages – extreme Sans-culottes

• Robespierre also turned against other republicans in the Convention – Jacques Danton

• Robespierre accused these men of profiting from the revolution and disloyalty to moral virtue

• All threatened his position• Law of 22 Prairial – tribunal can convict subjects

without substantial evidence

IV. Results of the Revolution

A. Social Reform1. Abolished slavery2. Religious toleration3. Social systems that helped veterans, poor, and widows

B. Nationalism1. Pride in one’s country2. La Marseillaise - national anthem