War and downfall of the monarchy

War and downfall of the monarchy

1790: the end of the Revolution?Flight to Varennes

France at warWhat to do with the king?

1790: the end of the Revolution?

• Period of hope: once the Constitution has been set up, the Revolution will be over

• 1791 Constitution: middle class in power, king has a suspensive veto

• Clergy now elected and have to swear an oath• 14 July 1790: fête de la Fédération

June 1791: flight to Varennes

• Émigrés rallying behind Artois ask for foreign intervention

• The king keeps blocking the Assembly’s decrees by his right to veto

• He refuses to take sacraments from constitutional priests

• Flight to Varennes hushed up and causes great embarrassment

France at war

• 27 August 1791: Declaration of Pillnitz• War seen by many as the best way to solve

problems in France• Emigrés armies perceived as a real threat• April 1792: king persuaded to declare war• Most officers had already emigrated,

volunteers are poorly equipped and the war begins disastrously for France

What to do with the king?

• In Paris, king and queen accused of conspiring with the enemy

• Divisions between political parties• July 1792: Duke of Brunswick’s manifesto• 10 August 1792: storming of the Tuileries, king and

queen take refuge in the legislative assembly• September massacres• French military victories• September 1792: a new national convention

elected to give France a new Constitution