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