Download The French Revolution

The French Revolution:
1791-1794
The Path to War
• Other European monarchs were becoming
concerned with the events of the French
Revolution.
• Aug. 27, 1791: Austrian Emperor Leopold
(brother of Marie Antoinette) issues Pillnitz
Declaration, threatening consequences if anything
happens to the French royal family.
• France sees this as a threat, and is also concerned
with émigré actions in neighbouring countries.
• France declares war on Austria April 20, 1792.
• France invades the Austrian Netherlands April 28.
The Brunswick Manifesto
• Prussia joins the war, led by the Duke of
Brunswick.
• He issues the Brunswick Manifesto, declaring that
the Allied Army (Austria and Prussia) will restore
King Louis to his full powers (i.e. absolute
monarchy), and condemns to death any who
oppose this (July 20).
• In France, this is seen as proof that Louis is
collaborating with France’s enemies.
• The Allied Army invades France (July 30, 1792).
The Battle of Valmy
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Fought on Sept. 20, 1792.
Major turning point in the war.
France battles the Allied Army to a draw.
The Prussians decide to withdraw.
Great boost to French morale.
The next day (Sept 21) the monarchy is
formally abolished and the First French
Republic is born.
The Battle of Valmy, by Emile-Jean-Horace Vernet
The Paris Commune
• The city government of Paris since 1789
• August 10, 1792: revolts against the Legislative
Assembly.
• Storms the Tuileries (royal residence of Louis in
Paris) and takes the royal family prisoner.
• This challenges the legitimacy of the Legislative
Assembly.
• Sept 19, 1792: Legislative Assembly is dissolved.
Paris Commune
The National Convention
• French government from Sept 20 1792 to
Oct 26, 1795.
• Abolishes royalty.
• Puts Louis on trial Dec. 3, 1792.
• Robespierre: “Louis must die, so that the
country may live”.
• Citizen Louis Capet guillotined Jan. 21,
1793.
The Vendee Rebellion
• Counterrevolutionary rebellion breaks out
in the Vendee region in March 1793.
• Other centers of counterrevolution: Lyon
and Bordeaux.
• Led by Monarchists and Catholic Church.
• Encouraged by émigrés and Austria.
• Civil war between Royalists and
Republicans lasts until 1796.
The Committee of Public Safety
• Set up by the National Convention in April
1793.
• Given dictatorial powers to defeat the
counterrevolution.
• Becomes the real French government during
the Reign of Terror.
• Passes the Mass Levy, Law of Suspects and
Law of Maximum Price.
Montagnards vs. Girondists
• Both Montagnards and Girondists had been
members of the Jacobin Club, and both were
republicans.
• Jacobin Club: political club that met in the
monastery of St. Jacques.
• Girondists named after the region of Gironde
where many Girondists came from.
• Montagnards named after “mountain” at the top
left of the National Assembly, where they sat.
• Montagnards were more extreme, Girondists more
moderate.
The Girondists Expelled
• The Girondists had more delegates in the National
Convention
• Girondists had been radicals in the National
Assembly, but were conservatives in the National
Convention
• June 2, 1793: The Montagnards use the National
Guard to arrest the Girondists, and throw them out
of the National Convention
• The Montagnards (radical Jacobins) take control
of the Committee of Public Safety
Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat
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Charlotte Corday: came from a royalist family.
Her brothers were emigres.
She supported the Girondists.
Marat had been a fierce opponent of Girondists.
Corday blames Marat for the downfall of the
Girondists.
• Assassinated him in his bathtub on July 13, 1793.
Maximilien Robespierre
• Lawyer and leader of Jacobin Club
• Initially opposed war with Austria
• One of the most popular orators of the
National Convention
• He, Georges Danton and Marat were three
most popular radical leaders
• Elected to the Committee of Public Safety
on July 27, 1793
Reign of Terror
• Sept 1793-July 1794
• Mass executions of “enemies of the revolution”
• These included Catholics, Monarchists and
Girondists
• Between 20 000 and 40 000 people executed
• “Law of Suspects”: creates “revolutionary
tribunals” to try people accused of treason (Sept
17, 1793)
The New Calendar
• Created Sept 22, 1793, with Sept 22, 1792
as Year One
• Changed names of months
• Ten day weeks, three weeks of thirty days
per month
• Designed to erase old ways
Cult of the Supreme Being
• Cult of Reason: atheist, secular religion to replace
Christianity
• Nov. 10, 1793: Goddess of Reason celebrated at
Notre Dame Cathedral, which is renamed Temple
of Reason
• Robespierre creates Cult of the Supreme Being to
replace both Christianity and Cult of Reason
• Made national religion on May 7, 1794 by decree
of National Convention
• June 8, 1794: Festival of Supreme Being
Robespierre’s Downfall
• Appears before the National Convention July 26,
1794.
• Warns about a conspiracy against the Republic
• Hints that members of the Convention are part of
the plot, but doesn’t mention any names.
• The next day, Robespierre is shouted down when
he tries to speak, and is arrested.
• On July 28, 1794, Robespierre is guillotined
without a trial
• The Terror is brought to an end