The Reign of Terror

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The Reign of Terror

• Do Now
• Predict what will next in the French Revolution

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The Reign of Terror
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I. Monarchy Abolished

• A. The French Republic - National Convention
• 1. Suffrage to all male citizens
• 2. Voted to abolish monarchy
• 3. Declared France a republic

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I. Monarchy Abolished

• B. Death of the King and Queen
• 1. Louis XVI put on trial as a traitor
• 2. January 21, 1793 - King is beheaded

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II. The Convention Defends the Republic

• Problems
• 1. Country at war at all sides with Europe
• 2. Vendee Region - priest led peasant rebellion
  against the government
• 3. Sans-Culottes demanded relief from food
  shortages and inflation

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Sans-culottes
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Sans-culottes depicted by a British Cartoonist
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The 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
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II. The Convention Defends the Republic

• B. Committee of Public Safety
• 1. 12 member committee almost had absolute power
• 2. Prepared France for all out war between
  rebels in the country and Europe

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Marie Antoinette of to trial.
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II. The Convention Defends the Republic

• C. Robespierre
• 1. Leader of the Committee of Public Safety
• 2. The Incorruptible
• 3. Terror is only justice prompt, severe and
  inflexible
• 4. Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals
  lose their heads.

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Maximilien Robespierre
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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
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Festival of the Supreme Being
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II. The Convention Defends the Republic

• D. The Reign of Terror
• 1. 40,000 people were killed
• 2. Guillotine became a symbol of horror
• 3. Reign of Terror consumed its own - July 1794
  Robespierre was arrested and executed

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III. Reaction and the Directory

• The Directory
• 1. Moderates gain control
• 2. Constitution of 1795
• a. set up a 5 man Directory and a 2 house
  legislature
• b. held power from 1795-1799

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III. Reaction and the Directory

• B. Problems with the Directory
• 1. Dictatorial
• 2. War with Austria and Great Britain
• 3. Corruption
• 4. Renewed revival of royalist feelings

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The Arrest of Robespierre
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The Fall of Robespierre

• Replaced the worship of Reason with the Cult
  of the Supreme Being
• Based on Rousseaus 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

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End 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

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IV. Results of the Revolution

• Social Reform
• 1. Abolished slavery
• 2. Religious toleration
• 3. Social systems that helped veterans, poor,
  and widows
• Nationalism
• Pride in ones country
• La Marseillaise - national anthem