Radical Revolution Noblemen meet Aug 4, 1789 (mostly out of fear) to figure out what to do Eliminate feudal privileges of 1st two estates Now everyone, including commoners, are equal - old Regime is dead! Soon after, write the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen” Inspired by the US Declaration of Independence

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen States: men are born and remain free and equal in rights Includes liberty, property, security & resistance to oppression Guarantees citizens equal justice, freedom of speech and religion New slogan: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”’ Fraternity means brotherhood (not for women)

Religious Reforms Took over & sold Catholic church lands – used the money to pay debts Priests & church officials would have to get elected & paid by gov’t Church lost all independence Peasants are shocked, don’t support these moves – devout Catholics

France Becomes Divided National Assembly spends 2 years arguing over new constitution & many of the changes Meanwhile King Louis worries about his family – failed escape attempt In 1791 new constitution is completed creating a constitutional monarchy New legislative body – Legislative Assembly It makes laws, King enforces (like US today)

France Becomes Divided Unfortunately – it’s the “same old, same old” Food shortages Gov’t debt Leg Assembly can’t agree on how to solve the problems 3 factions Radicals on the left Moderates in the middle Conservatives on the right

France Becomes Divided Left Radicals Center Moderates Right Conservatives No monarch Major changes in gov’t Limited monarchy Few changes in gov’t Want some changes Not as much as radicals No monarch Major changes in gov’t Other groups also disagree on gov’t direction Émigrés – nobles who fled France – want Old Regime Sans-culottes: urban workers, shop owners want major changes

This military crisis undermined the new Legislative Assembly France Goes to War Duke of Brunswick if the Royal Family is harmed, Paris will be leveled!! FRANCE 1792-1797 AUSTRIA PRUSSIA BRITAIN SPAIN PIEDMONT This military crisis undermined the new Legislative Assembly

France Goes to War French are mad at Prussia’s ultimatum regarding royal family – march on the palace killing guards and imprisoning royal family Rumors spread that the king’s supporters in prison were planning to escape, take over Paris People (radicals) attack the prisons, kill >1000 prisoners – many were nobles, priests & royalists September Massacres

Another New Gov’t Radicals pressure Legislative Assembly to Toss the constitution Depose the King (he’s not King anymore ) Dissolve the assembly & hold new elections New governing body is National Convention Abolished monarchy France is now a republic – they elect their gov’t Adult men can vote, hold office – not women National Convention

Jacobin Club - Radicals Jacobins Take Control Most radicals belong to the Jacobin Club – political organization Advocate for the death of anyone who supports the king They try & convict Louis (now a commoner) for treason & kill him with a new machine called the guillotine Jacobin Club - Radicals

Guillotine – Humane Death Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin proposed machine that would be efficient, humane & democratic Convicted all die the same type of death “People won’t feel any pain” Many people didn’t like it because it didn’t offer enough time for the execution to be enjoyed by the audience! September Massacres

“Oh yeah, there’s still a war” By now Great Britain, Spain, & Holland have joined Austria & Prussia The French are losing, so Directory orders a draft of 300,000 to expand army to 800,000 (some are women) Jacobins face enemies within France as well

Jacobin Reforms Radical Maximillien Robespierre slowly has gained power He & others want to build a “republic of virtue” Wipe out all traces of France’s past Change calendar, eliminate Sundays upsetting people who are religious Closed all the churches across France

Committee of Public Safety Robespierre becomes leader of Committee of Public Safety Created to “protect” the Revolution from its enemies Eventually just about anyone could be accused of being an “enemy” & go to the guillotine Many of those executed were the original revolutionaries Robespierre would kill anyone who disagreed with him “Reign of Terror”

Committee of Public Safety Robespierre becomes leader of Committee of Public Safety To protect the Revolution from its enemies Eventually just about anyone could be accused of being an “enemy” & go to the guillotine Many of those executed were the original revolutionaries Robespierre would kill anyone who disagreed with him “Reign of Terror”

End of Terror Eventually his fellow revolutionaries turn on Robespierre – send him to the guillotine People are tired of violence & economic problems Moderate leaders create a new plan of gov’t (yes, another one!) It creates 2-house legislature & the “Directory” Legislature is mostly upper middle class Directory (5 members) was moderate, but very corrupt