Revolution Brings Reform and Terror

Section 2 Revolution Brings Reform and Terror Main Idea: The revolutionary government of France made reforms but also used terror and violence to retain power. Why it matters now: Some governments that lack the support of a majority of their people use fear to control their citizens

Assembly Reforms France The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Slogan, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” To pay debt Assembly seizes church lands Turns clergy into public officials MEN (not women) are “Born and remain free and equal in rights” “Natural rights of man; these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” Alarms peasants, who are devout Catholics Drives a wedge between peasants and the Bourgeoisie

Louis XVI tries to flee France Fears for his future Revolutionaries catch him near Netherlands border National Assembly establishes a limited Constitutional Monarchy Louis only has executive powers Legislative Assembly has the power to create laws and approve or prevent any war the King may declare

Divisions develop Within the Assembly 3 groups develop Radicals- wanted sweeping changes Moderates- wanted some changes Conservatives- wanted few changes Outside the legislature divisions deepen Emigres- nobles who fled France and wanted to undo the revolution Parisian wage earners- wanted the revolution to expand Known as Sans-Culottes Major problems persist including debt and food shortages

War and Execution European countries watched France Didn’t want revolution to spread Austria and Prussia urged France to restore Louis XVI France responds by declaring war War goes badly for France Prussian forces threaten Paris Parisian mob throws royal family in jail Rumors spread jailed loyalists are planning to escape and take over Mob attacks jail and kills over 1,000 people France becomes a Republic Afraid of attack and Radicals Assembly dissolves itself and abolishes Monarchy National Convention takes control and declares a republic

Jacobins convict Louis of treason and execute him Radical Jacobins take control Jean-Paul Marat leader advocated the death of everyone who supported the king Under new government Louis was just a common citizen War expands Great Britain, Holland and Spain joined in war against France Jacobins amassed more enemies Peasants horrified at execution of King, Priests, other political opponents

Maximilien Robespierre assumes control Set out to build a “Republic of Virtue” Wanted to wipe out all traces of Monarchy and Nobility Closed all the churches Created the Committee of Public Safety Began the Reign of Terror To “protect” the Revolution from it’s enemies 40,000 people killed Most former members of the Third Estate Eventually he was arrested and executed France tires of terror More moderate government takes over Executive branch 5 person Directory

The End

Quiz A

1 - In order to pay off Frances’ huge debt, the Assembly sold church lands and attempted to make the church part of the state, but by doing this they offended conservative Catholics and drove a wedge between the peasants and whom?

2 - In the new French Constitutional Monarchy, what body had the power to create laws and to approve or prevent any war the King may declare?

3 - Due to the war with Austria and Prussia and the increasing threat from Radical Parisians, the Legislative Assembly set aside the Constitution, dissolved itself and elected a new governing body called what that abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic?

4 - As the Jacobins were trying to establish and defend the Republic by executing King Louis XVI, fighting foreign invaders and beheading anyone who would not accept government control, what leader gained power and set out to build a “republic of virtue” by trying to wipe out every trace of Frances’ past monarchy and nobility?

5 - On July 14, 1789, what Paris prison did revolutionaries take control of in order to secure the gunpowder and has since become a symbolic act of the Revolution?

6 - The Old Regime in France was a system of feudalism left over from the middle ages and contained a social class divided into three large social classes called what?

7 - The 3 rd estate has approximately what percent of the population and was compromised of merchants, artisans, cooks, servants and peasants who began questioning long-standing notions about the structure of society, power and authority of government?