III. French Republic & Rise of Napoleon

A. Radical Gain Power Commune – Radical group that took control of Paris Wanted to destroy monarchy and the king August 10,1792 – King and royal family were imprisoned

National Convention – Replaces the Legislative Assembly Ruled France for 3 years Universal Manhood Suffrage – All men were eligible to elect members of the convention

B. Radicals Kill the King National convention abolishes the monarchy Louis XVI is put on trial for plotting against the French people Found guilty of treason

Trial of Louis XVI

Primary Source – Maximilien Robespierre, December 3, 1792 “If Louis is acquitted, if Louis can be presumed innocent, what becomes of the Revolution? Louis must die because the nation must live.”

January 21, 1793 Louis is beheaded by the guillotine

Death of a King

Backside of a French Coin from 1793

Execution of Marie Antoinette

C. Exporting Revolution French armies are able to defeat Austrian forces First Coalition –Austria –Prussia –Great Britain –Spain –Netherlands –Sardinia

France suffers a series of defeats Committee of Public Safety – Created to direct the war against the 1 st Coalition Conscription – All men between 18 and 45 were drafted in the military France raises an army of 800,000

D. Reign of Terror Maximilien Robespierre – Takes control of the National Conventions Reign of Terror – 40,000 people throughout France are executed Robespierre rules France as a military dictator

Primary Source – Eyewitness to the Guillotine, January 22, 1793 “When I came to the guillotine, the blood of those who had been executed was still running in the streets... I said to a group of sans culottes (poor members of society)... That it would be decent to clear away all of this human blood. ‘Why should it be cleared?’ one of them said to me. ‘It’s the blood of aristocrats and rebels. The dogs should lick it up.’”

Maximilien Robespierre

Tried anyone who was suspected of opposing his rule and quickly had them beheaded Some victims were arrested, tried, and executed in the same day

Primary Source – Jacques Alexis Thuriot, a critic of Robespierre, June 8, 1794 “It’s not enough for him to be master; he wants to be God.”

E. Directory Members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre July 28, 1794 – Robespierre is executed

Directory – New government ruled by 5 men Allowed only property owners to vote Economic life crumbled during the Directory

Primary Source – Protestor, May 20, 1795 “Under Robespierre, blood ran and we had bread; today blood does not run and we don’t have any bread, and we aught to make some blood flow to get the same.”

F. Rise of Napoleon Military genius Directory asked Napoleon to lead campaign against 1 st Coalition Napoleon’s military tactics forces Austria to sue for peace

Napoleon

1799 – People grow restless with the Directory Believed Napoleon was the only hope for restoring order Napoleon stages a coup de’tat and becomes dictator of France Marks the end of the revolution