1. AP EURO Unit #4 – French Revolution and the Era of Napoleon Lesson #403 War, the Republic and the Terror

2. John Green – Crash Course Fr. Rev.

3. Quick vote on icky symbol for Fr. Rev.A D C

4. The Winner?...

5. THE GUILLOTINE:

6. The instrument of death
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Dr. Guillotine invented this machine as a humane gesture, and something for rational equality.
How could this possibly be humane?
Why did it come to symbolize the French Revolution?
Point of fact: the guillotine was the official form of execution in France until 1981.
The last execution by guillotine in France was in 1977 to three child murderers.
carrot

7. But…
Does it hurt?
Does the severed head live on?

8. From its first use, there has been debate as to whether the guillotine always provided a swift death as Guillotin had hoped. With previous methods of execution intended to be painful, there was little concern about the suffering inflicted. As the guillotine was invented specifically to be humane the issue was seriously considered. The blade cuts quickly enough for there to be relatively little impact on the brain case.
Audiences to guillotinings told numerous stories of blinking eyelids, speaking, moving eyes, movement of the mouth, even an expression of "unequivocal indignation" on the face of the decapitated Charlotte Corday when her cheek was slapped.
The following report was written by a Dr. Beaurieux, who experimented with the head of a condemned prisoner by the name of Henri Languille, on 28 June 1905:
Here, then, is what I was able to note immediately after the decapitation: the eyelids and lips of the guillotined man worked in irregularly rhythmic contractions for about five or six seconds.
I waited for several seconds. The spasmodic movements ceased. It was then that I called in a strong, sharp voice: "Languille!" I saw the eyelids slowly lift up, without any spasmodic contractions – but with an even movement, quite distinct and normal, such as happens in everyday life, with people awakened or torn from their thoughts.
Next Languille's eyes very definitely fixed themselves on mine and the pupils focused themselves. I was dealing with undeniably living eyes which were looking at me. After several seconds, the eyelids closed again.
I called out again and, once more, the eyelids lifted and undeniably living eyes fixed themselves on mine with perhaps even more penetration than the first time. Then there was a further closing of the eyelids, but now less complete. I attempted the effect of a third call; there was no further movement – and the eyes took on the glazed look which they have in the dead

9. How was the revolution viewed by outsiders?
Conservatives, like Edmund Burke (Britain, Parliamentarian) condemned
Rebellion would lead to chaos
Showed how Glorious Revolution was different
Liberals hoped revolution would spill into their region and reform government
Royals and monarchists were freaked out
DECLARATION OF PILNITZ (Aug 1791)
Emperor Leopold & King of Prussia promised to intervene to protect monarch and monarchy

10. Reactions: Edmund Burke, Reflections, 1790
He viewed the French Revolution as the violent overthrow of a legitimate government.
In Reflections, he argues that citizens do not have the right to revolt against their government, because civilizations, including governments, are the result of social and political consensus.
If a culture's traditions were continually challenged, he contends, the result would be anarchy.

11. Reactions: Edmund Burke, Reflections 1790
″All circumstances taken together, the French revolution is the most astonishing that has hitherto happened in the world. The most wonderful things are brought about in many instances by means the most absurd and ridiculous; in the most ridiculous modes; and apparently, by the most contemptible instruments. Every thing seems out of nature in this strange chaos of levity and ferocity, and of all sorts of crimes jumbled together with all sorts of follies.″
″In viewing this tragi-comic scene, the most opposite passions necessarily succeed, and sometimes mix with each other in the mind; alternate contempt and indignation; alternate laughter and tears; alternate scorn and horror.″
″A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views.″
How does Burke characterize the revolution?
Who would agree with him, and why?
Who would disagree with him, and why?

12. Mary Wollstoncraft Vindication of Rights of Man, 1791
18th-century British feminist
she attacked aristocracy, and advocated for republic
She was mainly responding to Burke’s conservative slant
Wollstonecraft attacked not only hereditary privilege, but also the rhetoric that Burke used to defend it.
Most of Burke's detractors deplored what they viewed as his theatrical pity for Marie Antoinette, but Wollstonecraft was unique in her love of Burke's gendered language

13. Mary Wollstoncraft Vindication of Rights of Man, 1791
“You were so eager to taste the sweets of power, that you could not wait till time had determined, whether a dreadful delirium would settle into a confirmed madness; but, prying into the secrets of Omnipotence, you thundered out that God had hurled him from his throne, and that it was the most insulting mockery to recollect that he had been a king, or treat him with any particular respect on account of his former dignity…. ‘
“I have, Sir, been reading, with a scrutinizing, comparative eye, several of your insensible and profane speeches during the King's illness.”
“I disdain to take advantage of a man's weak side, or draw consequences from an unguarded transport—A lion preys not on carcasses!”
How does Wollstonecraft characterize the Burke’s writings?
How does she characterize men?
Who (in history) might agree with her, and why?

14. The new Legislative Assembly
The Mountain
(ultra-radicals)
POLITICAL RIGHT
POLITICAL LEFT
The Plain
(moderates)
The Constitutional Monarchists
(conservatives)
The Jacobins
(radicals)

16. Outbreak of War
Legislative Assembly was angry at Declaration of Pilnitz – saw this as a declaration of war
Declared war on Austria, April 1792
Chief supporter of counter-revolution
France saw they were fighting for all anti-monarchial people
Lots of losses

17. Flight to Varennes
Marie Antoinette’s brother (Leopold of Austria) encouraged the royal family to escape
1791 – King and family dressed as servants and headed to border
Discovered at the town of Varennes, just 30 miles from Montmedy, their goal
10,000 loyal troops there
Planned by Count Fersen, close friend to MA
Foiled mostly by Louis’s indecision and delays, turning small issues into large problems
Also, Louis misjudged peasant support outside Paris.
He believed, mistakenly, that he was still beloved by the peasants and the common folk

19. Why would this attempted escape doom him from ever ruling France again?
How would this attempted escape change the views of moderates toward radical action against conservatives and Austria?

20. The Convention
The king’s attempted escape led to the Leg. Assembly to choose to write him out of government
They drafted a new constitution, and had new elections – FULL MALE SUFFRAGE
The new government consisted of a single-chamber assembly, called THE CONVENTION, which elected it’s executive from within almost as often as they met
The Convention adopted the new constitution in Sep 1792
Committed to war
Anti-monarchial
Would put king on trial for his life

21. Demise of King Louis XVI
Why would he be happy for war?
If France won, he’d declare victory
If France lost, he’d still be king
Played sides off each other
Jacobins saw him as dangerous
Girondists disagreed
King put on trial for treason Dec. 1792
Verdict was obvious; sentencing was close – WHY?
By a single vote ( ), he was condemned to death by guillotine
Executed Jan, 1793
Convention then wrote a new constitution
CONSTITUTION OF YEAR #1 (1793)
Driven by Sans Culottes
(FG)

22. War for France France was losing battles Lacked good leadership
Then, Austria formed FIRST COALITION (1793)
Austria and Prussia
Invaded France
Joined by Britain, Spain and others
To protect social institution and old order
Got as close as Verdun
Legislative Assembly panicked – leads to Reign of Terror

23. Sans Culottes Even more radical than Jacobins Mostly tradesmen
Wore pants without knee britches
Demanded stable bread prices
Resented any inequality
Suspicious of anyone with power
Advocated pure democracy
Full decentralization
Some formed into…
How are the Sans Culottes the first REAL French Revolutionaries?

24. Who would support this and perpetuate this description?
Why?
How is it really rather unrealistic? GIVE EVIDENCE

25. The Paris Commune Came from different parts of Paris
Called for an end to all central government
Supported by Jean Paul Marat
A journalist
A grotesque man
Called for 200,000 people to die for this to be a REAL revolution
Murdered by Charlotte Corday in his bath tub, 1793

26. What is this style of painting?
Describe how David is trying to show Marat to be.

27. Committee of Public Safety
Formed by Jacobins
This group would come to lead the Reign of Terror
Led by Robespierre and Danton
Goal: reduce anti-revolutionary spirit
France had been splintering
Peasants wanted a return to peace
Conscription was calling up their sons
New planned economy was hurting them most

28. Planned Economy French economy was in shambles
Nations with debt to France refused to pay to this new government
Robespierre’s response: government controlled economy
Egalitarian overtones
Price caps on bread
White bread and pastries made illegal (brown bread only) – WHY ONLY BROWN BREADS?
Bread rationing
Then, the total mobilization of the economy

29. Levee en Masse (Aug, 1793) All young able bodied men expected to fight
Conscription had not been working
300,000 men from each department expected
Only 650,000 showed up
Now, all men called to service
All women expected to sew and make food
All boys farmed
All older men inspired and recruited
Army swelled to 1,500,000 by Sep, 1794
NO OTHER ARMY OR COMBINATION OF ARMIES COULD COMPARE OR COMPETE
Size was unprecedented
Spirit of Nationalism was unprecedented
Napoleon’s techniques were innovative and unpredictable

30. Restructuring society based on rationality
Provinces replaced by departments
Monopolies and guilds outlawed
Trade restrictions eliminated
Full religious tolerance for Protestants and Jews

31. Society reformed by Committee of Public Safety
All people to be called Citizen _________
Weights and measures to be base 10
Metric system
Streets renamed to revolutionary names
All counter-revolutionary behavior was punishable by death
Goal: create a REPUBLIC OF VIRTUE
“TERROR IS NOTHING MORE THAN PROMPT, SEVERE INFLEXIBLE JUSTICE… AN EMINATION OF VIRTUE”

32. The Reign of Terror

33. Republic of Virtue De-Christianization Time became base 10
Deism became official religion
Cult of the Supreme Being
Notre Dame -> Temple of Reason
Peasants rebelled
Pope condemned
Time became base 10
10 hour days
New calendar” 12 mo. of 30 days
Named for seasons and climates

34. Months:
Vendémiaire Brumaire Frimaire  Nivôse Pluviôse Ventôse  Germinal Floréal Prairial Messidor Thermidor Fructidor
Days of the week
primidi (first day)
duodi (second day)
tridi (third day)
quartidi (fourth day)
quintidi (fifth day)
sextidi (sixth day)
septidi (seventh day)
octidi (eighth day)
nonidi (ninth day)
décadi (tenth day)

35. Should we make THIS the symbol for the silliness of “Enlightenment Thinking Gone Amuck”?

36. Revolutionary Tribunals
Eliminate all dissention
Enemy is anyone providing aid non-French
Enemy is anyone opposed to Republic of Virtue
Enemy is anyone opposed to policies of Committee
83 guillotines set up across country side
Public executions
First victims: Queen and Girondists
Moved on to peasants
Moved on to enragees (radical sans-culottes)
Moved on to Danton
Law of 22 Prairial – executions without evidence or trial
Start at 1m

37. Reign of Terror September 1793 –July 1794
Started as a political rivalry
Jacobins vs. Girondists
Extended out to anyone who disagreed with Jacobins and Robespierre
40,000 people killed in just 9 months
Convention started fearing power of Robespierre
France started winning battles
Convention turned on Robespierre
arrested at night
Quickly executed him

39. Why is this era called: ENLIGHTENMENT THINKING GONE AMUCK…?

40. Thermodorian Reaction (1794)
Robespierre’s death signaled the end of the Terror
The feeling was that the revolution had become too radical
Girondists returned from hiding
Paris Commune and Jacobins outlawed
White Terror – the execution of former Jacobins and their sympathizers
Life returned to “normal”
Like it was in 1789

41. The Directory (1794-1799) The new executive power
A five-man elected body
New constitution (of year III)
Voting by men of property, and soldiers
Rebellions
Royalists (1795)
Napoleon called in to stop
Vendémiaire Coup
1797 Election coup
Royalists elected – incumbents staged coup to stay in office
Brumaire Coup (1799)
Napoleon to power
John Green #3