Revolution Brings Reform & Terror

Chapter 23 Section 2

I The Assembly Reforms France• August 4th 1789 saw changes in the French gov’t that took away the

feudal privileges of the Frist and Second Estate• Commoners & Peasants = nobles & clergy

A. The Rights of Man• A Declaration of the Rights of Man= set of revolutionary ideals which reflected influence of Enlightenment & Declaration of Independence• “men born free” rights are life,

liberty, property…”

• Life, Liberty, & Fraternity became slogan of the Revolution• Declaration of the Rights of Man

DID NOT apply to women• Olympe de Gouges write the

Declaration of the Rights of Womenwas rejected and beheaded as enemy of rev.

B. State Controlled Church• Many of the national Assembly’s reforms focused on the relationship

between church and state• Assembly took over church lands & priests were to be electedCath. Church

looses political independence

• Reasons for the Assembly’s actions were economic• Did not want to tax the bourgeoisie hwo were supporters of the rev. so they

instead taxed church officials to pay off France’s debt

• Move to tax and take land from church angered the conservative peasants who supported their priestsdrove a wedge between peasants & bourgeoisie• After this, peasants now oppose further rev. changes

II Conflicting Goals Cause Divisions• The National Assembly argues over a new

constitution for 2 yearsA. Limited Monarchy• National Assembly created a limited

constitutional monarchy• Striped king of his authority and gave it to

legislative Assembly• King would hold executive power to uphold laws

but Assemblymen would create laws• National Assembly creates new Constitution and

hands over its power to the Legislative Assembly• Could create laws and approve or prevent war

B. Factions Split France• Old prob such as food shortage and gov’t debt still remained• These problems Revolution leaders turn against each other

• Legislative Assembly split into 3 groups• Radicals= opposed king & idea of monarchy. Wanted commoner to have

power in a republic• Moderates= wanted some changes in gov’t but not as many as radicals• Conservatives= upheld idea of limited monarcy & wanted few changes in govt

• Emigres= nobles and other who had Fled France during peasant uprising were even more extreme than the three groups• Hoped to undo the revolution and restore the Old Regime

• Most radical = sans-culottes • Wage earners who wanted greater voice in gov’t

III War and Extreme MeasuresA. War with Austria

• France had to deal w/ reforms at home and disastrous foreign wars• Other countries feared that slave revolts could

spread to their lands

• French radicals wanted to spread rev. to all ppl of Europe• Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria

when they suggest they put Louis back on throne

• War began badly for poorly prepared French• Parisians eventually capture Louis and his

family and imprison them

• September massacres= Parisians storm prisons after hearing rumore of Austrian & Prussian soldiers converging on Paris and kill thousands of prisoners• Faced with threat frpm radicals the Legislative Assembly declared the

king deposed, dissolved their assembly, & called for election of new legislature• National Convention= new legislative body

B. Radicals Execute the King•Men & women of middle class

joined pol. Clubs• Most radical= Jacobin Club which

wanted to remove king and establish a rep.

• National Convention meeting abolished monarchy and established France as a republic• Louis, now a common citizen, was

tried and found guilty of treason• Beheaded by Guillotine

C. France’s Citizen Army• First prob. Of the new republic was the war with Austria and Prussia• GB, Holland, & spain join Austria and Prussia known as the First Coalition

• National Convention passes a draft• 18-40 yrs. Of age and even included women

IV Terror Grips FranceA. Robespierre Assumes Control• As various leaders struggle for power Maximilien Robespierre gains

control and attempts to build a republic by erasing all traces of France’s past monarchy• Families named Leroy (king) change names to seem less political• Even kings, queens, & jakals in decks of cards were changed by Robespierre

• Robespierre becomes head of Committee of Public Safety• CPS decided who was an enemy of the republic

• He governed nearly as a dictator• this period control known as the Reign of Terror• “enemies” that troubled him the most were members of the rev. who

challenge his leadershiponly crime was that they were less radical then Robespierre

V End of Terror• National Convention new they were not safe from Robespierre so

they turned against him• The next day he was beheaded and the radical phase of the rev was over

• French public opinion shifted to the right because ppl were tired of the terror• Moderates draft a new plan of gov’tpower in hands of upper middle

class• 2 house legislature & executive house of 5 men• Napolean Bonaparte chosen to command French armies