Dawn of a New Era—Section 3

1. Dawn of a New Era—Section 3 By Chris Anderson Randolph-Henry High School

2. Introduction • 1792: the revolutionary leaders of France have to deal with the consequences of their declared war on Austria and Prussia • Prussian forces had taken over Verdun (a French fort) • capturing Verdun opened up the road to Paris for the Prussians • one French man--Georges-Jacques Danton-- issues a cry for help • thousands of French come to the aid of the revolution • 1 week after Danton’s plea, the French win a major victory at Valmy • this victory increased the morale of the French revolutionaries--the French were again a military power

3. Georges Jacques Danton

4. Birth of a Republic • While fighting was occurring in Valmy, the National Assembly was meeting in Paris • members were trying to form a new government for France • the National Assembly got rid of the monarchy and established a republic in France • from 1792 to 1795, the National Assembly will meet • Only males were allowed to be members of the National Convention • lawyers, doctors, middle-class males • the National Convention wrote France’s 1st democratic constitution • this work put political power in the hands of single legislature • all men could vote under this new constitution

5. The metric system was adopted as the official system of weights and measures in France • a new calendar was adopted by the National Convention • this calendar marked September 22, 1792 as the creation date of the French republic

6. Death of a King • After disposing of the monarchy, the N. C. had to find out what to do with the king--Louis XVI • Louis’ fate was sealed when a box filled with his secret letters to foreign monarchs was found (November 1792) • political radicals used these letters as evidence, discrediting the royal family • Dec. 1792: Louis XVI was tried and sentenced to die--he was called an enemy of the people • he was decapitated by the guillotine • the French people were happy to see their king die • with the death of the king, the French Republic was sure to last

7. Execution of Louis XVI

8. The people of Paris felt that they were almost invincible after the execution of Louis XVI • the rich people of Paris began acting differently after the execution of the king • they rejected the fancy clothes and powder wigs • men began wearing full length pants instead of knee-pants • women began wearing long dress • The wealthy were trying to break away from the monarchy by dressing differently • the members of the Convention began arguing over the future of the French Republic • different political parties developed from these arguments • Mountains • Girondists • Plain

9. Mountains • Radicals • Rich Paris Citizens • Extreme Radicals (Jacobians) • Saw themselves as the defenders of the people • Leaders: • Maximillien Robespierre • Georges-Jacques Danton • Jean-Paul Marat

10. Robspierre Jean-Paul Marat

11. Girondists • Moderates • Most were from the Southwest of France • Felt the Revolution had gone far enough • Wanted to protect the rich middle-class from radical attacks

12. Plain • Sat between the Mountains and Girondists • Consisted of members who did not want to choose sides • the Plain made up the majority in the Convention • 1793: they will give support to the Mountains • the Plain will help the Mountains become even more radical, open to extreme, and violent change

13. Spreading the Revolution • Other European monarchies were watching the events in France and were terrified • these monarchs feared the revolution would spread into their own nation • January 1793: Great Britain, Spain, Netherlands, and Sardinia joined Austria and Prussia in an alliance against France • The Convention leaders in France wanted to end royal power everywhere in Europe • Convention leaders ordered French troops to go out into Europe and free the rest of Europe from royal power • French volunteers poured out of France into Europe in an attempt to free Europe from royal control

14. The French volunteers were poorly trained; however, they won many battles against the other European nations by using the element of surprise • nevertheless, the other European nations had well trained (professional) forces that issued many defeats to the French volunteer force • the French will eventually surrender • After the surrender, French troops started retreating back into France • the National Convention wanted to ensure that they could keep the foreign nations from invading France • as a way of directing the war effort, the National Convention created the Committee of Public Safety

15. Committee of Public Safety • 1793: the committee saw the need for more French troops to help aid the war • the committee instituted conscription (draft) • all men between 18 and 45 were called into the military • the committee also wanted the help of all the French--men and women--to produce needed goods for the war effort

16. While France was spreading the revolution to the rest of Europe, the revolutionary leaders were facing more problems in France • in Western France, a civil war was occurring • peasants supporting the monarchy were fighting against the French revolutionaries • these peasants were very angry that their sons were drafted to go fight a war that they opposed • Other parts of France were in economic trouble and, financially, could not support the revolution • food prices in France were and the amount of food was • people in the cities began riots as a way of protesting the high prices and low supply of food

17. Problems were also occurring within the French government • the Mountain party will win control over the National Convention • once in control, they will arrest the Girondist members who did not agree with the Mountain’s policies and ideas • members supporting the Girondists will rebel against the Mountains • one Girondist supporter--Charlotte Corday--killed a Mountain leader • shortly after, Charlotte was executed by the guillotine • other Girondist supporters would also be executed for not following the Mountains

18. Charlotte Corday

19. Reign of Terror • The Mountains had collected enemies at home and in the rest of Europe • these Mountains--lead by the Jacobins--set out to crush all opposition in France--Reign of Terror • this Reign of Terror lasted exactly 1 year--from July 1793 until July 1794 • Neighborhood watch programs were set up to catch suspected traitors • the suspects were handed over to the courts where the suspect would receive a very quick (usually unfair) trial • the courts usually handed down very strict and harsh sentences • many innocent people were wrongly accused

20. Marie Antoinette, the king’s wife, was a victim of the Reign of Terror • in all, 17,000 people were executed during this 1 year Reign of Terror • Spring 1794: the leader of the Jocobins (Danton) decided to end the Reign of Terror • a fellow party member (Robespierre) disagreed • Robespierre will have Danton and his followers executed • Robespierre then decided to continue the Reign of Terror for 4 more months • many of Robespierre’s followers were afraid for their own lives • they had Robespierre arrested and guillotined

21. The Directory • After Robespierre’s execution, the Convention handled the government of France • 1795: a new constitution was drafted • only men who owned land could vote--this ended universal male suffrage • all control was given to the wealthy middle-class • a council of 5 men called directors was created • this new Directory would rule and share power with a 2 house legislature

22. Many people did not like the Directory • many royalists threatened to take over the government • many people were upset because of the increasing prices and food shortages • the Directory had to use the French military to put down numerous uprisings • under the Directory, the gap between the rich and poor steadily grew • the Directory could not slow the growth because of its own lack of $--the Directory was on the verge of bankruptcy • as the Directory seemed less powerful, the French people looked to the army to keep France from falling into ruin

23. Napoleon • As problems raged on in France, the French military was able to win some victories against the other European monarchies • one military leader was becoming very popular--Napoleon Bonaparte • Napoleon quickly rose to the rank of general • 1795: Napoleon was able to put down an uprising against the Directory

24. Napoleon

25. 1796: Napoleon will marry--Josephine de Beauharnais • this marriage will help Napoleon win command of the French army that was fighting in Italy • in Italy, Napoleon illustrated his great strategic mind by defeating the Austrians in Italy and forcing them to sign a peace treaty • This victory over Austria made Napoleon the leading general in France • Napoleon had been fighting in Egypt against Great Britain and faced many setbacks • 1799: he hears of the problems occurring in France and leaves his army in Egypt and heads for France • the people of Paris welcomed Napoleon with open arms

26. Josephine de Beauharnais

27. Napoleon will quickly realize that the French are tired and frustrated with the revolution and war • He will join in a coup de’etatand take power away from the Directory • the stage will be set for Napoleon’s future empire