A Radical Revolution

Chapter 11, Section 2

Radical Background

• _____________ held Louis XVI captive– Demanded suspension of

monarchy and called for a national convention

– Led by _____________

• Convention occurs in September of 1792

• Commune wanted a new government and to draft a new constitution– Last was drafted and approved

in 1791

Fate of a King• The National Convention

consisted of young, Enlightenment-era men– First step – abolish the

monarchy and set up a Republic

• What happens to the king?– Split into 2 factions

• _____________ – Mostly people outside the cities, wanted to keep Louis XVI alive

• _____________ – Mostly inside the cities, wanted Louis XVI dead

• January 21, 1793, Louis XVI is beheaded– New enemies created both at

home and abroad

A Response to Crises• Within France

– Western France and major cities across France refuse to listen to National Convention

– _____________, the local government in Paris, favored the radical change and encouraged more radical moves

• Outside France– Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal,

Britain, and the Dutch Republic take up arms in response to Louis XVI’s death

– Ready to invade by mid 1793

• Response?– _____________ formed

• 12 members with power over military, judicial and legislative branches

• Headed by Georges Danton and then Maximilien Robespierre

The Reign of Terror• Focus on France

– Revolutionary armies set up to crush rebellion

– Clergy and Nobles – 15% of those killed, Commoners – 85%

– Committee of Public safety claimed this was best for France

• Lyon and Nantes– Thousands killed to “set an

example” for rebels– Guillotine used as primary

source of execution

Republic of Virtue• Committee of Public Safety

hoped to create a new order in France– _____________ would be

modeled after ancient Rome– A democratic republic composed

of “good citizens”

• Drastic changes– Wanted a primary education– Slavery abolished in colonies– Price limits on goods– Policy of dechristianization

• Removing saintly names• Adoption of a new calendar

A Rising Force• Threat of invasion from most

of Europe– Not happy about execution of

Louis XVI

• August 1793 - Committee of Public Safety decrees a universal mobilization of the nation– Within a year, over 1 million

troops in France

• Push back the invading European nations, even taking the Austrian Netherlands

The End of Terror

• _____________, despite having defeated foreign and home enemies, continued the Reign of Terror– Continued to promise the

Republic of Virtue would soon follow

• July 1794 – National Convention decides to act, votes to kill _____________

• Reign of Terror slowly came to a halt

The Directory• A new constitution is written in

August 1795– Committee power reduced, most

policies removed

• _____________ formed– Lower House (Council of 500)

proposes legislation– Upper House (Council of Elders)

accepts or rejects legislation

• Electors, or individuals qualified to vote, chose legislators

• Council of Elders chose The Directory from a list of candidates provided by the Council of 500

• Directory held power until 1799– Radicals and Royalists led by

_____________ perform a coup d’etat, or overthrow of the government