Revolutionary France - mrfritzsche.files.wordpress.com · 03.02.2019 · • French émigré nobles...
Transcript of Revolutionary France - mrfritzsche.files.wordpress.com · 03.02.2019 · • French émigré nobles...
The Legislative Assembly (1791-92)
• Consisted of brand new deputies because
members of the National Assembly, led by
Robespierre, passed the Self-Denying
Ordinance.
• The NA believed the new system needed
new blood. They were practicing what they
preached.
• The L.A. was never able to rule effectively because:
1) Parts of France were still royalist (provinces far from Paris) and resisted their rule.
2) A lack of unity – factions within the L.A had different views on the fate of the King and the direction of the revolution and became bitter rivals, leading to civil war.
3) There was a serious threat of counter-revolution by noble émigrés and hostile nations.
4) The King was clearly not committed to being a constitutional monarch.
The Case for War• One of the main debates within the L.A. was a
debate over the wisdom of declaring war against
Austria (The Habsburgs). The majority of members
supported it.
Why?
• The monarchs of Europe considered the
revolution a threat to the “natural order”. It could
encourage problems in their own countries.
• French émigré nobles attempted to gather
support in neighbouring countries.
• Attacks on the Catholic Church made
revolutionary France the enemy of the Pope and
Catholic nations as well.
• Marie Antoinette’s brother (Emperor Leopold of
Austria) issued the Padua Circular in July 1791
suggesting the formation of a coalition against
France.
• This led to the Declaration of Pillnitz in Aug. 1791
which several countries pledged to protect the
French Royal Family.
• Due to this, the L.A. voted to declare war on
Austria and her allies on April 20, 1792.
Why?
• They hoped the war would unite France and
end internal strife.
• They wanted to destroy their enemies and
dismantle other absolute monarchs.
• The King accepted and did not use his veto.
Why?
• A French victory would increase his popularity.
• A French defeat would destroy the
revolutionaries and return him to absolutism.
• There was some opposition to the war. Robespierre initially opposed it.
o He believed that France was not ready to wage such a war and would lose everything.
o He also worried the military would become too powerful and a man like Lafayette could become dictator in a coup.
o Saw it as hypocritical – “no one likes armed missionaries”
• Initially, he was right. The coalition powers were winning and advancing into France.
• The coalition issued the Brunswick Manifestowhich asserted that the people of Paris would be severely punished by the invading forces if they harmed the royal family.
Suspension of the Monarchy• There was great anger and fear in Paris due to
the:
o Battlefield defeats and Brunswick Manifesto.
o King’s use of his veto to block punitive L.A.
decrees aimed against emigres and the
Church
• On Aug. 10 1792, the Paris mob stormed the
Tuileries and forced the royal family to flee to
the LA chambers for safety.
• They demanded the abolition of the
monarchy whom they believed to be working
against the revolution.
• The Sans-Culottes and the Paris Insurrectionist
Committee were now in control of the city.
• They force the LA to turn over the King and his
family and they are arrested (Sept. 1792)
• New elections are called to establish a new
constitution and make France a Republic.
• Violence against “counter-revolutionaries”
explodes during the September Massacres.
(see handout reading)
Rise to Power of Radicals
The National Convention (1792-1795)• The new government was to be elected by
universal male suffrage (21 and over). First
time in European history.
The King on Trial• Louis XVI was charged with treason and tried
before the National Convention.
• The convention found him guilty and
sentenced him to death by a narrow margin.
(see handout).
• This intensified factionalism. Most Girondists
were against the death sentence and began
to criticize men like Danton for the September
massacres.
• It also brought new members to the coalition
against France (Ex. England).
• The death sentence was deemed necessary
because the King was a rallying point for
counter-revolutionaries and was a threat
alive.
Threats to the Republic• “Federalist revolts” broke out all over France,
especially in the Vendee region. These
areas were rebelling against the Jacobins
and the increasing power of Paris and the
Sans-Culottes.
• The radical elements of the NC allied
themselves with the Sans-Culottes and had
the Girondins purged from the NC.
• The NC ruled in a chaotic time of war, revolt,
and political intrigue – it led to violence.
Reforms of the First French Republic
1) Levee en Masse (23 Aug 1793)
• France was organized for Total War.
o Men 18-25 were conscripted into the army. It
increased fighting strength to 800,000 by 1794.
o Civilians were organized to work on production
of ammunition and supplies for army.
o State propaganda flooded the streets
encouraging people to do their part.
o Was key in eventual victory in the war.
2) Law of the Maximum (29 Sept. 1793)
• There were food shortages and high prices due
to poor harvests and war.
• “Profiteers” were accused of taking advantage
of the situation, and in some cases hoarding to
drive prices up further.
• Robespierre led the charge to fix the price of
grain to keep it affordable for army and people.
• This led many to cease production because it
was not profitable. Violence ensued.
• More assignats were issued, causing inflation.
• Eventually, the General Maximum was passed,
fixing prices of all essential goods.
3) Legal Reforms
• The Convention suspended their own constitution in order to have broad and sweeping powers to root out “counter-revolutionaries” in a time of crisis.
• The Committee of Public Safety, selected from members of the NC, took on this task.
• Led to the Law of 13 March 1793(creation of a revolutionary tribunal to quickly prosecute traitors) and the Law of Suspects (Sept. 1793) that allowed arrest of people without evidence.
• This led to a virtual police state and the Great Terror, a massive political and societal purge.
• See “ch. 8” reading for more
4) Cult of the Supreme Being & the Revolutionary Calendar
• (see handout on the “Republic of Virtue”)
5) State Funded Education
• First public schools were established.
• 6) Slavery Abolished
• In 1794 the Convention abolished slavery. This was
motivated by slave revolts and agitation in the
French colonies (especially Haiti) where blacks
expected equality in the spirit of the revolution.
• “representatives of the French people, until now our
decrees of liberty have been selfish, and only for
ourselves. But today we proclaim it to the universe,
and generations to come will glory in this decree; we
are proclaiming universal liberty...We are working for
future generations; let us launch liberty into the
colonies; the English are dead, today.“ - Danton
The Directory (1795-99)
• The Convention had saved France from
defeat in war, but had failed to live up to its
vision for France.
• A new government was created by the
Constitution of the Year III. It consisted of 2/3
of the deputies left from the Convention.
o It sought to create a separation of powers
to avoid dictatorship.
a) Council of Five Hundred
o elected (franchise restricted to property owners)
o could propose legislation but not vote
b) Council of Ancients
o Also elected, numbered around 250.
o Could pass/deny legislation but could not propose it.
c) The Directors
o Five men chosen by the Council of Ancients from a list voted on by the Council of Five Hundred
oOne retired each year
o They held executive power (like a President)
• It was controlled by the Bourgeois class. It
maintained basic freedoms but eliminated
things like the Cult of the Supreme Being.
• Some nobles and royalists returned sensing a
period of reaction.
• The Directory brutally suppressed any radicals
and especially royalists who wished to see a
Bourbon restoration.
• The Directory was unpopular and marked by
corruption and stagnancy.