Execution of Louis XVI• On June 21, 1791 the royal family tried to flee

France– They were caught and returned to Paris

• He signed the Constitution but proceeded to veto key pieces of revolutionary decrees

• A new, more radical government, was popularly elected in September 1792

• They declared war on Austria (to remove all Kings from Europe)

• September Massacres occurred

• By November, – incriminating royal documents were found – showed that Louis was negotiating with the

enemy– His plan was to reclaim his throne – abolish the Constitution

• The National Convention overwhelmingly voted to convict Louis of treason

• He was sentenced to death (by one vote) and was guillotined in January, 1793

• Marie was executed in October 1793

• By 1794, France was at war against every major power in Europe

• The National Convention was led by Maximilian Robespierre

• He called for drastic action to save France

• Fervent patriotism swept across the country; an army of 1 million defeated European powers

• Robespierre wanted to train the French of the ‘virtues’ of the new French Republic

• Established 1792 as year 1 of the new France– Created a new calendar

with new days and weeks• Set up a new court that

was responsible only to him

• Tried citizens who were against the revolution

• Crimes ranged from saying “Down with the Revolution” to owning a book with the King’s seal on it

• Those convicted faced the guillotine• More than 40,000 died over a 2 year period• By 1794, he had killed most of his own

supporters• The Reign of Terror ended with Robespierre’s

execution 1794