The document outlines key events and factions during the French Revolution, including Maximilien Robespierre emerging as a radical revolutionary who wanted to establish a "Republic of Virtue", the split between the more moderate Girondins and radical Jacobins, and the increasing use of state terrorism and revolutionary tribunals to punish enemies of the republic after the overthrow of the monarchy.

1. Class notes and activities

2.  was a leading
revolutionary radical
 was associated with
the left-wing Jacobins
 wanted to establish a
new “Republic of
Virtue”
 was influenced by
Rousseau and other
Enlightenment
thinkers

3. GIRONDINS JACOBINS
 A moderate group from  Embraced radical reform
southern France  Advocated the use of harsh
 Did not want to extend measures to bring about
political rights to working change
class (“sans culottes”)

4. PRIOR TO 1792 AFTER 1792
 Revolution was marked by  Legalism broke down.
a legalistic desire for an  State terrorism by the
end to social privilege. Committee of Public
 The Revolution respected Safety took its place.
for the law.  Those who disagreed with
policies were brought
before revolutionary
tribunals and were either
forced into submission or
executed.

5. Privacy = secrecy and anti-revolutionary activities
Those expressing private interests =
working against the “general will” of the republic
Those working against the state = enemies of the republic

6.  Absolutist governments in continental
Europe were worried about the Revolution’s
influence.
 Both the Austrian emperor and the Prussian
king threatened retribution if the royal family
of France was harmed.
 Francis II, Marie Antoinette’s brother, took
the Austrian throne in 1792.
 After an Austrian ultimatum, France declared
war on Austria.

7.  Other countries joined the war against
France.
 Britain
 Holland
 Spain
 France became more nationalistic in
response.
 France also became more expansionist.
 Series of wars lasted until the defeat of
Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo.

8.  In September
1792, Jacobins, who
became more
prominent, engineere
d a massacre of
prisoners which
resulted in more than
1,200 murdered and/or
mutilated.
 “Mob courts” decided
the fates of
prisoners, though the
judges were often the
killers themselves.

9.  The royal family was becoming more unpopular
during the war with Austria.
 The monarchy was abolished in September
1792.
 The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and the
Convention convened.
 The former king, Louis XVI, was put on trial and
sentenced to death, despite the efforts of the
Girondins to save him.
 Louis XVI was decapitated by the “humane”
Guillotine in January of 1793.

11.  All signs of the ancien regime were replaced.
These included:
 1400 street names
 Place Louis XV became Place de la Revolution
 The Church of Saint-Laurent became the Temple
of Marriage and Fidelity
 The Notre Dame cathedral became the Temple of
Reason
 Le Roy became La Loi, Leveque became Liberte

12.  The metric system was introduced.
 The 12-month calendar now featured 3 10-day
weeks.
 The name of the days of the week were changed
(primidi, duodi, tridi,…, decadi).
 The names of the months were changed
(January became Nivose, the month of snow).
 The fall of the monarchy was used as a reference
point for the start of time (Year One).

13.  Leaders in Paris used violence against the
enemies of the Republic.
 Revolutionary tribunals tried individuals
charged with crimes; many were sentenced
to death.
Period # of executions
March 1793-June 1794 1,251
June 10-27, 1794 1,376

14. 40,000 people died a violent death during the Terror
6.5 % were priests 8.5 % were nobles the rest were
commoners

15. Activity: Read Robespierre’s justification
of the use of terror.
How would you respond to
Robespierre’s arguments?