French Revolution and the Rise of Napoleon

King Louis XVI and the Revolutionary Government

• Location: Tuileries Palace, Paris
• Revolutionary government stripping King Louis XVI of power
• Nobility required to pay taxes
• Prohibition of tax money for lavish parties
• Removal of the King's personal luxuries (e.g., Porsche)
• King Louis having to prove support for the revolution
• Mob invaded palace, forced the King to wear a revolutionary bonnet

King Louis XVI's Attempt to Flee

• Date: June 20, 1791
• Disguised as servants, royal family attempted to flee to Austrian Netherlands
• Stop in Varennes: Postmaster recognized the king and family
• Returned to Paris as traitors
• Constitution of 1791: Reduced King's power to a figurehead (constitutional monarchy)

Tensions and Radical Movements

• Radicals (e.g., Jacobin Club) wanted the King removed
• Event: Champ de Mars protest for the King's removal
• Result: Conflict with military, National Guard fired on the crowd (massacre)
• Deep division: Moderates vs. Radicals
• Rise of radical support

Equality in Execution - The Guillotine

• Introduced in 1791 by Dr. Joseph Guillotine
• Standardization of execution: quick and painless

Fear and Uprising

• Attacks: Peasants revolting against local lords
• Aristocrats fleeing France, spreading fear among European privileged classes
• War: France declared war on Austria and was defeated
• Prussian Duke: Issued threats, causing mob action in Paris
• Event: Storming of the King's Palace (August 10, 1792)
• King Louis fled to legislative assembly, monarchy suspended
• National Convention: Declared French Republic

Radical Changes and Repression

• Church Attacks: Priests deported/arrested, state-sponsored atheistic religion (Cult of Reason)
• New Calendar: Revolutionary calendar introduced
• Mass Arrests: Suspected enemies of the revolution imprisoned
• September Massacres: Mobs executed over 1,600 individuals in Paris prisons

Trial and Execution of King Louis XVI

• Austria and Prussia: Pledged to return King Louis to power
• Result: King put on trial for treason, executed by guillotine

The Reign of Terror

• Committee of Public Safety: Formed to protect the revolution
• Revolutionary Tribunal: Streamlined trials and executions
• Era: Reign of Terror; widespread executions for minor offenses
• Key Figures: Marie Antoinette executed

Robespierre and Greater Terror

• Became radical and increased executions
• Established the Cult of the Supreme Being
• Fall: Alienated himself, declared new list of enemies in speech
• Result: Arrested and executed (July 28, 1794)
• End of Reign of Terror

Post-Robespierre Developments

• Thermidorians: Moderates took control, initiating White Terror against radicals
• New Constitution: Created the Directory to avoid centralized power

Rise of Napoleon

• Events: Royalist insurrection put down by Napoleon
• Promotion: Gained rank and fame
• Military Success: Defeated Austrians, established puppet states
• Political Coup: Sieyes and Napoleon staged a coup, leading to Napoleon's dictatorship

Summary

• Revolution began with promises of liberty and equality
• Transitioned to a period of terror and radical control
• Ultimately ended with the rise of Napoleon as dictator
• Outcome: Shift from monarchy to revolutionary government to dictatorship