French Revolution's Radical Phase

Overview

This lecture covers the radical phase of the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, and the rise of Napoleon, highlighting the shift from monarchy to radical republic, widespread violence, and the eventual establishment of a dictatorship.

King Louis XVI and the Erosion of Monarchy

• King Louis XVI and his family were confined in the Tuileries Palace under revolutionary scrutiny.
• Nobility were now taxed equally and lavish spending by the king was curtailed.
• The king was forced to publicly support revolutionary symbols, like wearing the revolutionary bonnet.
• Louis XVI attempted to flee France in June 1791 but was captured in Varennes and returned to Paris.
• The Constitution of 1791 reduced the king to a constitutional monarch with little real power.

Rising Radicalism and the Fall of the Monarchy

• Jacobins, radical revolutionaries, protested to demand the complete removal of the king.
• The Champ de Mars Massacre occurred when the National Guard opened fire on protestors.
• Deep divisions emerged between moderate and radical revolutionaries.
• The guillotine was introduced in 1791 as a "humane" execution method for all.

War, Republic, and Internal Strife

• Many aristocrats fled France as foreign nobles feared the revolution would spread.
• France declared war on Austria and Prussia in April 1792, suffering initial defeats.
• On August 10, 1792, revolutionaries stormed the palace, suspended the monarchy, and imprisoned Louis.
• The National Convention declared France a republic, targeting royalist and church influence.

Radicalization, Massacre, and the Rise of the Jacobins

• Anti-revolutionaries and clergy were arrested or executed; a new atheistic state religion was established.
• September Massacres (1792): mobs killed over 1,600 prisoners suspected of counter-revolution.
• King Louis XVI was tried, found guilty of treason, and executed by guillotine in 1793.

Counterrevolutions and The Reign of Terror

• Conscription laws and anti-Christian policies sparked rural uprisings, notably in the Vendée and by the Chouans.
• The radical Jacobins purged their moderate rivals, taking control in 1793.
• Charlotte Corday assassinated radical journalist Marat; he became a revolutionary martyr.

The Reign of Terror

• The Committee of Public Safety, led by Robespierre, ruled as a virtual dictatorship.
• The Revolutionary Tribunal expedited executions for suspected enemies; paranoia gripped the nation.
• Around 40,000 people were executed, including Queen Marie Antoinette.
• The Great Terror (1794) marked the peak of executions and repression.
• Robespierre alienated allies, created the Cult of the Supreme Being, and was executed after threatening more purges.

The Directory and the Rise of Napoleon

• Post-Terror, the Thermidorian Reaction brought moderates to power; White Terror targeted former radicals.
• The Directory, a five-man government, was created to avoid concentration of power.
• Royalist uprisings were suppressed by Napoleon, who gained rapid promotion.
• The Directory was plagued by corruption and instability as Napoleon rose in prominence.
• Napoleon overthrew the Directory in a coup, establishing himself as ruler.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Constitutional Monarchy — a system limiting the king’s power, with authority shared by elected bodies.
• Jacobins — Radical revolutionary political club pushing for abolition of the monarchy and extreme measures.
• Guillotine — device for carrying out executions by beheading, used as a symbol of the revolution.
• National Convention — legislative assembly that declared France a republic and oversaw radical changes.
• Committee of Public Safety — a 12-member executive body leading the Reign of Terror.
• Revolutionary Tribunal — special court for trying and sentencing perceived enemies of the revolution.
• Reign of Terror — period of mass executions and political paranoia (1793–1794).
• Thermidorian Reaction — backlash against radical rule, marked by the rise of moderates.
• Directory — five-man executive government established after Robespierre’s fall.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the timeline and major events of the French Revolution.
• Prepare for a quiz on key figures and pivotal events from this period.
• Read about the causes and consequences of the rise of Napoleon.