FRENCH REVOLUTION 7.2

What similarities and differences do you see between the political factions in the Legislative Assembly and those in the US government today?

A similarity between the political factions in the Legislative Assembly and the US government is that each one has representatives for the Radicals and Conservatives on each side of the spectrum. A difference is that there isn't a large group of Moderate representatives in the US government and the Conservatives ideas mostly contradict the Radicals rather than only having a few differences.

Maximilien Robespierre

Definition: A Jacobin leader who attempted to wipe out every trace of France's past in order to build a "republic of virtue". Importance: He changed the calendars, reduced people's ability to practice religion and became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety which was later known as the Reign of Terror.

Committee of Public Safety

Definition: A committee whose main intention was to protect the Revolution from its enemies. Importance: It was led by Maximilien Robespierre, whose rule became known as the Reign of Terror due to his dictatorship and excessive execution of his enemies.

Guillotine

Definition: A form of execution used for those who had been sentenced to death. Importance: King Louis XVI, and many other Revolutionaries were killed this way since it was believed to be a more efficient, humane and democratic punishment.

Legislative Assembly

Definition: A new legislative body that the National Assembly created in 1791 along with the new constitution. Importance: It reduced the king's authority and limited the monarch's ability by giving most of the power to the three groups involved, being the radicals, moderates and conservatives.

Jacobin

Definition: A radical political organization whose members helped influence changes in government. Importance: Members such as Georges Danton and Jean-Paul Marat helped guide the National Convention and abolished King Louis power once and for all after they sentenced him to death by guillotine.

Sans - Culotte

Definition: Groups of Parisian workers and small shopkeepers who wanted the Revolution to influence even bigger changes. Importance: They helped show their dedication by protesting in the street, rather than being directly involved in the assembly.

Emigre

Definition: Groups of nobles and others who had fled France due to the Great Fear, that wanted to restore the Old Regime. Importance: They inspired other factions to form that wanted to influence the direction that the government was going in, and in this case that meant wanting to undo the Revolution.

Reign of Terror

Definition: The period in which Maximillien Robespierre governed France as a dictator after becoming the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. Importance: Robespierre considered it a motivation for French citizens to remain true to their Revolutionary ideals since he saw a connection between goodness and terror.

Was the French Revolution a success or failure? Provide 3 reasons to support your answer.

I think that the French Revolution was a failure because: - Failed to create a representative government. (Robespierre's dictatorship) - They were never able to maintain a steady economy/always in debt - Constantly at war with enemy countries/even their own citizens. - Endless violence and chaos, couldn't maintain peace and stability.

3 Part Question/Answer - Explain how the Reign of Terror started, what it looked like, and how it ended.

The Reign of Terror started when Robespierre became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He took advantage of his power and formed a dictatorship which he used to kill all his enemies with the guillotine. These excessive punishments caused people to question his authority which only instilled more terror. It ended when members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre and sent him to the guillotine where he was executed.

What did the divisions in the Legislative Assembly say about the differences in French society?

The divisions in the Legislative Assembly proved that even though most French citizens were in favor of government reform and Revolutionary ideas, they all stood on a spectrum of supportiveness, ranging from Radical (left), Moderate (middle), and Conservative (right). These differences were often based on what specific ideas benefited them and their estate.

What factors led to Robespierre becoming a dictator?

The main factor that led to Robespierre becoming a dictator was his strong sense of leadership, which motivated many people to follow him. He managed to wipe every trace of France's past clean by changing the calendars and reducing people's ability to practice religion. These power moves instilled a sense of control among society which is why nobody questioned him when he started executing enemies with the guillotine out of protection for the Revolution. Once this terror was instilled in his citizens he was able to prevent others from gaining power, therefore creating a dictatorship.

What major reforms did the National Assembly introduce?

The major reforms that the National Assembly introduced were the Declaration of the Rights of a Man and of the Citizen, and the combination of Church and state. The declaration was influenced by the Americans Declaration of Independence, and included their rights to liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression, as well as, equal justice, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. By combining church and state they sold church owned land, elected Church officials as paid state representatives and used church's land to pay off debt.

How did the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" sum up the goals of the Revolution?

The slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" summed up the goals of the Revolution because the radicals main intention was to give freedom to those who had been victims of injustice, create equality among all classes and estates, and to create union among those who shared the same ideas for France's society/government.