Sunday, Dec 07, 2014
- The Reign of Terror
- Faced with foreign invaders and the threat of domestic rebellion, the National Convention established the Committee of Public Safety to defend France and safeguard the Revolution.
- Led by Robespierre, the Committee of Public Safety exercised dictatorial power as it carried out a Reign of Terror.
- In the name of creating a Republic of Virtue, Robespierre executed the queen, his chief rivals, and thousands of “dangerous” class enemies.
- The “Nation in Arms”
- While the Terror crushed domestic dissent, Robespierre turned to the danger posed by the First Coalition. In 1793, the Committee of Public Safety proclaimed a “levee en masse” decreeing compulsory military service for all men between the ages of 18 and 40.
- The levee en masse created a national military based upon mass participation. This marked the first example of the complete mobilization of a country for war.
- Motivated by patriotism and led by a corps of talented young officers that included Napoleon Bonaparte, France’s citizen-soldiers defeated the First Coalition’s professional armies.
- The Thermidorian Reaction
- The Committee of Public Safety successfully crushed internal dissent and defeated the First Coalition. Despite these victories, Robespierre continued to pursue his fanatical dream of creating a Republic of Virtue.
- Fearing for their lives and yearning for stability, the National Convention reasserted its authority by executing Robespierre.
- Robespierre’s death ended the radical phase of the French Revolution. On the new revolutionary calendar, July was called Thermidor from the French word for “heat.” Hence, the revolt against Robespierre is called the Thermidorian reaction.
- The Directory: 1795-1799
- Bourgeoisie Misrule
- The government consisted of a two-house legislature and an executive body of five men known as the Directory.
- Dominated by rich bourgeoisie, the Directory proved to be corrupt and unpopular.
- The Fall of the Directory
- Public discontent mounted as the Directory failed to deal with inflation, food shortages, and corruption.
- On November 9, 1799, an ambitious and talented young general named Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and seized power.