The new regime READER

Overview of the French Revolution

  • Time Period: 1787–1799

  • Key Events: Formation of the National Constituent Assembly, abolition of feudalism, establishment of civil rights, reorganization of state and church authority.

National Constituent Assembly's Achievements

  • Abolition of Feudalism:

    • Ended the feudal structure and inequalities.

    • Established civil equality among men in metropolitan France.

    • Voting rights extended to more than half of adult males, although not all could become deputies.

  • Nationalization of Church Lands:

    • Properties of the Roman Catholic Church were sold to pay off public debt.

    • Benefited the bourgeoisie, peasant landowners, and some farm workers.

    • Assignats: Revolution currency backed by church land, leading to inflation.

  • Civil Constitution of the Clergy:

    • Reorganized the church's structure, faced rejection by Pope Pius VI and many clergy.

Administrative Reforms

  • Transition from ancien régime to new rational administrative system:

    • Division of France into départements, districts, cantons, and communes.

    • Elected assemblies responsible for governance and justice system reform.

    • Judges elected to maintain judicial integrity.

Struggles for Power and Counterrevolution

  • Monarchical Regime Attempts:

    • Assembly attempted to share powers with King Louis XVI, who was ineffective due to indecisiveness and reliance on aristocrats.

    • King’s failed attempt to flee (June 20–21, 1791) led to diminished authority.

  • Rise of Counterrevolutionaries:

    • French nobles and clergy (émigrés) fleeing to form armed coalitions against the Revolution.

    • International concern grew over principles of self-determination proclaimed by revolutionaries.

War and Revolution

  • Declaration of War:

    • April 20, 1792: France declares war against Austria amid revolutionary zeal.

  • Military Defeats:

    • Early losses led to uprisings (August 10, 1792): Paris revolutionaries seized Tuileries.

    • Louis XVI’s imprisonment sparked violent actions leading to the September Massacres.

  • Formation of the National Convention:

    • Abolition of monarchy proclaimed on September 21, 1792.

Political Divisions within the Assembly

  • Girondins vs. Montagnards:

    • Girondins wanted a bourgeois republic, while Montagnards sought to empower the lower classes.

    • Execution of Louis XVI on January 21, 1793, and Marie-Antoinette later that year heightened tensions.

The Reign of Terror

  • Terror Period (September 5, 1793 – July 27, 1794):

    • 300,000 arrests, 17,000 executions; many died in prisons.

    • Revolutionary army grew to over a million, leading to initial military victories.

  • Downfall of Robespierre:

    • Victories weakened the necessity for extreme measures.

    • Robespierre overthrown on July 27, 1794, led to a relaxation of strict policies.

The Aftermath and Rise of the Directory

  • Transition to the Directory (1795):

    • New constitution created a governing Directory and two legislative councils.

    • Ongoing conflicts between revolutionaries and counterrevolutionaries hindered stability.

    • Coups led to Bonaparte's rise to power and administration as "first consul" on November 9, 1799.