1) In the late 18th century, France declared itself a republic but soon descended into turmoil due to military setbacks, factionalism in government, and counterrevolutionary uprisings. 2) To combat these threats, the radical Jacobin faction known as "The Mountain" seized control of the government and instituted a period of violent repression known as "The Terror" from 1793-1794. 3) Though initially successful at eliminating opposition, The Terror grew increasingly violent and unstable, leading to the overthrow and execution of its leader Maximilien Robespierre in 1794 and the eventual establishment of a new constitutional government.

1. War, Terror, and Resistance
Presented by Mike Onan
Data gathered from http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap1a.html

2.  In 1789, the National Assembly declares its intention to be peaceful,
claiming war to be evil. However, militaristic attitudes found their
way into debates and press.
 A political faction known as the Girondists, led by Jacques-Pierre
Brissot, gained popular support via militaristic rhetoric, and found
themselves in control of the Legislative Assemply. They led France
into war in 1792.

3.  French forces didn’t do well on the battlefield in 1792, which enticed
Prussia and Austria to invade France.
 These actions led to newly seated Convention deputies to declare
France a republic.
 Military setbacks in 1792 and 1793 added to factionalism in the
Convention, where Jacobin deputies, known as “The Mountain” and
the Girondins blamed each other.

4.  In 1792, the Mountain allied with sans-culottes, or urban laborers, and
overthrew the Monarchy and the Girondin-led Legislative Assembly.
The Mountain assumes control of the National Convention.
 At the same time, more civil war broke out where peasants, former
nobles, and priests from the western region of the Vendee formed a
guerrilla army that went to war with the republic government. This
was primarily due to the fact that Vendee was geographically
isolated, more rural, and culturally/religiously distinct.
 This caused republican Parisians to believe that the greatest enemy
France faced were French “counterrevolutionaries”.

5.  Because of war, internal struggles, and other issues, the Mountain
believed that the government had to operate extra-constitutionally if
it was to run effectively. This led the Convention to become what is
now known as “The Terror”.
 People, both foreign and domestic, that didn’t comply with the rules
and demands of the government were tried and convicted of treason,
and sentenced to execution by guillotine.
 From September of 1793 to July of 1794, The Terror was very
successful in overwhelming its enemies. It was so successful that
supporters criticized it for being too violent and said that it was
becoming a source of instability in France.

6.  The Counterrevolution was a series of distinct movements
that resisted the Republic government’s authority within
France. They were the Terrors main opposition.
The Parisians referred to urban revolts that took place all
over France as a single movement, “federalism”. Paris
sought federalists to be eliminated. The Convention sent
deputies to each area in revolt to eliminate the federalist
strongholds.
 In October of 1793, the Convention tried and executed
Marie Antoinette, due to her status as a figurehead whom
could rally the support of monarchists and foreign powers.

7.  The revolutionaries were interested in making radical changes to
France. These include:
 New calendar – Against tradition and religion, the Convention inaugurated a new
calendar consisting of 12 months that were divided into 3 10-day weeks. Sunday
was eliminated and replaced with a Republican holiday that occurred every 10
days.
 Institution of universal primary education and improved secondary and higher
education to demonstrate the enlightenment of its citizens.
 De-Christianize France in favor of a national religion based on reason, known as
the Cult of the Supreme Being.
 These radical changes, specifically the religious ones, led people to
doubt the Republic, and ultimately led to the beginning of the end of
The Terror.

8.  Robespierre, a lawyer and politician, pushed through the Law of 22
Prairial on June 10th, 1794, which put the Terror directly under the
control of the Committee. This increased the possibility of political
prosecutions and executions.
 People believed that Robespierre was looking to eliminate his
opponents and establish a dictatorship. Also, false rumors circulated
that his intention was to make himself king.
 Robespierre leveraged the Terror to achieve his political goals, which
led to the Convention condemning him, and later executing him.

9.  Because of the resources gained through terroristic methods, France
conquered extensive territory.
 The coalitions of Britain, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Netherlands, and
Savory were all defeated.
 France controlled modern-day Belgium, the west bank of the Rhine
River, and the Italian peninsula.

10.  The Revolution left France torn apart. The Convention recognized that law had to be
restored if the country was going to recover from the effects of the Terror.
 A new constitution was drafted in 1795, which didn’t address social equality and
gave power an executive body of government, known as the Directory. The Directory
was composed of five “Directors”, an upper chamber of elders known as the
“Anciens”, and a lower house known as “the Five Hundred”.
 During it’s years in power (1795 to 1799), the Directory consistently had it’s
legitimacy challenged. However, it faced it’s greatest challenge during the election
of 1797, when a royalist majority divided between supporters of the old regime and
people that favored a constitutional monarchy.

11.  Believing that anarchy would reign unless the government was
reorganized, political figurehead and revolution initiator Emmanuel
Sieyes arranged for a coup which would consolidate all government
power to a 3-man consulate. This included himself, Roger Ducos, and
returning war hero Napoleon Bonaparte.
Within a couple of months, Bonaparte gained the upper hand and
emerged as the real leader of France, eventually crowning himself
emperor in 1804.