Changes

A new National Convention replaced the Legislative Assembly and abolished the monarchy in order to establish a republic in 1792, which gave all adult males the right to vote.  A radical political group called the Jacobins gained power, led by Georges Danton and Jean Paul Marat.  Under the influence of the Jacobins, the National Convention used the guillotine to execute Louis XVI in January 1793.  By this time many countries, including Great Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, Prussia and Austria, had formed a First Coalition to prevent the violence in France from spreading outside.  The National Convention responded by drafting people into an army.  Historians claim women were drafted, but such a politically inspired claim is worth investigating before accepting it.

A new National Convention replaced the Legislative Assembly and abolished the monarchy in order to establish a republic in 1792, which gave all adult males the right to vote.  A radical political group called the Jacobins gained power, led by Georges Danton and Jean Paul Marat.  Under the influence of the Jacobins, the National Convention used the guillotine to execute Louis XVI in January 1793.  By this time many countries, including Great Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, Prussia and Austria, had formed a First Coalition to prevent the violence in France from spreading outside.  The National Convention responded by drafting people into an army.  Historians claim women were drafted, but such a politically inspired claim is worth investigating before accepting it.

   

   

The execution of Louis XVI led almost immediately to the Reign of Terror.  Maximilian Robespierre, head of the Committee of Public Safety, proceeded to guillotine numerous alleged enemies, including Marie Antoinette.  In a classic illustration of Jesus’s teaching that “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword,” Jacobin leaders Danton and Marat were guillotined, and then eventually Robespierre himself was guillotined in 1794.  The Reign of Terror ended with Robespierre’s death.

The execution of Louis XVI led almost immediately to the Reign of Terror.  Maximilian Robespierre, head of the Committee of Public Safety, proceeded to guillotine numerous alleged enemies, including Marie Antoinette.  In a classic illustration of Jesus’s teaching that “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword,” Jacobin leaders Georges Danton (a fiery orator) was guillotined, and Jean-Paul Marat (a scientist) was stabbed to death in his bathtub.  Eventually Robespierre himself was guillotined in 1794, and the Reign of Terror ended with his death.

At last the government of France was in the hands of a legislature, and an executive branch of five men called the Directory.  The Directory picked a young, highly successful military genius named Napoleon to lead the French army.  The very next day Napoleon seized all power in France as its dictator, in November 1799.

At last the government of France was in the hands of a legislature, and an executive branch of five men called the Directory.  The Directory picked a young, highly successful military genius named Napoleon to lead the French army.  The very next day Napoleon seized all power in France as its dictator, in November 1799.