The French Revolution - OverSimplified (Part 2)

Summary

This script narrates the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, detailing King Louis XVI's loss of power, the radical actions of revolutionaries, and the rise of Robespierre's Reign of Terror. It covers key events like the king's attempted escape, the massacre at Champ de Mars, the introduction of the guillotine, and internal conflicts within France. The story transitions to the emergence of Napoleon Bonaparte, his military successes, and eventual rise to power as a dictator, highlighting the revolution's shift from a quest for liberty to one of fear and authoritarian rule.

Takeaways

• 👑 King Louis XVI and his family were forced to reside in the Tuileries Palace in Paris, where they witnessed the revolutionary government stripping away royal power.
• 🗣️ The monarchy was pressured to conform to the revolution, including paying taxes like citizens and giving up privileges such as lavish parties and personal luxuries like a Porsche.
• 🎩 King Louis XVI was compelled to show support for the revolution, even to the extent of wearing the revolutionary bonnet as a sign of solidarity.
• 📱 The script humorously mentions King Louis's interest in Raid Shadow Legends, a video game, as a distraction from the political turmoil.
• 🔄 The king attempted to flee France disguised as a servant to seek help from his Austrian relatives, but was recognized and captured in Varennes, marking a turning point in public opinion against him.
• ⚖️ The 1791 Constitution reduced the king's power to a figurehead, sparking outrage among radicals who wanted him removed entirely.
• 🗡️ The revolution introduced the guillotine as a form of execution, aiming to provide a quick and equal death for all criminals regardless of their social status.
• 🏰 The September Massacres saw the brutal execution of over 1,600 people, including women and children, in response to fears of a counterrevolutionary plot.
• 👥 The revolution led to the rise of radical figures like Robespierre and the Jacobins, who implemented the Reign of Terror to suppress dissent and consolidate power.
• 🛑 The Reign of Terror resulted in the execution of approximately 40,000 people suspected of crimes against liberty, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.
• 💔 The Reign of Terror eventually consumed its own, leading to the execution of Robespierre and signaling the end of the radical phase of the revolution.

Q & A

What significant event occurred at the Tuileries Palace in Paris that affected King Louie and his family?

King Louie and his family were residing in the Tuileries Palace when the revolutionary government began to strip away his power. Fearing for his safety, King Louie had to stay on the revolutionaries' good side.

What changes were imposed on King Louie by the revolutionaries?

The revolutionaries imposed several changes on King Louie, including making his noble friends pay taxes like everyone else, stopping the tax money from funding his lavish parties, and taking away his Porsche.

How did King Louie attempt to escape the escalating situation in France?

King Louie, seeing the situation rapidly turning against him, decided to leave France and attempted to flee to the Austrian Netherlands disguised as a servant with his family on the night of June 20th, 1791.

What was the outcome of King Louie's escape attempt to the Austrian Netherlands?

King Louie's escape attempt was unsuccessful. The royal carriage was stopped in the town of Varennes, where the postmaster recognized them. The King was returned to Paris, and his lack of support for the revolution became clear to all.

What was the impact of the Champ de Mars incident on the revolution?

The Champ de Mars incident, where the revolutionary National Guard fired on a crowd of revolutionaries, resulted in a massacre and exposed a deep division within the revolution. It led to a wave of support for the radicals who wanted to see the king deposed.

What was the significance of Dr. Joseph Guillotine's invention during the French Revolution?

Dr. Joseph Guillotine's invention, the guillotine, was significant as it introduced a form of execution that was considered quick and painless. It symbolized equality in punishment, as all criminals, regardless of their economic status, would receive the same penalty.

How did the French Revolution affect the French aristocrats and clergy?

The French Revolution led to increasing attacks on French aristocrats and clergy, who were seen as having benefited from the previous system of inequality. Many local lords became targets, and aristocrats began fleeing France to escape the revolution's wrath.

Why did France declare war on Austria in April 1792, and what was the outcome?

France declared war on Austria fearing that foreign nations might attack due to the spread of revolutionary ideas. However, the war went poorly for France, with Austria's ally Prussia joining the fight and the French army getting pummeled.

What was the significance of the September Massacres during the French Revolution?

The September Massacres were a brutal event where mobs descended on Paris's prisons, breaking in and executing aristocrats, priests, and others on the spot, including women and children. The massacre resulted in over 1,600 victims and spread fear across Europe.

What was the Reign of Terror, and how did it come about?

The Reign of Terror was a period during the French Revolution when the radical faction, led by Robespierre, took control of the government and implemented a policy of fear and violence to suppress internal dissent. It began with the establishment of the Committee of Public Safety and the reinstatement of the Revolutionary Tribunal, leading to widespread executions.

How did Napoleon Bonaparte rise to prominence during the French Revolution?

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence by successfully recapturing the city of Toulon from the British, which led to his promotion to brigadier general. Later, he became a hero by defeating the Austrians in Italy and pushing them out, eventually signing a peace treaty. His military successes and popularity among the French people paved his way to power.

Outlines

00:00

👑 Stripping Powers from King Louie

King Louie and his family lived in the Tuileries Palace in Paris where they witnessed the revolutionary government diminishing the king's authority. The king had to appease the revolutionaries, even pretending to support their decisions such as taxing the nobility and ending lavish parties. He also faced personal losses like the confiscation of his Porsche. As the revolution demanded continuous proof of his support, King Louie was once forced to wear the revolutionary bonnet. Despite his efforts, his lack of genuine support for the revolution became evident when he attempted to flee the country disguised as a servant, but was recognized and captured in Varennes. This led to the 1791 Constitution reducing his power to a mere figurehead, and eventually, radicals called for his complete removal.

05:03

🗡 The Storming of the Bastille and the Rise of the Republic

The script describes the escalation of the French Revolution, including the storming of the king's palace by an enraged mob and the subsequent suspension of the monarchy. King Louis XVI was reduced to 'plain old Louis' and imprisoned. The National Convention declared the French Republic, implementing democratic and egalitarian ideals. However, these principles were overshadowed by fear and violence as the republic sought to eradicate any trace of the old regime. The church was particularly targeted, with priests facing deportation or arrest and the establishment of the Cult of Reason. The new government, influenced by radical factions like the San-Culottes, also engaged in mass imprisonments and the September Massacres, executing suspected enemies of the revolution. The script also highlights the introduction of the guillotine as a form of execution, symbolizing equality in punishment.

10:03

🏰 The Counterrevolutionary Uprisings and Napoleon's Ascent

The narrative details the counterrevolutionary uprisings across France, such as The Chouanary led by Jean 'Owl' and the significant revolt in the Vendee region. It also recounts how Napoleon Bonaparte gained prominence after recapturing the city of Toulon from the British, leading to his promotion to brigadier general. The script describes the brutal suppression of the counterrevolution in the Vendee, including war crimes committed by General Jean Baptist Carrier. Back in Paris, the government struggled with internal conflicts between radicals and moderates, eventually leading to the rise of the radical Jacobins and the Reign of Terror, marked by widespread executions and paranoia.

15:03

🗡️ The Reign of Terror and the Fall of Robespierre

This section delves into the Reign of Terror, where the radical faction led by Robespierre established a committee of public safety and reinstated the revolutionary tribunal, leading to mass executions. The period was characterized by pervasive fear and suspicion, with even minor offenses punishable by death. The script mentions the execution of Marie Antoinette and the eventual turning against Robespierre himself, who was overthrown and executed, marking the end of the Reign of Terror.

20:04

🌟 Napoleon's Rise to Power and the Aftermath of the Revolution

The final paragraph outlines Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power following the fall of Robespierre. It describes how a more moderate group, the Thermidorians, took control and attempted to stabilize the government, drafting a new constitution and establishing the Directory. However, the Directory was ineffective and faced with corruption and economic struggles. Napoleon, having gained popularity and military success, particularly in Italy, staged a coup with the help of Sieyes, effectively making him the dictator of France. The script concludes by highlighting Napoleon's ambitions and the implications for future European conflicts.

Keywords

💡French Revolution

The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political change in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799. It marked the decline of powerful monarchies and the rise of democracy and secularism. In the video, the revolution is depicted through the experiences of King Louis XVI, the rise of radical factions like the Jacobins, and the Reign of Terror, illustrating the tumultuous shift from monarchy to a republic.

💡King Louis XVI

King Louis XVI was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. In the script, his character is shown as being stripped of power, forced to flee the country, and ultimately being declared a traitor, culminating in his execution. His story exemplifies the dramatic shift in power from the monarchy to the people and the revolutionary government.

💡Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror refers to a period during the French Revolution when the radical Jacobin faction led by Maximilien Robespierre instituted a series of mass executions intended to purge France of its enemies. The script vividly describes this period, highlighting the fear and paranoia that led to thousands of executions, including that of the King and Queen, as a means to solidify the revolution's goals.

💡National Razor

The National Razor, more commonly known as the guillotine, was the primary method of execution during the French Revolution. The script mentions Dr. Joseph Guillotine's invention, which was intended to provide a more humane form of execution. It became a symbol of the revolution's brutality, as it was used to execute thousands, including high-profile figures like King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

💡Jacobin Club

The Jacobin Club was a political group during the French Revolution that advocated for the rights of the people and the radical restructuring of French society. In the video, the Jacobins, led by Robespierre, are portrayed as a driving force behind the Reign of Terror and the push for a republic, illustrating their significant influence during this period.

💡Constitution of 1791

The Constitution of 1791 was a document that established a constitutional monarchy in France, reducing the powers of King Louis XVI and transferring significant authority to a legislative body. The script mentions this constitution as a turning point that symbolized the diminishing power of the monarchy and the increasing influence of the revolutionary government.

💡Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was a military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He is mentioned in the script as a young captain who was instrumental in the recapture of Toulon and later as a general who defeated the Austrians. Napoleon's military successes and eventual rise to power as Emperor of the French marked the end of the revolution and the beginning of the Napoleonic era.

💡Directory

The Directory was the government that ruled France from 1795 to 1799, following the fall of Robespierre and the end of the Reign of Terror. In the script, it is described as an ineffective government plagued with corruption, which struggled to maintain stability and was unpopular with the French people, setting the stage for Napoleon's rise to power.

💡Tuileries Palace

The Tuileries Palace was the royal residence in Paris where King Louis XVI and his family lived during the French Revolution. The script mentions the palace as the setting for the king's interactions with the revolutionary government, symbolizing the close proximity of power and the vulnerability of the monarchy during this tumultuous period.

💡Cult of Reason

The Cult of Reason was a state-sponsored atheistic religion created during the French Revolution as a replacement for the Catholic Church, which was seen as a symbol of the old regime. The script describes the establishment of this cult and the conversion of churches into temples of reason, reflecting the revolutionary government's efforts to eradicate religious influence and establish a secular state.

💡Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre was a leading figure of the French Revolution and the driving force behind the Reign of Terror. In the video, Robespierre is portrayed as a radical who believed in the necessity of terror to protect the revolution, leading to the execution of thousands, including the King and Queen. His downfall, as depicted in the script, marked the end of the Reign of Terror and the beginning of a more moderate phase of the revolution.

Highlights

King Louie and his family moved to the Tuileries Palace in Paris where they witnessed the revolutionary government stripping away his power.

King Louie had to pretend to support the revolution to stay on the government's good side, even wearing a revolutionary bonnet.

Raid Shadow Legends is advertised as a free-to-play RPG game with 3D graphics and over 400 champions to collect.

King Louie's failed escape attempt to Austrian Netherlands led to his loss of support and being seen as a traitor.

The 1791 Constitution reduced King Louie's powers to a figurehead, with radicals like the Jacobins demanding his complete removal.

The Champ de Mars protest and the subsequent massacre exposed deep divisions within the revolutionary movement.

The guillotine, or 'National Razor', was introduced as a more humane form of execution during the revolution.

Dr. Joseph Guillotine's invention led to the guillotine's debut in 1791 as the new form of execution.

French aristocrats began fleeing to other parts of Europe due to fear of the revolution spreading.

France's declaration of war against Austria in 1792 led to a swift defeat and involvement of Prussia.

The storming of the king's palace by a mob and the subsequent suspension of the monarchy marked a second revolution.

The establishment of the French Republic brought significant societal changes, including democracy and equality.

The Reign of Terror was marked by violence, paranoia, and the rise of radical factions like the Jacobins.

Napoleon Bonaparte's military successes, including the recapture of Toulon and victories in Italy, boosted his popularity.

The French Revolution saw the rise and fall of various political factions, from the radical Jacobins to the moderate Thermidorians.

Napoleon's eventual rise to power, culminating in a coup that made him dictator, marked the end of the French Revolution.

Transcripts

- [Narrator] King Louie and his family

were now in the Tuileries Palace in Paris,

where for the next couple of years,

he watched as the revolutionary government

began to strip away his power

and fearing for his safety,

he had to stay on their good side.

Hey, look who it is.

It's my favorite revolutionaries.

Yep, I'm your number one fan.

What can I do for you?

Hey, King Louie.

So we've made a few decisions.

First, all of your friends in the nobility

are gonna have to pay taxes the same as everyone else.

Great idea.

I love it.

And as a side note,

the tax money can no longer pay for all your lavish parties.

Great, I hate those parties.

They're so awkward.

And also we're taking away your Porsche.

Ah, come on.

I mean,

Yay.

The king continually found demand after demand

being made of him

to prove his support for the revolution.

On one occasion,

a mob would invade the palace

and demand he wear the revolutionary bonnet.

This is the face of a man who is definitely

pretending he wants to wear that bonnet.

Now around here,

I wanna mention that one thing King Louie had a problem with

was people constantly raiding his palace,

but one thing he didn't have a problem with

was raiding noobs

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Now, where was I?

Oh yeah.

Seeing the situation rapidly turning against him,

the king decided it might be a good idea to leave France

and mount a campaign to retake his country from abroad.

Luckily for him,

he was married to an Austrian.

So on the night of June 20th, 1791,

the king in his family disguised themselves as servants

and attempted to flee to the Austrian Netherlands.

The royal carriage made a stop in the town of Varennes

and the postmaster there was like,

"hey guys, what's up?

Where are you off to?"

We are but a collection

of inconspicuous servants heading for the border

for no particular reason at all.

Say, you, the fat one.

You look kind of familiar.

Aren't you the king?

Nope.

Let me see your passport.

It says here, you're King Louis the 16th.

Nope, not me.

Take him away, boys.

The King was promptly returned to Paris,

but now the jig was up.

His lack of support for the revolution

was clear to all

and many considered him a straight up traitor

who tried to abandon his people.

As a result,

the new Constitution of 1791 completely reduced his powers

to that of a simple figurehead,

a constitutional monarch.

However radicals,

such as those in the Jacobin Club,

were outraged that the king wasn't to be removed entirely.

So a month later,

these radicals staged a protest

on the Champ de Mars calling for the king's removal.

The government of Paris feared an insurrection was mounting

and they sent the military to disperse the crowd.

The confrontation escalated

and resulted in the revolutionary National Guard

firing on a crowd of revolutionaries.

It was a massacre.

The incident exposed a deep division

within the brotherhood of the revolution.

On one side,

the moderates who wanted to keep the King

as a figurehead,

on the other radicals who wanted to see the king deposed

and heads roll.

In the wake of the massacre,

these radicals received a wave of support.

And speaking of rolling heads,

one form of equality of the revolution introduced

was a quality in execution.

This meant no more torturous drawing and quartering,

no more inhumane hanging.

They wanted all criminals,

regardless of economic status to receive the same penalty.

A quick and painless one.

Luckily, a man by the name of Dr. Joseph Guillotine

had an idea.

A heavy blade that falls like thunder.

The head flies off, blood spurts,

and the man is no more.

The guillotine, otherwise known as the National Razor.

The guillotine made its debut in 1791

as the new form of execution.

The writings of Marat

and others continued to call for the execution

of anyone suspected of working

against the revolution.

For him,

this included some members of the clergy and nobility

who had previously benefited

from the cruel system of inequality

that existed before the revolution.

In many parts of the countryside,

local lords had found themselves become a target.

Sire, the peasants, they're revolting.

Oh, come on.

That's a bit harsh.

Sure, they smell a bit,

but I wouldn't say they're revolting.

Oh, yes, I see what you mean.

Increasingly, these French aristocrats

began fleeing France to find solitude

in other parts of Europe.

And once again,

fear began to take hold.

The privileged classes of these foreign nations

didn't like what they were seeing

because they feared revolutionary ideas

may spread to their own lands.

The National Assembly,

actually now the Legislative Assembly

feared that these nations may decide to attack.

Then why don't we attack them first?

No, you idiots.

We are definitely not ready for war yet.

Did somebody say something?

France declared war in Austria in April, 1792

and immediately got pummeled.

It also didn't help that Austria's ally, Prussia,

joined in the fighting.

The Prussian Duke of Brunswick

posted a letter warning the revolutionaries

that if anything happened to the King,

he would burn Paris to the ground.

The Duke's letter proved to be a massive success

in inspiring the people of Paris

to do the exact opposite of what he intended.

They were enraged by the threat.

And on the 10th of August, 1792,

the tension in the city exploded

and a mob stormed the king's palace.

Fighting broke out between the revolutionaries

and the king's Swiss guard

with casualties in the 100s.

King Louis fled

and took refuge in the chamber of the legislative assembly

where Robespierre and his radical Jacobins

were gaining evermore power.

Given the developing situation,

the chamber decided to hold a vote.

And in what some considered to be a second revolution,

it was decided to suspend the monarchy entirely.

King Louis the 16th was now just plain old Louis

and he was sent to a prison cell

where an eye could be kept on him.

A month later,

the newly established national convention

officially declared the French Republic

and society underwent a massive change.

Enlightened ideas of democracy

and equality were being implemented.

But very quickly,

these ideas seemed to become secondary to fear,

paranoia and a thirst for blood.

The new republic began working to violently remove

any semblance of the old royalist regime.

The church became a prime target.

Priests who refused to take a oath to the revolution

were deported or arrested.

A new state-sponsored atheistic religion

named the Cult of Reason was created

as a replacement for the Catholic Church.

Notre Dam, along with many other churches,

had the religious treasures destroyed

and were converted to temples of reason.

Even the Christian calendar didn't survive,

as a brand new revolutionary calendar was soon introduced.

Hey honey, I'm home.

Yeah, whatever jerk.

Whoa, what's wrong with you?

You forgot.

Forgot what?

Everything.

This entire year,

my birthday was on the third of Germinal.

Our anniversary was the 12th of Thermidor

and you promised that in Frimaire,

we'd go on a romantic weekend trip to Venice.

No, I said would do that in December.

December hasn't been a thing for years.

The government of Paris

now under the control of the radical San-Culottes

began rounding up suspected enemies of the revolution

and sending them to prison in the 1000s.

Naturally, a large number of those arrested

were members of the clergy and aristocracy.

As Francis foreign enemies continued to close in,

panic spread.

Georges Danton made impassioned calls

for men to defend the republic

and tens of 1000s of troops

left Paris for the front lines.

However, in their absence,

Paris was left to its own devices.

As enemy troops arrived in Verdun,

the people of Paris feared that their crowded prisons

were becoming a breeding ground

for counterrevolutionary conspiracy.

What would happen if the Prussians reached Paris

and freed the aristocrats?

Marat believed he knew what would happen.

The aristocrats would enact their vengeance

on the people.

Fearing those they had already imprisoned,

mobs descended on Paris's prisons.

They broke in.

And during the brutal September massacres,

aristocrats, priests and others

were tried and executed on the spot.

Even women and children weren't spared.

With over 1,600 victims,

word of the massacre spread across Europe.

One British newspaper wondered,

are these the rights of men?

Is this the liberty of human nature?

But there was still one man in particular

that Robespierre and his radicals

really wanted to see executed.

Austria and Prussia pledged that

after they defeated France,

they'd returned King Louis to the throne.

Well checkmate Austria and Prussia

because he can't return a man to the throne

if he's already dead.

Citizen Louis Capet was put on trial for treason.

Obviously he was found guilty,

but his punishment was less certain.

Many moderates wanted to simply deport him.

But Robespierre insisted the revolution could only live

if the king was dead.

A vote was held and by just one vote,

Louis was sentenced to the guillotine.

If you don't mind,

I'd like to say a few words first.

Gentlemen, I am innocent of everything

of which I am accused...

Wait, you're too loud.

They can't hear me.

Hang on, I haven't finished yet.

Wait, dude.

Uncool.

In her prison cell,

Marie Antoinette heard the guns fire

signaling her husband's death.

Before long,

she would meet the same fate.

Back on the war front,

France defied all expectations,

and actually managed to push the enemy back.

But then more countries joined the coalition

against France and it all went to pot again.

What do we do?

Conscript the masses.

The National Convention introduced a conscription law

with each regional department

having to meet a certain quota of men for the army.

However, not everyone was happy with this new law.

You see, while Paris was definitely a hotbed

for radical revolutionary fervor,

some of the regions outside of Paris

weren't quite so keen on the revolution.

Some were largely still conservative,

still supported the church

and just didn't suffer from that much inequality

before the revolution.

So as the revolution turned increasingly violent

and anti-Christian, many were outraged.

Now they were being conscripted to fight

for the new republic they hated.

That was the last straw.

Counterrevolutionary uprisings erupted

in a number of regions across France.

Some would last for years,

such as in the Northwest

where a large scale uprising was led by The Owls.

Why were they called The Owls?

Because their leader was named Jean Owl.

Why was he called John Owl?

Possibly because he could do

a really good impression of an owl.

Really?

That's what we're going with?

Owls?

Just because this guy can do an impression of one?

Hit him with it, Jean.

Hoot, hoot.

Yeah, okay.

That's pretty good.

The Chouanary uprising lasted all the way until 1800.

In the summer of 1793,

the southern city of Toulon invited the British Navy

over for some tea and crumpets.

And then they asked if they'd possibly like to stay

and occupy the city.

Being an important naval base,

this was a heavy blow to the republic

who sent a relatively unknown young captain

by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte

to help stage the siege of the city.

Toulon was recaptured by France in the winter

and for his service

Napoleon was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

The most infamous counterrevolution, however,

occurred in the Vendee region.

Throughout 1793,

revolutionary forces clashed with the region's

Catholic and royal army.

The republic defeated the counterrevolution

through cruel pacification.

In particular,

general Jean Baptist Carrier

committed brutal atrocities.

In one instance,

he had 1000s of civilians, priests,

women and children tied to ships,

which were then sunk.

Carrier would later be found guilty of war crimes

and executed.

Back in Paris,

the government was still dominated by moderates.

With the war going badly,

revolts in the provinces and the economy getting worse,

it seemed the government just wasn't doing a very good job.

Radicals' fear for the safety of the revolution intensified

and Marat even began calling for the moderates

in the government to be executed.

In return,

the moderates called for the arrest of Marat.

This led to a chain of events

with the two sides in heated conflict.

Robespierre declared the Jacobins to be be an insurrection

and called on the people to arm themselves.

It all ended on the 31st of May, 1793

with the National Convention surrounded

by radical Sans-culottes

and 29 moderate Girondin politicians arrested.

From this moment on,

the moderate ceased to be a political force.

Robespierre and his radicals

would be an almost total control of the government.

And this brings us to the story

of a woman named Charlotte Corday.

Charlotte lived in the northwest city of Caen

and like many in the area

was horrified at the rapid radicalization

and increasing violence of the revolution.

And the man she blamed more than anyone

was Jean Paul Marat.

She wanted to bring peace back to France.

And so she did something drastic.

She traveled to Paris and told Marat

she had a list of enemies for him to publish in his paper.

Marat eagerly invited her in for a meeting.

So where's that list of enemies you promised me?

Here it is.

Wait a minute.

This isn't the list of enemies.

It just says "yippee ki yay mother..."

(Marat screams)

And just like that,

Marat was no more.

Charlotte was quickly arrested and sent to the guillotine.

Her dream of restoring peace, however, died with her.

Marat became a martyr.

In temples of reason,

symbols of the dead Marat

became the new crucifix.

In death,

he became an even more powerful inspiration

for the extreme levels of violence

that were about to rip throughout the new republic.

And that's right.

Here comes the reign of terror.

If you thought this revolution already

sounds pretty violent,

well you ain't seen nothing yet, son.

The radicals were now in control

and they believed

not only was France surrounded by foreign enemies,

but that within the masses,

there were also plenty of internal ones too.

Individuals not loyal to the revolution,

conspiring to bring about it's downfall.

Robespierre and the rest of the radical faction

were having none of it.

A new committee of public safety

was established with 12 members.

Its purpose was to protect the new French republic

from its enemies

and it basically became a 12 man dictatorship

with Robespierre as its leading voice.

The revolutionary tribunal was also reinstated.

A special court created to streamline

the process of trying suspected enemies

and handing out their death sentences.

With these two new institutions,

Robespierre wanted to scare Francis enemies straight.

In September, 1793,

it was announced that terror would be the order of the day.

In other words,

fear had become official government policy.

And from then onwards,

we entered to the period known as

the reign of terror.

Spies and secret police were everywhere

and watched the people closely.

France's public had to be extremely careful

what they said and how they behaved.

Obviously criticizing this new system

or the government would quickly have you

sent off to the guillotine.

But that's not all,

even the most minor offense

could have you tried before the Revolutionary Tribunal.

Hello, citizen Martin.

Hello, Monsieur DuBois.

Monsieur?

Did I just hear you say monsieur?

That's the old style of address, my friend.

To the guillotine.

You know what?

I didn't like him

but I do feel kind of bad for the King and his family.

Ooh, expressing sympathy for the royal family, are we?

To the guillotine.

12 sous for a loaf of bread?

That's way overpriced.

To the guillotine.

Man, this bread line is taking forever.

To the guillotine.

And you,

you look like you're thinking anti-revolutionary thoughts.

To the guillotine.

Max, we're sending way too many people

to the guillotine.

To the guillotine.

Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop.

It was insane.

All across France,

about 40,000 people were killed

for suspected crimes against liberty.

Let's say

your neighbor won't stop mowing the lawn

at seven in the morning.

Well, then all you gotta do is tell the government

they've been talking smack about the revolution

and there's a good chance

they'll end up in front of the Revolutionary Tribunal.

Maybe they'll even be executed,

taking a metaphorical load off your shoulders

and a literal one off theirs.

The most prominent victim of the reign of terror

was a certain Marie Antoinette

who has finally tried and found guilty of treason in 1793.

She expected she'd be brought to the guillotine

in a royal carriage fit for a queen.

All the republic could provide for her, however,

was a wooden (indistinct).

At 37 years old,

the most hated woman in French history

met her end on the 16th of October, 1793.

Robespierre had saved the revolution through terror.

Internal dissent was being suppressed.

The food situation was no longer quite as bad.

Even the French military had got its act together again

and pummeled the allies

at the Battle of Fleurus.

For Danton and his followers,

the time was right to try to normalize the French Republic.

Hey, Robes P,

so we were thinking that

since things are finally going better,

maybe we should reign in the terror.

And while we're on it,

we could possibly start taking it easier on the church

and also try to end this costly war.

Hmm.

Oh crap.

As time went on,

Robespierre seemed to go,

for lack of a better term, a bit mental.

He was hellbent on creating

what he called a republic of virtue.

And for him this meant amping up the bloodshed even more.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1794,

executions reached an unprecedented level

during a period known as the great terror.

Even those closest to him

found their way to the guillotine

if they dare to pose his ideas and actions.

And he began alienating himself

from the rest of the convention.

He created a new deistic religion

called the Cult of the supreme being

along with the new annual festival of the supreme being.

Man, I think Robespierre is really starting to lose it.

He thinks he's a God or something.

Nonsense.

Sure, he's gone a little extreme,

but he doesn't think he's a God.

My children,

bathe your immortal souls in the virtue of my republic.

Okay, yeah.

He's completely lost it.

Robespierre's ultimate mistake, however,

came on July 26th

when he made a speech to the National Convention

in which he said this,

"I have in my hand a brand new list of enemies

to be sent to the guillotine.

And many of you are on this list

but I'm not gonna tell you who yet.

What do you think of that?"

I think we should send Robespierre

to the guillotine first.

All in favor?

Oh, no.

Two days later, Robespierre became the final victim

of the monstrous terror and paranoia

he had created.

Many historical accounts of the revolution end here

with the death of Robespierre and his terror.

But the revolution officially continued

for another five years until 1799.

So what happened between now and then?

Well, after the fall of Robespierre,

a more moderate political group called the Thermidorians

took control of the convention.

They wanted to restore stability to the government.

Now Robespierre's allies

and other radicals who had fueled the terror themselves

became the target of political suppression.

Bourgeois street fighters

took on the radical San-Culottes

in the streets during a period named the white terror.

In 1795, the Thermidorians drafted a new constitution

and created a government called The Directory

with the purpose of preventing power

from being able to fall into the hands

of a single individual again.

As this new government was being established,

royalists who wanted to bring the monarchy back

to France saw this moment as an opportunity to strike.

They staged an insurrection in Paris

and battled with the National Guard in the streets.

Luckily, one Napoleon Bonaparte

happened to be in Paris at the time,

and he took control of the situation

firing on the crowd and putting down the insurrection.

From this moment on,

the people of Paris would never again

be able to stage a popular uprising

and lost their control over the revolution.

For his actions,

Napoleon became a general

and was sent to take control of the French armies in Italy.

The new directory remained a fairly ineffective government

for the remainder of the revolution.

It was plagued with corruption

and struggled to keep the economy afloat.

And as a result wasn't very popular.

For the people of France,

with the strict social customs

of both royalist France and the terror gone,

they didn't really know what to do with themselves.

Men no longer removed their hats when talking to women,

different classes began intermingling

and a publication began circulating

that looked a lot like a modern dating app.

It was social anarchy.

Outside of France,

the war continued.

In 1795,

France took the Netherlands

where they set up a puppet state.

Then they negotiated both Prussia and Spain out of the war.

The British attempted to land French royalists

in the West to reinforce rebellion.

But that plan failed.

In 1796, the French planned a three-pronged attack

with the aim of marching on Vienna

and knocking Austria out of the war.

The two northern armies were defeated

and forced to retreat.

However, Napoleon in the South

with groundbreaking military strategy,

won battle after battle after battle.

He pushed the Austrians out of Italy

and began closing in on Vienna.

The Austrians freaked out

and Napoleon oversaw the signing of a peace treaty.

He had almost single-handedly knocked Austria

out of the war.

And by the way, he was only 28.

So maybe it's about time

you moved outta your mom's basement.

Napoleon became a famed hero among the French people

but his aspirations were still higher.

He briefly went off to Egypt

and discovered a bunch of gnarly Egyptian stuff.

But then the British destroyed his fleet

and trapped his forces.

Say, Napoleon, sir,

you're not gonna leave us here stuck in Egypt

and return to France, are you?

Nonsense, my boy.

I would never dream of abandoning my loyal soldiers.

Wow, what's that over there?

On his return to Paris,

Napoleon found himself to be extremely popular

and the government extremely unpopular.

And he started getting some power-hungry ideas.

Conveniently, a politician named Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes

approached Napoleon and said,

"hey man, since you're so popular,

do you wanna help me stage a coup?"

Great idea.

Let's stage a coup and then I'll coup you.

What?

Napoleon, with the help of his politician brother

entered the government chamber,

possibly got punched in the face

and finally his troops intimidated the council

to dissolve the government

and create a new constitution

that basically made Napoleon a dictator.

So there you have it.

The French Revolution,

born with a great promise of liberty and equality.

The common people dared challenge an oppressive system

that had existed for centuries

but before they knew it,

they found liberty sidelined by terror.

Equality that possibly didn't quite hit the mark

and an absolute monarchy

replaced by an absolute dictator.

Napoleon began stabilizing French society.

He restored the Catholic church

and got rid of that crazy calendar among other things.

But he remained ever ambitious.

He was Francis's first consul,

but he slept soundly at night

dreaming of being something even bigger.

Napoleon's expansionist aspirations

combined with the ongoing conflict in Europe

would eventually lead the continent into a huge conflict.

Known today as...

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