Introduction
Following the French Revolution, France’s political system changed from an absolute monarchy to a democratic republic. The establishment of the National Assembly, the Reign of Terror, and Directory rule all occurred during France’s republican period. September 1792 saw the founding of the first republic, France. This First Republic persisted until May 1804, when Napoleon Bonaparte ushered in the First Empire or Napoleonic France. After the declaration of the revolution, from 1792 until the present, France had five republics.
How France Became a republic
The anger against the Ancient Regime in French society grew when King Louis XVI assumed power, laying the groundwork for the French Revolution. The National Convention created a new constitution in 1791 as a result of this uprising, which limited the king’s authority by establishing a constitutional monarchy and securing citizens’ basic rights. With the monarch’s abdication in 1792, this constitutional monarchy likewise came to an end. After that, in 1792, the newly elected members of the National Assembly unanimously proclaimed France to be a republic, which led to the establishment of the French Republic.
The Jacobins took advantage of the political unrest to grab control of the National Convention, ushering in a period of terror that saw widespread killing and bloodshed throughout France. With the middle class seizing control and establishing the Directory government in France, this situation and the Jacobin republic came to an end in 1794. However, there were numerous disputes even during the directory rule, which led to the establishment of the French Consulate under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte as the First Consul. Napoleon later proclaimed himself the Emperor of France and ended the First French Republic to establish the First Empire.
Helping Factors
The despotic, autocratic monarchs were overthrown by the French Revolution, which also created new political and social structures based on the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The new form of governance was the democratic republic. The conditions were right for France to become a republic for several causes, and things happened:
- Replacement of the absolute monarchy with the Constitutional monarchy
- End of the monarchy and the formation of the National Convention
- Reign of Terror
- Directory Rule
Replacement of the absolute monarchy with the Constitutional monarchy
The king’s concentrated power was reduced after the Revolution. In the new constitution that the National Assembly drafted in 1791, the parliament served as a check on the king’s authority. The legislative, the executive branch, and the judiciary now shared power. This system of government was known as a Constitutional monarchy.
End of the monarchy and the formation of the National Convention
Even though he ratified the constitution, King Louis XVI was not pleased with the reduction of his authority. He, therefore, began secret negotiations with world leaders who were likewise concerned about the progression of the French Revolution. As a result, the neighbouring nations of Austria and Prussia consented to assist him in putting down the uprising. In 1792, the National Assembly declared war on these nations after learning of King Louis’ and his allies’ plans.
The French revolutionaries recruited volunteers from many provinces to fight for the creation of popular supremacy by overthrowing the king and nobles. Massive destruction was caused by these revolutionary battles, especially for the common people. The Jacobins’ siege on the Tuileries Palace in 1792 resulted in the capture of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. On September 21, 1792, they held elections to choose the members of the new assembly, which became known as the National Convention. The constitutional monarchy came to an end as a result of this event, and France became a republic. The monarch and queen were later put to death in 1793.
Reign of Terror
The Jacobins took over as the dominant group when France was declared a republic. Maximilien Robespierre, the leader of this group, oversaw the harsh punishments and rule that began the reign of terror in France in the years 1793–1794. During this time, those who were thought to be republican and revolutionary foes were put to death. To maintain the Jacobins’ hegemony, he outlawed other political organizations. The “enemy” was beheaded using a contraption called a “guillotine.” The French people began to rebel against Robespierre’s rule as the leader of the Jacobin Club, which led to his execution.
Directory Rule
The more affluent middle class once again came into power when the Jacobin regime was overthrown. They drafted a new constitution, in which they once again restricted voting to members of the affluent class. This resulted in the establishment of two legislative councils. In addition, they established a Directory, a five-person executive body, to make decisions rather than consolidating authority in the hands of a single executive like the Jacobins. However, this division of authority among various organizations and departments led to regular disputes between the legislature and the directory.
Summary
Following the French Revolution, France had to undergo several political structure changes, including the overthrow of the absolute monarchy, initially led by King Louis XVI, the emergence of the constitutional monarchy, the Jacobin government, the Directory rule, and the ascension of Napoleon Bonaparte to the position of Emperor. The nobility lost its rights, and the society’s feudal framework was abolished.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does ‘Republic’ mean?
Ans. “Republic” describes a state in which its residents directly or indirectly elect the state’s leader. The position of the head is also not inherited.
2. Why were people dissatisfied with the rule of King Louis XVI?
Ans. People were unsatisfied for numerous reasons during the reign of King Louis XVI: Since Louis XVI’s reign, France has spent a lot of money fighting wars in Europe. The royal treasury was burdened by the king’s extravagant lifestyle. The king had unchecked power and was not answerable to the people. The king increased taxes on the Third Estate because the economy was close to collapse.
3. Where was King Louis XVI executed?
Ans. King Louis XVI is put to death by guillotine in Paris’ Place de la Revolution, one day after the French National Convention found him guilty of conspiring with foreign powers and sentenced him to death.