National Convention

Altar of the National Convention or Republican Altar in the Panthéon, France.

The National Convention was an assembly, meeting in France from September 21st, 1792 until October 26, 1795. This was the third assembly of the French Revolution. It came after the Legislative Assembly and founded the First Republic. The first act of the National Convention was to get rid of the monarchy.[1] The Legislative Assembly had decided that after Louis XVI was no longer king, a new government would need to create a French constitution. It was decided that all French men over the age of twenty-five would be able to vote, despite class. The winners of this election formed the National Convention. Men on the National Convention would be on the National Convention for a year, followed by another election.

The National convention became known as the most radical part of the French Revolution. It took land away from the Nobility and sold it to peasants.[2] In the Reign of Terror it sent thousands of people to the guillotine for execution.[2] in 1793 they voted to execute Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.[3]

National Convention Media

References

  1. James Maxwell Anderson, Daily Life During the French Revolution (Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2007), p. 16
  2. 2.0 2.1 Christine Sowder; Bill Williams, The French Revolution (Culver City, CA: Social Studies School Service, 2007), p. 530
  3. Paul R. Hanson, Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2004), pp. xvii–xviii