The National Convention (1792 – 1795)

Following the arrests of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the Legislative Assembly disbanded and replaced itself with a new political body named the National Convention.
The first act of the latter was to declare France as a republic on September 21, 1792.
Louis was charged with treason. The vote at the end of the trial was unanimous and declared Louis was guilty.
On January 21, 1793, Louis was driven through the streets of Paris to a guillotine and decapitated.
Marie Antoinette Louis’s wife, was accused of numerous crimes. She too was found guilty and guillotined.
Passing of the democratic constitution of 1793: Grant of universal manhood suffrage and giving supreme power to a single legislative chamber.
Scrapping Local Government of much of the local self-government and trend towards centralization.
Patriotism and success in the War of 1793 with the other European powers.
Economic Measures: Issue of the “Maximum” i.e. placing ceiling on prices and wages and Rationing of scarce commodities.
Seizure of the remaining properties of the ’emigres’ and other opponents of the Republic and recommended their distribution among landless Frenchmen.
Constitution of 1795: Denial of the vote to the poorest section of the nation; and establishment of a two-house legislature. These two houses nominated 5 directors who headed the executives.