5. Government by Terror Flashcards
What were the two periods of the Terror?
- Began with the attack on the Tuileries on 10 August 1792, included the September Massacres, and came to an end with the Battle of Valmy, when an allied invasion was held up and them pushed back.
- Began with the journée of 31 May to 2 June 1793, when Girondin deputies were arrested and ended with the execution of Robespierre and his supporters in July 1794. During this period, French armies were doing badly and there was the threat of invasion. It came to an end with the victory of Fleurus in June 1794, which secured France’s frontiers.
What caused the government to become closer to the people? What happened as a result?
In order to fight the war and crush the republics internal and external enemies.
The Montagnards realised this and drew closer to the sans culottes. It’s members shared the Girondin hatred of Robespierre and Marat, but held the girondins responsible for the failures in the war, the rising in the vendee and the economic crisis.
What was the purpose of the machinery of the Terror?
- To identify, place under observation and punish subjects.
- To make government more effective and ensure that its orders were carried out.
- To meet some of the economic demands of the sans culottes.
Who had responsibility for all anti-republican opposition through police, security, surveillance and spying?
COMMITTEE OF GENERAL SECURITY - 10th March 1793 a REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL was introduced in Paris to try counter revolutionary suspects. It was intended to prevent massacres like those in September 1792. “Let us embody terror” said Danton “to prevent the people from doing so”. Owing to the resistance to conscription, REPRESENTATIVES ON MISSION were sent to provinces. They had power over department administrations and the armies. They were intended to be the first stage in reasserting central control over the provinces. The vendee revolution was blamed on plots by royalists, so COMITES DE SURVEILLANCE were set up in each commune and major town; they provided many victims for the revolutionary tribunals. On 19 March, the SUMMARY EXECUTION DECREE provided the trial and execution of armed rebels within 24 hours of capture. This was held without a jury and there was no appeal. They condemned more victims than the RT. Harsh laws were passed against émigrés; they were executed if returned to France and their land was forfeited by government officials.
What committee was expected to supervise and speed up the activities of ministers?
On the 6th April, one of the most important decisions taken up by the convention was to set up the committee of public safety. This committee depended on the support of the convention, which approved its powers each month. Danton wanted a convention without extremists, so 7 of the 9 members were from the plain. There were two Montagnards, and no girondins. They won the support of the public by economic concessions. On 4 May, a maximum price was set for grain and by the end of the month, it was compulsory for the wealthy to loan money to the government.
What was the last straw for the Girondins?
Girondins were accused of supporting federalist revolts, thought to break the unity of the Republic and put France’s resources under severe strain.
On 2nd June 1793, 80,000 National guardsmen aimed their canon at the convention and demanded a maximum price to be set for all essential goods and the expulsion of all Girondin deputies. To avoid massacre or seizure of power, the convention was compelled to agree to arrest 29 deputies and 2 ministers. A young royalist assassinated Marat in the vain belief that it would end the revolution.
What resulted in increased power of the jacobins?
Many departments resented this power and the influence of Paris. The most serious revolt occurred in Lyon who turned against the jacobin clubs. 60 of the 83 departments experienced some form of disturbance. However these forces were very small, and didn’t want to move far from home. For example, Bordeaux had only 400 men.
When was the new committee of public safety set up?
Between July and September 1793. It consisted of 12 members who were either Montagnards or deputies of the Plain and all middle class. This was to become the first strong government since the revolution began.
Why did some people like Robespierre, but others didn’t?
He did not seek wealth or power for himself, but always but the good of the country above all else. He also put moral excellence above all human feelings.
Some couldn’t stand his self righteousness.
What were the main characteristics of the sans culottes?
Hatred of the aristocracy (anyone with great wealth);
Egalitarianism (equality);
Wearing bonnets rouges, symbolising the freedom of all citizens;
Passionate anticlericalism;
Direct democracy;
The meetings of the Assembly should be open, and deputies should vote aloud (s-c believed that insurrection should be a right).
How did the paris sections control the capital?
They controlled the National Guard, assisted the representatives on mission and issued certificates of citizenship (needed for employment). Of the 454 members of revolutionary committees, 65% were shopkeepers or independent craftsmen, while only 8% were wage earners. The Parisian Sans Culottes had the force to seize power, but they decided to intimidate or persuade the Convention.
Following the journee of the 2nd June 1793, what concessions were made to them by the CPS?
On 24th June 1793, a declaration stated the right of insurrection, to have assistance in the time of need and the right of education. All adult males had the right to vote and there was to be direct elections.
To fight the war effectively, the sections demanded conscription (part of the levee en masse).
Economic concessions - anti hoarding laws and a maximum fixed price.
What marked the appearance of total war?
The levee en masse was declared on 23 August 1793 which stated that every Frenchman was in a state of requisition for the army. Nearly half a million were conscripted; state factories were set up to make arms and ammunition; church bells were melted down for cannon and religious vessels for coinage. This was remarkably successful in the short term.
What happened following the economic problems in the summer of 1793?
The assignat had dropped in value by three quarters, and enragés (an extreme revolutionary group) demanded the convention deal with starvation and poverty. They demanded the execution of hoarders who pushed up the price of grain and a purge of ex nobles from the army. The leader (Roux) led a journee on 5th September 1793 which adopted an extreme approach to ensure the movement of food into paris. During this journee, he was arrested and died in February 1794.
What happened in the journee of the 5th September 1793 led by Roux?
A crowd marched onto the convention (after gathering at the hotel de Ville the day before), forcing it to accept a series of radical measures. The convention immediately authorised the formation of the armée révolutionnaire (s-c sent to the provinces to ensure the movement of food supplies). The purpose of this was to:
To ensure food supplies in Paris and the provinces;
Round up deserters, hoarders, refractory priests; political suspects and royalist rebels;
To mobilise France’s resources by confiscating church silver and bells;
To establish revolutionary justice in areas opposing the revolution (mainly the south and west).
Both the Paris and provincial armies were engaged in dechristianisation.
They were successful, until Spring 1794, in supplying Paris and the main provincial cities with food. However, there was enormous resistance in rural areas and their numbers were small. The CPS didn’t like these because they were anarchic and out of control of the authorities, and they created opposition to the Revolution because of their heavy handedness to the peasants.
