consequences of the French Revolution Flashcards
in their new democracy, what issues were dealt with?
Addressed issues of tax
“For the maintenance of the public force, and for the expenses of administration, a tax supported in common is indispensable; it must be assessed on all citizens in proportion to their capacities to pay” (Article 13)
The issue of ‘no taxation without representation’ is also tackled: “Citizens have the right to determine for themselves or through their representatives the need for taxation of the public…” (Article 14)
Article 15 addressed democratic accountability
The democratic notion of the separation of powers is reinforced in Article 16
Article 17 makes property inviolable - it cannot be taken from the individual by the state.
Article 17 reflects interests of propertied men
Being too radical was feared because it would be too hard to contain
was the new democracy right for all?
Nothing is said for women
Rights do not extend to slaves and indentured servants in colonies
Robespierre thought there should be rights for jews
It served as the death warrant for the absolutist monarchy, was an articulation of enlightenment and a model for future societies seeking freedom and self-government
personal freedoms- DORMAC
Man in born free with equal rights
Can do anything that does not harm others
employment, honours etc. are based on skill not birth
Free to have opinion
Freedom of speech, writing and printing
Can see the accounts
Everyone has right to property
method of government- DORMAC
To conserve the equal rights of people
No one individual can wield all power
legal aspects- DORMAC
Law forbids actions that harm people
The same for all
Can only be arrested if the law is broken
Penalties must be suitable
Innocent until proven guilty
Public force is used to maintain laws but cannot be used privately
financial aspects- DORMAC
Tax will be on all based on what they can pay
Taxes will be agreed upon by all
influence of the cahiers- DORMAC
Responded to the Cahiers, especially those written bourgeoisie and nobles
equality- DORMAC
Political, civic and legal equality
Social and economic equality was unchanged, there would be no redistribution of wealth
merit and utility- DORMAC
Accepts inequality
Inequality now about skills and achievements
a new theory of justice- DORMAC
Abolished lettres de cachet
Presumption of innocence
abolition of slavery- DORMAC
Population wanted liberty for all and thus no slavery
The delegates could not change this because colonies relied heavily on it and it was a major part of French economy
This created a slave revolution that was bloody
Two rebellions in march and October 1790
August 1791 white slave owners at a planation were killed
Feb 1794 all slavery was abolished because of fear of losing colonies to British and Spanish
liberty
general freedom of opinion, religion and expression.
equality
political, civic and legal and employment fairness between people.
utility
a principle of usefulness.
merit
worth of people.
property
considered sacred land that was not redistributed from rich to poor.
who benefitted from DORMAC?
People who had skill, property and education
It was ambiguous about what people who had no property or education could do to gain utility.
where did political clubs come fro,? two major ones?
Arose out of salons
Don’t have political parties
Jacobin Club - the most famous and influential political club in the revolution, which developed into an extensive, nationwide network. Led by Maximilien de Robespierre, at its height it controlled the government and directed the Terror of 1793-94. More exclusive
Cordeliers Club - first known as Claude Dansard’s Fraternal Society, the Cordeliers Club was the first society to admit women to political debates and give them equal voting rights
Multiply from 1790 onwards
Involved in politics on a popular level
composition of the Jacobin club?
Radical Brenton deputies and supporters
Rented a room from Jacobin convent
‘Society of the friends of the constitution’
High entrance fee
Wealthy people
2% population by 1793
Significant in the people’s new involvement in politics
composition of the cordeliers club?
No membership fee
teachers, shopkeepers, artisans, officials, working class
Georges Danton, Camille Desmoulins, Jacques-Rente Hebert, Marat
Formed a central committee (elected)
policies and ideas of Jacobins
Ideas of physiocrats
Began to see a controlled economy as better after war and counter-revolution (extreme sans-culottes pushed for this)
Enlightenment ideas
Revolutionary practice
Reject monarchy
Centralisation of government for more power to defend republic
policies and ideas of cordeliers
Vote to choose deputies
Right to make deputies account for actions (recall)
Rights for rebellion if government upset people
what did the DORMAC achieve and carry onto?
Ideas had little value until translated into law
DORMAC was followed by the 1791 constitution and this completed the moderate stage
The constitution completed the first process of turning principle into law
Administration structures were swept away for new
marxist historians
no question that the French Revolution was an epochal event that not only changed a political régime, but also took France from the stage of feudalism into the new and more advanced stage of capitalism. Thus, to them and their school the value of the French Revolution was unquestionable.
revisionist historians
FR was something of a failure. William Doyle acknowledged that the revolution initiated significant changes, but questioned whether the changes were sufficient to justify the amount of struggle, violence and loss of life it also caused. He concluded:
“Was, then, the revolution worth it in material terms? For most ordinary French subjects turned by it into citizens, it cannot have been.’
what were the key principles of reform?
reason and equality, rationalism and decentralise and the creation of fair and accessible judicial systems
reason and equality
Centre society around reason and equality would improve life
Equality before the law, abolition of privilege and recognition of merit
Power no longer came from god and the king but from the people
Rejected corporate society
Basic human rights were universal
Response to Cahiers
Sought to make king accountable to parliament to solve financial crisis
Formed a constitutional monarchy
Made all citizens responsible for tax
Assembly took apart the venal offices and the parlements
rationaliationism and decentralisation of admin
rationalisation: practical application of what the philosophes called reason
Reduced overlapping of unnecessary institutions
83 more equal departments
Each department divided into districts and them communes
Decentralisation of power and power was spread throughout the nation to prevent king and nobles gaining power
the creation of a fair and accessible judicial system
Uniformity: the idea that any institution should work much the same way, no matter where it was located
There had been different system of law across France in the ancien regime
There would be one system of justice administered equally by trained lawyers
Judicial system was established in departments, districts and cantons (division of an area)
Buying venal offices was banned
Lawyers had to have practiced for 5 years
Jury system was introduced
A justice of the peace was appointed in each canton to offer guidance in reconciliation and arbitration and hear some cases
Lettres de cachet banned
People had to be taken to court of released from prison
Reduced number of crimes that were punishable by execution
Abolished cruel punishments
Guillotine was invented to be more humane and execution was equal for everyone
what are important points about this reform?
From The Books of Grievances the NA took three main ideas:
Accepted that the financial problem/ the national debt, could be solved by a political solution, that of making The King accountable to a parliament.
This was a fast progression from absolute monarchy, in which The King ruled as he wished, to constitutional monarchy, in which the King ruled in conjunction with a representative assembly.
NA accepted that the financial problem would be solved only by a complete fiscal reform that would make all citizens responsible to pay some taxes.
NA accepted that the new citizens of the nation should have civic and legal, equality and some guarantees of individual liberties.
exceeded the brief contained in The Books of Grievances and made reforms that nobody had dreamed of in 1788. THUS the revolution created a more revolutionary environment in which new revolutionaries invented a total program of national reform.
The Books of Grievances had not suggested an administrative reorganisation of the entire nation - the revolutionaries abolished the old provinces and creating in their place a more rational system of departments.
The Books had few demands to abolish noble & all other titles - The Books had complained about the feudal system, i.e. feudal dues and special privileges BUT The revolutionaries decided that the feudal system itself could be entirely dismantled.
No plan was made to confiscate all Church possessions - THE NA destroyed institutions that nobody had questioned = the system of venality of office and the parlements
local government reform
Power decentralised
Attempted a coherent structure
Democracy was introduced at all levels- officials elected
Cantons were where primary assemblies for elections were held (as well as justice of the peace)
- voting
what were the tiers of voting? how did voting and local government work and change?
Three tiers of voting:
Men over 25 who paid 3 days labour in local taxes. 4.3 million. They chose electors
Electors paid 10 days labour in local taxes. 50,000 men. Elected members of canton and department assemblies and could be officials. They also elected deputies.
Deputies paid 54 days manual labour in direct tax.
61% population could vote in some form
Wealth was still a large part of power
Most peasants could stand for office so by 1790 there were no government officials at a local level.
South bourgeoisie landowners controlled councils.
North urban bourgeoisie took office.
Rural communities had laboureurs, merchants and artisans take office.
1889-99 1 million people elected
Councils assessed and collected tax, law and order, public works, upkeep of churches, national guard, clerical oath of loyalty, register births, deaths and marriages, grain, watch people opposing revolution.
Few literate in villages so duties were done badly.
Catholic areas, they didn’t like persecuting priests so many resigned.
taxation and finance reform
After collapse in 1789, few taxes collected
Needed money, especially as venal office holders needed compensation
Used existing system until 1791- lead to violence until all the indirect taxes except external customs duties were abolished
Church land was nationalised 2 Nov 1789
Reasons for selling church land:
Provide money until taxation system was made.
Guarantee success of revolution as purchases would oppose restoration which might lead to church recovering land.
Clergy would become dependent of revolution because they were paid by it.
1791-2 sold quick
Bonds called assigns were sold to the public to buy land with.
April 1790 it was converted into paper money that could be used in all bank transactions.
Bourgeoisies had the ready cash to buy.
Land was sold in large plots
25% sold by 1799
Peasants bought 52% and bourgeoisie 48%
A third of peasants were first time land owners
Bourgeoisie often resold in smaller plots to peasants
Peasant landholders increased by a million between 1789 and 1810
Abolished taxes and systems:
Indirect taxes- aides, traites, octrois, gabelles
State monopoly on tobacco
Old direct taxes- taille, capitation, vingtièmes
Tax farming
New direct taxes:
Contribution fonciere- land tax with no exceptions
Contribution mobiliere- a tax on moveable goods paid by active citizens
Patente- tax on commercial profits
Survey of land values did not happen until 1807 so tax rolls were based on ancien regime so there was great variations across the country
Could avoid paying direct taxes by hiding income which with indirect taxes and goods was harder
Burden now fell on producers not consumers with indirect taxes gone
economic reform
Social structures and internal barriers out France behind
Believed in laissez-faire so introduced free trade in gain in august 1789 which extended to other products in 1790-1
People were unhappy as they wanted control to avoid scarcity and high prices and starvation.
October 1790 internal tariffs were abolished and a national market created
Single system of weights and measures.
Rid of any organisation that gave privilege when employing
Guilds were abolished in 1791 as it had restricted entry of people to jobs
June 1791 Parisians went on strike for higher wages
NA passed Le Chapelier law which forbade trade unions and strikes etc.
Church cared for needy but with no land and therefore no money could not
State formed a committee in 1791 which determined that 2 million people begged to survive
They had no money to fix this problem.
legal reform
Abolished:
Different systems in north and south
Different types of court
Lettres de cachet
New system:
Justice of the peace to persuade people to agree
Serious matters at district court
Criminal court in each department
Jury
Court of appeal was the the head and its judges were elected but had to be qualified (5 years)
Penal code more humane
Crimes reduced
Guillotine- most feared image of the revolution
Justice was free and equal for all
did the revolution improve life for most people?
Official structures were made more rational, efficient, accountable, accessible and fair
Changed everyday for most people
Doyle’s statement cannot be true
Failed to help the poor
Poor had a right to government assistance a role that had been taken by the church and other groups
About 2m who survived by begging
Government investigated but lacked fuel to implement assistance
DORMAC acted as constitution until one was written and then became the introduction (was treated with religious importance and barely changed).
what were the causes of disunity?
voting and taxation
disunity in voting
Three tiers of citizens:
Men >25 who paid the equivalent of three days’ labour in local taxes = passive citizens (approx 4.3 million). Chose electors. Only about 40%
Electors = active citizens = paid equivalent of 10 days labour in local taxes (approx 50,000). Elected members of the canton and department assemblies, and deputies to the National Assembly
Deputies in the National Assembly = paid >equivalent to 54 days’ manual labour, in direct taxation. At least 1/4 of wage in taxes
Whose interest does this serve? The richer people the only new people with a voice are the Bourgeoise
NOT universal suffrage - citizen had to be male, resident in their home for a year (to avoid the people who fled France from getting power again- 20,000 emagres, not engaged in domestic service, and paying (as above).
disunity in taxation
Existing system of indirect and direct taxation should last until 1791 because it is too hard and other things need to be changed first.
Hopes of people fall, unhappiness develops
Does not really consider the demands in the Cahiers
fixing the fiscal crisis
Church was nationalised 2 November 1789 and assignats were introduced
Provided money for state
Guarantee success of revolution - those who bought Church lands have a vested interest in success of revolution.
Make clergy dependent on new regime for salary.
what was the assignat?
Paper bill issued as currency from 1789-96
Bore 5% interest with recently nationalised church lands as security
September 1790 it became currency
Initially it stimulated the economy and eliminated a money shortage
Distrust of paper money and a fear that it would become worthless if the revolution collapsed made it depreciate
War in other counties further lessened its use.
why did reforms start in the church?
They started with the church because it was a relic of corporate society of the ancien regime which benefitted from privilege (contradicted the revolution)
what were key issues that caused disunity? the consequence?
Reorganisation of church
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The Opposition of the clergy Oct. Nov. 1790
The making of France’s Constitution, 1789 -1791
As a consequence of these and other factors, the revolution divided against itself in 1790-1791
what were turning points?
The French Revolution lost popular support:
First turning point in the Revolution - Reform of the Church
Second turning point in the Revolution - Consequences of flight to Varennes
what were the 6 reforms to the church?
1- Changed the financial and organisational structure of Church.
2- Church privileges were abolished w/o compensation.
3- Church lost feudal dues from its lands and peasant paid tithes
4- Church unable to decide how much tax it would pay.
5- Plural appointments abolished.
6- 02/11/89 National Assembly confiscated Church property.
why did the majority of clergy accept the radical change?
They would become civil servants but would be paid better
No major conflict of principal or conscience.
Don’t have to be nobility to become a bishop ect.
`when did conflict with the church arise? was the king accept it?
There was no serious conflict with the Church until the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (CCC) was approved on 12 July 1790.
The French Bishops advised the King that he should accept it and proclaim the CCC, which he did on 24 August 1790.
what were the issues of the CCC?
Drafting committee assumed a clear division between secular admin and spiritual theology
Committee accepted Pope’s spiritual leadership but believed admin of the church in France was business of government.
positive aspects of CCC?
- State guaranteed generous salaries for all clergy.
- All clergy live near their appointment.
- Church organisation = streamlined, creating 83 bishops for the 83 departments
- Reorganised thousands of parishes.
negative aspects of CCC?
- no. of bishops and priests lost their positions.
- appointment of clergy was democratised: bishop to priest elected by meeting of citizens.
- government’s aggressive attitude to Pope
acknowledged role of the Pope BUT forbade French citizens contact with foreign Church representatives
deprived the Pope of the power to appoint archbishops and bishops.
Were not allowed to talk to the man closest to god
opposition from the clergy October-november 1790
30 bishops in the NA voted against the CCC and were branded unpatriotic
Clergy claimed such changes should only be made with consent of Pope or Church assembly
October - December 1789, the French Church divided over the reforms, confusion, conflict and chaos across France.
how did the NA respond to the rejection of the CCC?
27 November 1790
The NA took the rejection rather badly and decided to get all priests to SWEAR AN OATH TO THE GOVT
Many priests regarded this as a matter of conscience, no matter what the price, as this forced them to accept or refuse the revolution as a whole.
The King passed this decree Dec. 1790 & priests had to obey by 4 January 1791.
Only two of 44 bishops and 109 priests took the oath
Priests who refused the oath were branded as ‘refractory’ clergy, or non-juring clergy.
‘Refractories’ became targets for intimidation from the revolutionary crowds and in Paris few priests dared to risk refusal.
Across France = average rate of refusal was a massive 50% of the clergy as a whole,
Pope formally condemned the reforms and later urged all clergy to refuse the oath
No longer a matter of conscience - an issue of spiritual obedience- 10% now retracted their oath, thus becoming enemies of the revolution.
King had sanctioned the CCC and the oath because on advice of French bishops - he now withdrew his support. This created doubts as to whether the King was really on the side of the revolution.
what was arguably the first mistake of the revolution?
All who opposed became enemies of the Revolution- Counter Revolutionaries!!
turning point: the King’s flight to Varennes (20-21 June 1791)
The constitution had content that could cause crisis
It was sent to the king for approval
He was a devout man and accepting it made him feel wrong
The King was being abused by the people- tried to go on holiday and his carriage was surrounded and could not be removed by the national guard
His protector, Mirabeau suddenly died
Marie-Antoinette hated the revolution and warned Louis against hesitation- believed it was a plot by disloyal nobility such as Lafayette aided by the dishonest third estate ‘tramps’
Ex-ministers such as Calonne warned him the only safe place was overseas
Bouille (military advisor) said he could reach the army garrison at Montmedy, gather troops, call in Austrian troops and crush the revolution
Midnight, 20 June 1791, they left
Involved relays of fresh horses, disguises and two separate coaches
A broken wheel and other issues caused these arrangements to fail
Messengers in Paris galloped to the boarder to alert people to look for them
Marie Antoinette was recognised and Louis’ face was compared to that on a bank note
Louis was detained and taken back to Paris the next morning
He was then under heavy suspicion which was worsened by the fact he left behind a document stating he rejected the revolution
significance of flight
Louis failed to understand the popularity of the revolution
Louis renounced the revolution
People had to make choices they didn’t want to make
Credibility of the constitution was undermined
Support of republic grew
24 June, 30 000 people marched on the NA for the king’s dismissal
results of flight
Lost popularity
Royal inn names and street signs removed
No longer trusted
Deputies feared declaration of a republic could cause civil war and wars with other counties
16 July decided to suspend the king until constitution was written and he could come back when he agreed to it- made a lot of deputies uncomfortable and they refused to vote
People were angry and felt the NA no longer represented them
Cordeliers called Jacobins to join in a protest against the King, this divided the Jacobins- those who wanted the king and those who didn’t (most drifted back over the months)
fallout in the NA following Varennes?
Fiction presented by NA that King kidnapped by counter-revolutionaries and returned to safety. Why?
If the King was deposed, there could be no constitutional monarchy (King’s brothers in exile and his son too young to rule.)
Most deputies preferred a moderate constitutional monarchy and feared a radical republic.
If the King meant to leave the country, it was to join the revolution’s enemies, Austrian troops or emigres. This created fear of attack - fear is an accelerator of revolution.
radical agitation against the king
24/06/91 - Cordelier’s Club members petitioned the NA to depose King.
Crowd of 30,000 people helped present the document.
Parisian crowd began destroying any symbol of the monarchy they could find.
When NA declared King free of all blame (15/07/91) agitation in radical clubs. NA declaration dubbed ‘The Great Lie’. Jacobin Club members demand King be deposed, put on trial for treason, and some even called for a republic.
Later militants declared King, by leaving had abdicated and could not be reinstated.
Jacobin Club saw many members, like Lafayette, resign & form Feuillants Club because of the move to extreme radicalism.
where was the champ de mars?
Opened in 1780, the Parc du Champ-de-Mars extends from the École Militaire to the Eiffel Tower. A hotspot for national events, it can be accessed freely and offers the most beautiful view of the capital’s landmark monument. Parisians and tourists gather on its lawns to picnic, play music, and watch the Eiffel Tower’s twinkling lights at nightfall.
the massacre of champ de mars
The Social Circle Club had joined with the Jacobin Club to demand that the King not be restored to office. They planned a public petition on the Altar to the Fatherland at the Champ de Mars.
On 17 July 1791, 50,000 people flowed into the Champ de Mars - signing the petition demanding King be deposed.
- crowd turned on two suspicious individuals and prepared to murder them.
- Bailly, called upon the National Guard to restore order.
- Lafayette arrived with his guards gave a warning to disperse.
- National Guard opened fire onto revolutionary crowd about 50 people killed many injured.
why was the champ de mars a key point?
Revolutionaries began firing on revolutionaries
significance of the massacre?
When the massacre occurred, it was clear that there were two French Revolutions and that they were locked in conflict.
The first Rev. was the liberal project of 1789: the King would stay and would rule
The second Rev., 1791, was more radical: it would insist that the monarch be deposed, and a republic be established.
Initially, the moderate Rev. won.
police arrested about 200 political militants;
some important figures, i.e. Danton, fled overseas, Marat, went into hiding.
more radical clubs such as the Social Circle, and some radical newspapers, closed down,
the opposition seemed cowed.
the making of France’s constitution 1789-91
The revolutionaries wrote a constitution which defined constitutional monarchy. This means executive power/ power of the King = limited, and greater power is given to the legislature/ law-making body.
Louis = King of the French, rather than King of France i.e. no longer ‘owned’ the country. Rather, he is a public servant
BUT he had real executive powers i.e. appointed ministers, who were accountable to NA
retained power to declare war and conclude peace - subject to approval
appointed his own foreign ambassadors and his senior military commanders.
BUT power restricted him to a purely executive role (running government) and forbade him to interfere in any way with the legislature i.e. he could never close the NA.
King is given a suspensive veto - he could interfere with NAs work by using his suspensive veto. i.e. could delay laws for 4 years
September 1791- the king accepts the constitution
With all of these events, it was now vital for the National Assembly to secure the moderate revolution, i.e. to secure constitutional monarchy as the form of government for the nation.
Assembly declared that the CCC was not part of the Constitution of 1791 - this helped to get Louis to accept Constitution. They also softened punishments meted out to refractory clergy.
The King ratified the Constitution on 14 September 1791. He declared ‘The revolution is over.’
what were problems facing the revolution by 1791?
Nation = divided over the issue of the Church
thousands of priests had been transformed into enemies of the revolution - the revolution had created its own counter-revolutionaries.
King’s reputation was now poisoned with suspicions of treason, which were given vivid expression in hostile cartoons - revolutionaries had polarised into those wanting Constitutional Monarchy and those wanting a republic.
Republican movement – had become linked with radicalism and the dangerous idea of revolution - republican movement increasingly associated with the Parisian popular movement whose agenda was to depose the King and install a republic.
Revolution had divided on more than ideological grounds: revolutionaries had fired on revolutionaries - people realised that within this one revolution was a second.
Men who had tried to protect the monarchy, i.e. Mirabeau and Lafayette = discredited.
Radical politicians = untouched by the scandal enjoyed increasing support from the working- class popular movement. E.g. Robespierre took charge of the Jacobin Club when nearly all the other deputies walked out and proceeded to rebuild it and consolidate his popular support.
Foreign rulers began conclude that the lives of the royal Family might be under threat and prepared to become involved.
the formation of the legislative assembly? why? how was it changed?
Acceptance of constitution by King lead to end of Constituent Assembly and formation of Legislative assembly
There was suspicion and hatred amongst the deputies and they could not cooperate:
King’s reluctance to accept proposals
Suspicions of King’s commitment
Fear of counter-revolutionary plots
To prevent political opponents dominating the next assembly, Robespierre proposed self-denying ordinance
No member of constituent assembly could sit for the legislative assembly
745 members elected
Most bourgeoisie
Few nobles as they had retired and were lying low, waiting for better times
23 clergy
No peasants, artisans, few businessmen
order:
Left: favoured republic- 136, most from Jacobin and some Girondins
Right: supported limited monarchy- 264 who were members of Feuillant Club and thought the revolution was over
centre: neither left or right- 345
the festival of federation 14 July 1790
Having lived through a tumultuous year, France’s political leaders, new and old, perceived the need to foster a sense of unity among the people. The King’s more liberal ministers in particular hoped to prevent attempts to roll back the changes made since the spring of 1789 and to limit momentum for farther–reaching challenges to the monarchy. To this end, the Marquis de La Fayette organized a public pageant in Paris to celebrate the “federation” of the different regions and social groups of France.
significance of the festival of federation?
The festival was a sign of unity, optimism and support of the revolution.
The event endorsed the reforms of the National Assembly to date
The king led the oath-taking in front of a crowd estimated at 350,000. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette received cheers from the crowds.
King Lois
Vetoed several revolutionary decrees
Fled Paris on the night of 20 June 1791, possible aiming to depart France - was captured at Varennes
Overthrown in insurrection (10 August 1792) and tried by the National Convention (December 1792)
Sentenced to death by the Convention and guillotined on 21 January 1793
jean-haul Marat
Radical journalist
Advocated on behalf of the sans-culottes
Edited L’Ami du Peuple (Friend of the People), newspaper supported by the Jacobin and Cordeliers clubs
Became a ‘revolutionary martyr’ after being assassinated in his bath by Charlotte Corday (immortalised in Jacques-Louis David’s famous painting The Death of Marat)
Georges Danton
Lawyer who became a leader of the Cordeliers
Member of the insurrectionary Paris Commune which orchestrated the 10 August 1792 attack on the Tuileries Palace, resulting in the overthrow of Louis XVI
Member of the Committee of Public Safety (April-July 1793) who argued for relaxation of the revolution’s emergency measures
Charged with conspiracy and guillotined after a sham trial
maximilien Robespierre
Lawyer and deputy to the Estates-General and later the National Convention
Member of the Jacobin Club and supporter of the execution of Louis XVI
Leading figure in the Committee of Public Safety, associated with the Reign of Terror
Arrested after his speech to the convention on 26 July 1794 (8 Thermidor) and guillotined two days later
marquis de lafayette
A constitutional monarchist and founding member of the Feuillant Club in 1791 which supported the constitution of that year
Lost popularity after his troops opened fire on demonstrators at the Champ de Mars on 17 July 1791 in the wake of the king’s flight to Varennes
Denounced the influence of the Jacobin Club
Defected to Austria in August 1792 and remained there until 1797
the Paris commune
Municipal government of Paris
formed after the overthrow of the city’s Bureau and Provost of Merchants on July 14th 1789.
filled with bourgeois delegates
headed by Jean-Sylvain Bailly.
hearing petitions and providing services.
The formal authority of the Commune came from a May 21st 1790 decree, which divided Paris into 48 sections. Each section elected three delegates to the Commune’s General Council.
The leadership of the Commune changed significantly on August 10th 1792, when radical Jacobins like Danton, Desmoulins and Hébert gained control of the council and declared themselves a ‘revolutionary Commune’.
From this point, the Commune became closely associated with the sections, the Jacobins and the sans culottes, its actions contributing to revolutionary violence and challenging the authority of the national government.
6. Became more radical as the revolution progressed. Opposed by the Girondins, who tried to curb its growing influence on the Assembly and later on the Convention.
the national convention
The national parliament that established France as a republic (elected September 1792)
Comprised 745 deputies divided into two factions: Girondins (moderate, provincial deputies) and Montagnards (radical, mostly Parisian and Jacobin Club members). Non-aligned deputies were known as ‘the Plain’
Tried and guillotined the former king, Louis XVI in 1793
Dissolved in 26 October 1795 (4 Brumaire Year IV) after enactment of the Constitution of the Year III
girondins
Loose affiliation of Legislative Assembly deputies
named after the Gironde region in south-west France and associated with the group’s spokesman, Jacques-Pierre Brissot, along with Condorcet, Brissot, Roland and Isnard
One of the two major groupings in the National Convention, in opposition to the Montagnards
Supported the declaration of war against Austria in April 1792
Expelled from the Convention in June 1793; Girondin leaders were arrested, tried and guillotined in October 1793
montagnards
Faction in the National Convention, opposed to the Girondins
Many members belonged to the Jacobin Club
Supported by the Paris Commune and sans-culottes
After dominating the Convention in 1793, the group lost influence with the fall of Robespierre
Jacobins
One of the first clubs formed by patriotic deputies to the National Assembly
Radical from the outset, the club soon established branches across France and Europe
Members became Montagnards and dominated the Legislative Assembly, National Convention, Committees of Public Safety and Committee of General Security
Associated with policies of the Terror, the club closed in November 1794
Motto: Live Free or Die
cordeliers
Radical club founded in 1790, dominated by Danton and Desmoulins
Enjoyed high membership on account of low fees
Supported by Marat’s paper L’Ami du people (Friend of the People) and Hebert’s newspaper Le Pere Duchesne (Father Duchesne)
Played a major role in orchestrating the deposition of Louis XVI through the insurrection of 10 August 1792
feuillants
club for constitutional monarchists, formed in response to divisions caused by a petition to depose Louis XVI after his capture at Varennes
Members took a leading part in drafting the 1791 Constitution
Initially the largest club in the Legislative Assembly; led by Antoine Barnave
Ceased during the Terror
sans-culottes
Mobile, well-organised and radical (often violent) group that called for significant social and political change after the revolution
Named ‘without culottes’ as they wore trousers instead of the breeches (culottes) and stockings of the elite
Made a virtue of plain dress and self-identified as people who served no-one.
Mostly made up of workers, shopkeepers, petty traders, craftsmen and the poor
committee of public safety
Key executive body of the republic, responsible for internal and external affairs (established 1793)
Included 12 members elected for one month by the National Convention
Robespierre replaced Danton in the Committee on 27 July 1793
Abolished in 1795 after the fall of Robespierre.
1792 the story so far
the whole nation was bitterly divided over the issue of the church, and thousands of priests had been labelled as ‘refractory clergy’
the King’s reputation was poisoned by suspicions of treason
the revolutionaries had polarised into those supporting a constitutional monarch and those preferring a republic
the republican movement increasingly associated with the Parisian popular movement, which aimed to depose the King and install a republic
when revolutionary fired on revolutionary, division was created in society
power shifted to new political figures - those who tried to protect the monarchy (e.g. Mirabeau, Lafayette) were discredited while radical politicians enjoyed increased support from the sans-culottes
Robespierre controlled the Jacobin Club and consolidated his popular support
foreign rulers reconsidered the revolution and concluded that the lives of the royal family were under threat.
