Overthrow of the Monarchy 1792 Flashcards
Pillnitz Declaration
4
August 1791
Austria & Prussia threatened military action in support of the King.
Assembly was wary of emigre troops under the control of Louis’ brother on the north-eastern frontier.
France declared war on Austria
King v Assembly
The Assembly saw refractory clergy and the emigres as counter-revolutionary threats and passed 2 laws - one that made not swearing the Clerical Oath a crime, the other demanded confiscation of all emigres property. Louis vetoed both & dismissed leading Girondins from his government, making him more unpopular.
Early defeat in the Revolutionary War
Began badly. Almost half of the French army had become emigres, and the remaining troops were demoralised, soon retreating. This led to mistrust o the King and calls for more revolutionary measures to defeat the enemy
Sans-culottes
Sans-culottes (common people of the lower classes, often radical) dominated the Paris Commune.
Wanted more extreme measures than assembly deputies, such as widening of the vote. Food shortages in 1792 made them more militant
Overthrow of the Monarchy
10 August 1792
In June thousands of sans-culottes occupied the Royal Palace, the Tuileries, and forced Louis to wear the Red Cap of Liberty.
Brunswick Manifesto - Prussia threatened to destroy Paris if Louis was harmed. This identified Louis with the enemy.
On 10 August 1792 the Tuileries was attacked. Louis was imprisoned and the monarchy suspended. The deputies had to agree to a new election (universal suffrage) of a National Convention.
September Massacres
September 1792
Revolutionary War was still going badly, and General Lafayette defected to the Austrians.
Commune ordered the arrest of many suspected counter-revolutionaries. Rumours spread that they planned to escape and surrender Paris to Prussia. Marat & other radicalists called for them to be killed.
When the news of the fall of Verdun reached Paris the prisons were broken into & 1,300 prisoners murdered.
The revolution had become more violent
