The origins and impact of war

Question 1

declaration of pillnitz

Answer 1

• 27th august
• austrian emperor leopold II and William III of prussia issued the declaration of Pillnitz
• Stated that the powers of the french crown should be restored and that they were ready to use force to bring about the restoration of royal power
• Added to the mistrust of the monarchy

Question 2

emigres

Answer 2

• Threat imposed by noble emigres who were building up private armies in austria and rhineland states awaiting their chance to return
• By 1791 60% of pre revolutionary army officers were emigres

Question 3

The legislative assembly

Answer 3

• first met on 1st october 1791
• 9 november - decree against emigres, threatening the seizure of their property unless they returned to france before 1st january 1792
• 29th november - decree demanded that refractory priests take the oath or be treated as traitors
• Louis used his suspensory veto against both these decrees
• Assembly was concerned that prussia and austria were supporting the emigres and stirring up counter revolution within france

Question 4

when does the king agree to the new Constitution

Answer 4

13 September

Question 5

in favour of war

Answer 5

• Brissot and the girondins argued in favour of the war
• Claimed war would be easily won
• Royal family also favoured war as louis was in secret correspondence with his brothers and their emigres and marie antoinette was writing to her brother leopold, seeking armed intervention to bring about the restoration of louis powers
• Louis appointed pro war girondin ministers in an attempt to please the assembly

Question 6

short term

Answer 6

• February 1792 austria and prussia made a formal alliance where prussia promised 20,000 men in support against france (first coalition)
• Leopold died on the 1st march and his successor francis II did not respond to french demands so the french declared war on austria on 20th April 1792

Question 7

why were Predictions of an easy war were easily disproved

Answer 7

• French army although bigger was divided
• Blues were largely the national guard who did not trust the whites from the old royal army
• Also did not trust commanders like lafayettes as his reputation had been damaged by the champ de mars in 1791
• 28th april setback at like where the french troops retreated on the sight of the enemy and massacred the town officers who they unfairly accused of treason

Question 8

assembly vs louis

Answer 8

• 27 may assembly vote the deportation of refractory forest
• 29 may assembly order the disbanding of the kings guards who were celebrating military setbacks
• 8 June assembly passed a decree to set up a federal camp of 20,00 volunteer soldiers
• Louis used his veto against them all
• When trying to plead with him louis dismisses his pro war minster on 13th june

Question 9

20th June journee

Answer 9

• sans culottes storm the tuileries and force the king to wear the bonnet rouge and toast to the nation

Question 10

lafayette and Dumouries

Answer 10

• Lafayette was accused of planning a counter revolution
• Dumouriez appointed as minister of war after 13th June when lafayette resigned and defected

Question 11

impact of the revolutionary wars

Answer 11

• french revolution becomes radicalised
• consolidation of jacobin power
• end of monarchy and the storming of the tuileries palace
• levee on Masses (1793)

Question 12

Elections leading to the national convention

Answer 12

• Massacres on 2nd september considered with the 2nd stage of the elections of the national convention
• All adult males given the vote for the 1st time

Question 13

results of elections for national convention

Answer 13

• In paris none of the girondin ministers were elected
• Due to their hostility towards the commune and sans culottes
• Robespierre was the first choice, marat, danton & desmoulins were also chosen
• Voter turnout was low and widening the electorate had little impact
• Outside paris the electorate had returned the same sort of men the active citizens had chosen in 1791

Question 14

the rest

Answer 14

• Unaffiliated deputes were the plain who occupied the seats in the centre
• On the 20th september the new convention opens and the french army won a victory against the austro prussian forces at valmy

Question 15

Brunswick deceleration

Answer 15

• issued on the 25th July
• allied powers Austria and Prussia threaten Paris
• reaches Paris by 1 August