The September Massacres Flashcards
why was there the September Massacres?
25 August there was news that Longwy in Lorraine had fallen to the enemy 2 days earlier and on 1 September Verdun was under siege it was suggested to the Assembly that the Duke of Brunswick would reach Paris in two weeks
there was a royalist rising in the Vendee in which 200 were killed in a conflict between Vendeans and the Patriots. Danton stepped forward to reduce the panic:
30 August: He authorised house-searched for weapons hidden by the ‘ill-disposed’. over the next few days, all houses were searched and 3000 were taken to prison
30 August: He authorised house-searched for weapons hidden by the ‘ill-disposed’. over the next few days, all houses were searched and 3000 were taken to prison
what happened
- the proximity of the enemy, armies, rumours of aristocratic plots, and the fear that there were traitors in Paris who might massacre the patriots’ families while their menfolk went to war, created an explosive atmosphere. the sounding of the tocsin unleashed 5 days of frenzied killing as between 1000 and 1500 prisoners in the Parisian goals were massacred in an orgy of blood-letting
- the first attacks led to federes on the afternoon of 2 September where refractory priests were taken to or held in prison. massacres spread to include political prisoners and ordinary criminals as well as monks, nuns and priests
- mostly spontaneous and doubtless encouraged by PC, NG and Marat who said traitors should be put to the sword
- fears of abroad of the dangers of popular Revolution were confirmed, the G blamed the J for inciting violent behaviour
- power of NA and authorities was shown to be weak while radical leaders became popular
