THE TERROR 1793-1794 Flashcards
how was the terror justified from 1793-1794
- as a NECESSARY mechanism used to eradicate foreign and internal threats, allowing the republic to be one and indivisible, and pursue original revolutionary aims
how did the war drive the terror in SPRING (march-may 1793)(6)
MARCH:
- Austrians defeat the French at the Battle of Neerwinden - 18th March
- Spain declares war on France
- first conscription policy released of 300,000 men (levee on masse) - issued in Feb, starts in March - TRIGGERS VENDEE REBELLION
- France is threatened with invasion by Spain, Prussia, Britain, Portugal etc in the establishment of the First Coalition in early 1793
APRIL 1st - defection of Doumouriez (girondin) to the Austrians
- accelerates internal paranoia and bitterness against the Girondin - entertains ideas of only one political party and a lack of pluralism
- tarnishes the credibility of the Girondins to support the revolution
MAY:
- besieging of the French at Valenciennes - internal embarrassment
*in August of 1792, Lafayette defected to the Austrians and the Prussians take Longwy
give some of the main organs of terror and when they were established (4)
- Revolutionary Tribunals - established on March 10th 1793
- Committee of Public Safety - established on 6th April – 12 man committee
- Representatives on Mission - established in March 1793
- Committee of General Security - October 1792 - decreased from 30 deputies to 12
how did the fear of counter-revolution drive the terror in spring 1793, with examples (5)
- 82 Representatives on Mission were appointed in March 1793 to maintain loyalty and discipline
- rising in the Vendee region in March (10th-16th) 1793 against the Biens Nationaux and March 1793 conscription of 300,000 men, which causes violence, and the convention order 30,000 men to offset this violence
- revolutionary tribunals are established on March 10th 1793 – consists of 5 judges appointed by the Convention, of which 3/5 are needed to pass a sentence
- March - introduction of ‘Watch Committees’ to look for suspicious activity and issue a declaration of “Civic Virtue” to force internal discipline
- March 19th - the Convention passes a law declaring that rebels bearing arms could be executed without appeal in 24 hours - increasing reliance on violence and death
significance of the Vendee uprising in march 1793
- displayed an internal anger to government policies
- amplified the regional divide in France, and highlighted that there was still monarchist sentiment despite all members of the National Convention finding the King guilty (14th March = Catholic and Royal army of the Vendee is established)
- forced the National Convention to zoom into and scrutinise the internal situation in France, leading to the establishment of vital terror organs (ie Representatives on Mission and the Revolutionary tribunal)
- normalised the use of violence by counter-revolutionaries
describe the purge of the Girondins from the 31st May - 2nd June 1793
14th May - Girondins attempt to indict Marat for attempted violent insurrection, which is not supported by revolutionary tribunals - acquit
26th May - Rob calls for an insurrection against corrupt deputies (ie girondin - as this gives him more political kudos and he aligns himself with Sans Culottes / radicals)
*Isnard claims during this period, that if Girondins are harmed, Paris will be burned, which mirrors the Brunswick Manifesto of 25th July 1792
2nd June - between 80,000 and 100,000 sans-culottes and National Guardsmen surround the convention to force Girondins to be expelled, and to have maximum prices on all foods (which Girondins opposed because of a belief in free market etc)
OUTCOME:
- 29 Girondin deputies are expelled from the Convention and placed on house arrest - forced to support Robespierre
- the Montagnards now dominate the convention
- accelerates the power of the Sans Culottes as they realise how powerful they can be
how did economic problems drive the terror in spring 1793 (2)
- the value of the assignats declined further, leading to shortage of grain and flour – shortages lead to extreme hoarding — inflation occurs, as food prices increase by 90%
— the Convention is forced to appoint 82 Representatives on Mission on March 10th to deal with these threats - on the 3rd May, 8000 Sans Culottes surround the Convention and demand price controls on bread which led to price controls
—– May 4th 1793 - introduction of the first law of maximum (under pressure from the sans culottes) which introduced fixed grain prices
- example of radical economic measures being introduced to prevent hoarding
- political alignment between Jacobins and Sans Culottes
how did the ambition and rivalry of politicians drive the terror in spring 1793 (6)
- the Duke of Orleans is arrested on April 6th
- the National Convention (especially girondins) vote to impeach Marat, claiming he called for violent insurrection – April 14th
—– the Revolutionary Tribunal acquit Marat (3/5 judges decide of his innocence) – April 24th
- this leaves the Sans Culottes happy
- the Girondins are presented as enemies of liberty - May 18th - Girondins establish the Commission of 12 to investigate anti-government activity - want to reinstall credibility — the commission is abolished on May 26th by Jacobins
- May 24th - Hebert is arrested by the Commission of 12 - released by pressure from the sans culottes
- establishment of the CPS on the 6th April 1793 – 12 men commission who work in secret, and have power over budgeting (around 100,000 livres a year)
significance of political rivalry in accelerating the terror
- such differences in values between the Montagnards and the Girondins accelerates divisions and polarizes France
- each party becomes more willing to rely on violence to further their point and expand their power
- this also decreases freedom of expression
differences in values between the Girondins and the Montagnards
Girondins:
- disapprove of centralised parisian power — federalist approach to government
- suspicious of the Sans Culottes because they feared they would curb liberty
- belief in a more moderate system of government
- wanted the king to be extradited
Montagnards:
- emphasis on Parisian views and power
- centralised government
- full support of a republic
- aligned themselves with the Sans Culottes
- belief in radicalism
- supported the execution of the king
how did war drive the terror in the summer of 1793 (summer = June - September)
wins = 3
losses = 4
WAR:
1. 27th August = the British were let into Toulon and now occupy coastal and key trading posts in France
— leads to the execution of 17 generals
- 23rd August = Barere passes a Levee on Masse for conscription, forcing all men between 18-25 to serve in the French war effort
- French army victory at Pirmasens on September 14th 1793
- the French seige Dunkirk and destroy 3 million Austrian regiments in September 1793
- French victory at Hoondschoote between the 6th and 8th of September 1793
- austro-prussian army surround French at Landau in August 1793
- French are defeated at the Battle of Trouillss in september 1793
*all of the above entrenched the power of the CPS and displayed their directive abilities to bring success to France
KEY french military successes from September 1792- spring 1793
- the November 1792 edict of fraternity allows the French to take Brussels, Antwerp and Ostend
- French win at Valmy under Dourmoriez
- Custine takes Worms, Mainz and Frankfurt
describe the 23rd August 1793 levee on masse, it terms and its significance
DESCRIPTION:
- the levee was used to further the French military situation and improve its efficiency
- in October 1793, war factories are opened in gunpowder and steel manufacturing
- training centres were opened for 800 students in Meudon
- by 1794, there were 1 million men packing arms, and 14 armies which were well supplied - intensification of discipline and loyalty within the army
- purity was also installed within the army, with the execution of 17 generals in 1793 (including Custine and Houchard - who made significant military gains in 1792), and reform of the army by Jourdan, Hoche and Pichegru to improve the war situation
- it was an attempt to remove elements of old regime army - ie eradicating 17 generals in 1793 to remove rraces
TERMS:
- all men are forced to give immediate military service
- women were employed in hospitals, men in making weapons and transport
- children were forced to make lint
- elderly were used to induce excitement / patriotism among soliders
SIGNIFICANCE:
- creates a war economy
- aimed to introduce productivity into the war
- created a dominant and unified french military effort, which would be more efficient, and therefore create internal, domestic unity and quash rebellions and acts of ‘civil war’
- allowed for a more successful french army - war successes start from around October 173
- military defeat became a crime
how did economic problems drive the terror in summer 1793 and describe the events (2)
- 5th September Journee
- Sans Culottes march on the Convention and demand:
– lower bread prices
– higher wages
– attacking of grain hoarders
– attack those who oppress the people
- 29th September - introduction of the 2nd Law of Maximum which places maximum prices on flour and oil
- further political alignment by the Jacobins with the Sans Culottes
- prices = 1790 price + 1/3
what KEY event occurs on the 5th September 1793
- terror becomes ‘ORDER OF THE DAY’
- the number of members of the CPS increases from 9-12 with the addition of Sans Culottes
(billaud-varenne and d’herbois)
key figures in the Terror from 1793-1794
- Danton
- Desmoulins
- Robespierre
- Marat
describe, give stats and explain the significance of the Federalist Revolts
DESCRIPTION:
- a series of revolts against radical Parisian revolutionaries, which were termed by the Jacobins as revolts (to be a piece of propaganda) to present such movements as anti-revolutionary
- on the 29th May, Jacobin leaders were forced out of these anti-revolutionary hotspots
- key example of reliance on the representatives on mission to enforce law and order
STATS / NAMES:
1. Lyons - unemployment of silk workers - mass unemployment at 50%
- conducted mass executions of 2000 people under FOUCHE (NAPOLEON MINISTER OF POLICE****)
2. Bordeaux
3. Marseille
4. Nantes region of the Vendee
- 50% of the population was slaughtered
- 2000-5000 people died in widespread slaughter and drownings under TURREAU
- army of 100,000 used by National Convention on the 6th September, after the Convention decreed a destruction of the Vendee
– 60/83 departments were in civil unrest - 8 in serious unrest
– representatives
- TOULON
- Toulon appeals to help from the First Coalition and supported a monarchy
- Convention hurridly sends a seige to the city to combat British presence, given that over 1/3 (26) of the French Navy was there - Nap takes in Dec 1793
SIGNIFICANCE:
- displayed widespread discontent and divisions in France, beyond local areas - much more amplified and contagious anti-government sentiment
- displayed the lack of overarching power of the government
- how foreign success would not distract from a desperate internal economy
- displays the level of polarization and lack of cohesion in French society, and the discontent at the purge of the Girondins - their support and how the republic was now divisible because of different political orientations
why did Robespierre decide to purge the Girondin deputies from the 31st May - 2nd June 1793
- they opposed the execution of the King, instead supporting extradition
- supported a structure of federalism, which contradicts the wants of the sans culottes and jacobins who want more centralised power
- deemed as counter-revolutionaries (due to Dumouriez and the attempted indictment of Marat)
- hostile to price controls - they thought this would violate liberty and the free economy
- Marat’s newspaper - I’ami du People publishes that the Girondins only represent rich businessmen
how did political rivalry drive the terror in summer 1793 (4)
- Roux and the Enrages advocate for fixed grain prices (ie 29th September - 2nd law of maximum) and work with the Jacobins, and actively speak out against the Girondins - all going against the girondins - PRESSURE BY ENRAGES
- purge of the Girondins in May/June 1793 - sole power of the Jacobins / Sans Culottes and centralisation of power and creates a lack of political pluralism
- 13th July - murder of Marat by Charlotte Corday (Girondin supporter) – tarnishes the Girondin power and presents martyr of the revolution and justifies the purge of the Girondins
- 24th June 1793 = Jacobin constitution - 1million votes for and 11,000 votes against
- attempting to more heavily align themselves with ORIGINAL revolutionary values and legitimise violence used against people who were not upholding their duty in SOCIETY
- declared that society was more important than the individual
- reinforced the duty of individuals in society
- HOWEVER, it was never implemented - on the 27th July, Robespierre joined the CPS - attempting to exercise more centralised control
how did a fear of counter revolution drive the terror in summer 1793 (2)
- vendee uprising in march continues into the federalist revolts of the summer - in areas including Lyons, Marseille, Bordeaux etc - created a cycle of different departments expressing their opposition to the government, which increases revolutionary division – legitimised violence
- purge of the girondins of may/june 1793 - fearful that the revolution would become less radicalised, and they branded the girondins as the enemies of liberty – felt that any more power to the Girondins would erode liberty, threaten the momentum of the revolution and would inhibit the priorities of the Jacobins
give some of the terms of the jacobin constitution of june 1793 (3)
- all men (including foreigners) had the right to vote
- freedom of expression on political matters
- duty of the state to provide for the public - establish more credibility
examples of an improving war situation from september - december 1793, and their dates (external and internal war)
5 for external and 2 for internal
external:
- French victory at the Battle of Hondschoote in September 1793
- the Seige of Dunkirk is lifted in September 1793 by the British and Austrians
- French victory at Wattignies in 15th - 16th October 1793
- Napoleon drives the British out of Toulon - idea of their biggest enemy being driven out, installs confidence and pride
- the French defeat austrian rebels at Wörth in December 1793
internal:
1. French army of 18,000 win at the Battle of Savenay against the Catholic army of 6000 in the Vendee region (le mans) in December
2. defeat of rebels in the Vendee at Cholet
name the 2 sans culottes members added to the convention
- Billaud-Varennes
- d’Herbois
(note that Rob was added on 27th July 1793)
what is the IMPACT / significance of an improving war situation
- justification for the terror decreases, because external paranoia has calmed down
- cannot justify internal discipline due to external threats
- installed faith and confidence in the people - feel less needed to rebel against the government - they feel more comforted and may trust the government more
how did economic problems accelerate the terror in autumn 1793 (1)
- the Enrages under Roux pressure the Jacobins to implement the Second / General law of maximum, given that there were now no Girondins to oppose the introduction of the law
- it would impose a fixed price on oil, grain, flour and meat
- introduced on the 29th September
- prices failed, and were equivalent to prices of 1790+1/3 - demonstrating an inability to halt the financial situation
- encouraged the hoarding of farmers
- value of the assignat further declined - more widespread economic discontent which creates an economic terror
how did the fear of counter-revolution drive the terror in autumn 1793, and provide the date / relevant stats
- introduction of revolutionary armies on the 9th September
- key example of the Jacobins using the sans-culottes to check for counter-revolutionary behaviour and prevent hoarding of grain
- there were over 40,000 in the army, they were used in 2/3 of departments
- installed constant checks over the french nation - discipline - 17th september 1793 = introduction of the LAW OF SUSPECTS
- increasing reliance on revolutionary tribunals, given they were elected by government
- march to sept 1793 = 260 cases
- september-dec = 500,000 cases
- 180 people guillotined, just in paris in 3 months, 66 3 months before sept - death of marie antoinette - 16th October 1793
- complete removal and disassociation of the republic from the monarchy - no overarching hints of the monarchy allows for a free society, and gives credit to the government
- tried for intelligence with the enemy etc - introduction of de-christianisation campaigns
- attempted to remove any form of religious symbols and names to disassociate france from its old regime - attempt to introduce excitement in the revolution by creating a new religion which was not based on a monarchy
describe the law of suspects
- was a law passed by the convention which increased the scope for what the definition of a suspect was
- included individuals such as hoarders, nobles, relatives of emigres etc
- french people were forced to need to be actively contributing to the revolution
- increases internal paranoia and fear because anyone is a suspect and automatically guillotined
- no ability to appeal - eroding original revolutionary values of ethical law and order
- watch committees would make lists of suspects and present them to the CGS
when did the terror shift from being an ORGANIC TERROR to being an ANARCHIC TERROR
- from the introduction of the law of suspects on the 17th september 1793
THIS IS BECAUSE…
- the terror became more chaotic and less strategic
- paranoia was induced within citizens themselves
- the CPS was sponsoring these bills and was expanding the powers of the key institutions of the terror (including tribunals, armies etc)
describe the dechristianisation campaigns of the terror from late 1793 and give examples of such campaigns (4)
21st October 1793 - hebertists encourage for all 20,000 non-juring priests to be killed on the spot - complete eradication of any form of religious association - religious toleration
OCTOBER 1793 - introduction of a new non-religious calendar dated from September 1792 - republic
NOVEMBER 1793 - start of the festival of reason and the temple of reason in the notre dame by removing all religious symbols and looting churches
NOVEMBER 1789 - biens nationaux and nationalisation of church lands
- continued in 1793 through taking the money of the church to ‘free society’
- complete destruction of any icon of religious intent (ie figures on the front of the notre dame)
- 6000 clerics in paris pre-revolution, in 1793 there were only 300
how did the ambition of politicians accelerate the terror in autumn of 1793 (3)
- on September 5th, d’herbois and Billaud-Varennes were added to the CPS (they were sans culottes members) - this amplified the power of the sans culottes and further centralised power of more left wing groups
- 10th October 1793
- creation of an emergency government to respond to war and federalist revolts
- revolutionary laws were to be implemented quickly - contributed to a more anarchic terror - October 24th - 31st October - the 21 expelled Girondin leaders were put on trial and were killed
- November 1793 - killing of Madame Roland and phillip egalite (8th and 6th November) - idea of eradicating those with significant political influence
what did the 10th October 1793 emergency government declare
- the CPS would now control the convention
- before, on the surface, the CPS and convention were separated institutions, with no political overlap, but now they were conflicted with one another, displaying the expansive power of the CPS, and their overarching political control
- the speech given on the 10th october further expanded the power of the watch committees, revolutionary armies and powers of the CGS
- it encouraged the representatives on mission to pursue revolutionary justice and would justify any violence used against ordinary members of the public
- the declaration was a democratic way to increase power of the CPS
how were uprisings and the federalist revolts dealt with in Vendee, Toulon and Lyons (stats for each place)
VENDEE:
- 2000 were drowned and shot from nov 1793 to jan 1794
- 7800 were guillotined in a 2 month period from nov 1793 to jan 1794
- Carrier was the representative on mission)
TOULON:
- Barras and Freron killed 700-800 prisoners, as they were the representatives in these areas
-in Toulon, in order to restore gov power from the British, 750 prisoners were shot
LYONS:
- federalist revolts stopped in october 1793
- by 1794, 2000 people were killed in Lyons
- in December 1793, 935 prisoners are shot with cannonballs in Lyons under Fouche
in what was was the terror anarchic from the law of suspects on the 17th september
- the government relied too heavily on key terror institutions, leading to a centralised, ‘official’ terror in Paris, a violent terror in vendee and uprising areas, and the use of terror through reps on mission and watch committees all over france to install paranoia and constant control
- the creation of an emergency government massively expanded government power and justified their control
- execution of revolutionary laws extremely quickly - desperate to maintain order
- more provisions which increases the number of executions - chaotic law and order
- creates internal paranoia among citizens
what were the assignat
- a bond which would show faith to the revolution, in return giving those who purchased it church lands - symbol of loyalty and faith in the revolution
war successes in december 1793 (5)
- December 1793 - Napoleon retakes Toulon from the British
- Carnot leads the French to defeat the Austrians at Alsace
- December 1793 = the British withdraw from Dunkirk
- December 1793 - the French force the Austrian’s to withdraw in the Thine region
- December 1793 - the Weissenburg lines are taken
describe the law of Frimaire II of 4th december 1793
- declares that the CPS is the only impulse of government, which centralised the power of the CPS
(CPS would have power over representatives on mission, ministers, generals etc) - power is revoked from the sans culottes back to the CPS
- national agents are used to replace revolutionary armies (9th sept) and representatives on mission were recalled back to paris
- the law was used to recontrol and recentralise the terror back to paris and create a more ordered system of government due to too many conflicting bodies emerging
- the sans culottes were now alienated and their influence curbed, because the jacobins and CPS wanted to control the direction of the revolution themselves
give 2 key figures in making the levee on masse on the 23rd August 1793, aside from Barere
- Saint-Just
- Carnot
french war successes from may - june 1794 (3)
- 26th June 1794 - french success at fleurus
- June 1794 - the french take Ypres under Pichegru
- May 1794 - the french have success at Tourcoing
- july 1794 - the french take brussels and antwerp and the austrian netherlands surrender
how did economic problems drive the terror from december 1793 to july 1794 (3)
- the indulgents under danton and desmoulins argue for the moderation of the revolution and its economic policies - argued for a moderation of price controls
- inflation rates still remained high, and the assignat were still depreciating in their value - consistent economic discontent
- in July 1794, a maximum wage was imposed and bread prices continued to increase
how did a fear of counter revolution drive the terror from december 1793 to july 1794 and give the dates for these events (4)
- introduction of the law of 14 Frimaire on the 4th December 1793
- establishment of national agents who were used to promote pure revolutionary ideas on the 4th December
- introduction of the law of ventôse on the 26th feb which would take the land of counter-revolutionaries and promise old church land to patriots
- over 1000 people were killed from march to june 1794 in an attempt for the government to remove corruption and install purity
how did political rivalry increase the terror from December 1793 - July 1794, with dates and statistics (6)
- 8th June 1794 - introduction of the cult of supreme being at the festival of supreme being, which advocated for republican virtue
- June 1794 - Robespierre gives a speech advocating for republican virtue, which gains significant traction among supporters and drowns out opposition by creating unity
- Law of 22 Prairal - convictions were made easier by simplifying the judicial process and eliminating potential enemies
- May 1794 - closure of provincial revolutionary tribunals, which were originally established on the 10th march 1793
- establishment of the GREAT TERROR
- 26th July 1794 - Robespierre gives a speech claiming to be rid of any impurities because people were conspiring against liberties
list the various political groups who were defeated in 1794, and the values they advocated for
- INDULGENTS:
- a more moderate faction who felt the terror needed to be toned down
- they wanted a return and re-focus on revolutionary values
- wanted a moderation of economic values and price controls
- they were branded as greedy supporters of the old regime
- wanted more leniency and less tyranny
- also refused to accept a republic of virtue - HEBERTISTS:
- wanted a decentralisation of power of Robespierre
- wanted a return to more political pluralism and not a dictatorship
- felt the terror needed to be reigned in
- refused to accept Robespierre’s attempts at selling virtue
- they were branded as monarchists and foreign agents
- they contested the power of the sans culottes
describe the crush of the indulgents
- danton and desmoulins were accused of corruption and money laundering
- were accused of launching a foreign plot against the revolution
- they were deemed to be corrupt individuals with an excess of wealth
- 5th April 1794 - the Danton and Desmoulins are killed with 13 others
describe the crush of the hebertists and its significance
- were guillotined on the basis of being foreign agents who supported the reinstatement of the monarchy on the 24th march 1794 with 18 others
- arrested on the 13th march 1794
significance:
- paris was not outraged at this level of violence when eradicating a political group - this induced a level of political stability
- it set a precedent of crushing the opposition and was not justified
who were the 3 main figures of the CPS
- Robespierre
- Saint Just
- Couthon
what post did Danton hold before being executed
- minister for justice - idea of extreme revolutionary loyalty
give statistics of the GREAT TERROR (4) and how it started
- over 85% of those executed were members of the third estate - original revolutionaries are now turning against the revolution, 40% of the bourgeoisie were accused of not being enthusiastic for the revolution - class based terror
- only 270 people were acquitted, compared to 1200 being killed
- 300-400 people were killed per day from june - july 1794
origins:
- the law of 22 prairial decreased the threshold for what was an enemy of the revolution, and expanded the definition of a suspect
describe the law of 22 prarial and its impact
- established on the 10th June 1794
- the government was able to prosecute people with not enough revolutionary excitement / enemies of the revolution
- allowed for faster trials, with no witnesses / evidence and death as the only punishment
- allowed for citizen involvement in the judicial process - increases foreign paranoia and induces fear
- over 1500 people were executed due to the law
- it removed politician immunity from prosecution - induce political fear
IMPACT:
- eradicated the potential for having a fair trial
- turns civilians against one another and increased paranoia
- however, it does amplify the voice that robespierre is becoming tyrannical
- lower reliance on revolutionary tribunals, justice was not administered properly
describe the cult of supreme being and the motivations for establishing it
KEY WORDS:
- deistic
- an established religion under Robespierre to promote civic unity and to distance france from a purely atheist approach
- aimed to promote deitism and the principle of vitrtue, not a complete eradication of a god
- believed that the sans culottes had gone too far in completely removing any form of religious association and imagery, and wanted to bring back this imagery in order to re-unite france
- robespierre was placed at the centre of religion and was incorruptible, but this presented him as despotic
- aimed to promote patriotism in the revolution - the extravagant ceremonies would distract from discontent at the terror
when was the Coup of Thermidor
27th-28th June 1794
describe the downfall of Robespierre using dates
26th July - robespierre addresses the convention after being absent for weeks and having no input in the convention
- later on the 27th July, Saint-Just makes a speech listing the enemies of the revolution, during which Taillion interrupts and attacks Rob as conspiring against the revolution - similar to a speech he made in march 1794 in which he declares the indulgents and hebertists to be enemies
- the convention chants ‘down with the tyrant’ and rob is arrested, along with Saint Just
28th July - Robespierre is executed after a failed suicide attempt
describe opposition to Robespierre toward the end of the terror (in detail)
- catholics
- sc
- CPS and CGS
- division of the CPS
- catholics
- the cult of supreme being neglects the pope and catholic values
- sidelines a sector of the population
- rob presenting himself as a godly figure at the centre of religion sparks their thought that he is despotic - sans culottes
- rob ordered for the execution of hebertists (aligned with sans culottes)
- wages fell by 50% in paris, causing discontent, and a realisation that there was a lack of political change
- bread prices were rising again due to the 2nd law of maximum
= 23rd july = introduction of a maximum wage - division of the CPS
- there were divisions between saint-just and carnot (who drafted the levee on masse) over the battle of fleureus
- members of the convention were concerned over the increasing radicalism of the revolution and number of executions - CPS and CGS
- the CPS set up a police bureau in april 1794, which increased the power of robespierre and violated the power of the CGS
- the CGS (established in october 1792) disliked this and the CGS and CPS fought
- Billaud- Varenne and Collot disliked rob
- the CGS disliked the increasing emphasis placed on the cult of supreme being and the promotion of religion again
- they were irritated that the CGS was not consulted over the introduction of the law of 22 prarial
*the lack of external war, given that enemies were driven off french soil, allowed for more scrutiny on the government and present situation, further allowing people to realise how rob was despotic.
impact of the vendee uprisings and federalist revolts
- created a sense of urgency among the sans culottes
- exemplified the stark divides between and within french society - encouraged royalists to be more outspoken
- the sans culottes then pressurised the government (saint just and carnot) to legislate the levee on masse so people could rise up against their enemies (ie those participating in such events)
how did the war accelerate the terror in winter 1793
- Austro-Prussian army push the french onto the river Rhine in October
- republican supporters recapture marseilles in October
- NOVEMBER = French are defeated by prussian’s in the Rhineland
how did the CPS have expansive executive power
- lack of accountability by other political groups allows someone like Rob to dominate government
- was responsible for supervising different government bodies - including representatives on mission etc
- it had the power to suspend orders if they did not think they were in national interest
- had power over the committee of general security
- members of the CPS did not change once a month as intended, leading to an entrenchment of power of Couthon, Carnot, Rob and Saint-Just
- power over financing using the convention
motivations behind the purge of the girondins in 1793
- need to remove the moderate element of the revolution
- support from the 48 parisian sections and sans culottes would be needed to radicalise the revolution
analysis of the terror
- idea of justification through external war and paranoia
- idea of discipline
- installation of internal fear
- dissolution of early revolutionary ideals
- using the fear of counter-revolution bringing fear etc
describe dechristianisation campaigns
- dechristianisation was declared an official policy in october 1793 and any religious imagery was removed to completely disassociate the revolution from its monarchist origins
when did Gobel resign as Archbishop
- 7th November
- resigned for his post in order to protect the revolution and the values it supported
describe the divisions from the leaders of the terror over the dechristianisation campaigns
- robespierre - felt that excessive attempts to impose dechristianisation campaigns would earn the revolution more enemies
- however, rob felt that faith and a sense of religion could impose law and order
- more left leaning politicians, including hebert wanted to complete dechristianisation (secularisation)
when were revolutionary armies disbanded
March 1794
impact of the execution of the indulgents and hebertists
- growing political splits, as many members of the convention advocated for a moderation and reduction in the terror, yet they feared speaking out
- the expansive power of rob, couthon and saint just grew, which alienated the sans culottes in the CPS and more right wing figures (moderates)
- rob uses this power to launch massive de-corruption campaigns, in which 1000 are guillotined between march and june 1794
what happened on the 7th may 1794
- rob introduces the idea of a ‘supreme being’ and virtue to reform state religion
- it established a festival of supreme being, which supported a deist approach to religion to make the revolution more inclusive
- was also used as an excuse to reinstall patriotism - and flags to reinvigorate the nation to support republicanism and its ideals
- establishment of the idea of virtue
- ROB APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF THE CONVENTION
what were the motivations behind the law of 22 prarial
- to protect the radical revolutionaries - people including d’Herbois and Rob had attempted assassinations on the 23rd and 25th May - JUSTIFIED TO PROTECT THE REVOLUTION AND ITS MOMENTUM
- wanted to recentralise the terror - on the 8th may 1794, provincial revolutionary tribunals were shut down - forces prisoners to go to paris
when was a maximum wage introduced in 1794 which angered the sans culottes
23rd july 1794
describe the coup of thermidor 26-27th july 1794
- Rob takes a break from the convention, returning on the 28th July
- Rob accuses the CGS of conspiring against public liberty
- he maintained the idea that france needed to be removed of impurities in order to maximise french patriotism
- saint just later gives a speech - him, rob and le bas are arrested
- rob and those he arrested were released by parisians, but then they were re-arrested
- on the 28th July, Rob and 22 others were all guillotined
- 71 members of the commune were later arrested
