Week 26- The levée en masse and the coming of the Terror Flashcards
What was happening at the same time as the revolt in the Vendée and the Federalist Revolt?
France’s military situation continued to deteriorate.
The defeats increased the sense of fear and urgency among the Parisian sans-culottes.
They demanded that the people be given the opportunity to ‘rise up’ against their enemies.
What did the pressure from the sans-culottes lead to?
A decree for a levée en masse, proposed by the CPS on 23rd August 1793.
What did the decree for the levée en masse propose?
All men without immediate dependants were to give immediate military service.
Married men were to forge weapons and transport supplies.
Women were to make tents and serve in hospitals
etc.
How many men in arms did the French have?
They had over a million by 1794.
How did the Generals in the French army change?
Members of the National Convention made sure to replace ‘aristocratic’ generals with new, younger, non-noble commanders who were committed to the revolution.
17 generals were executed in 1793.
What happened to the structure of the army?
The distinction between the volunteers and regular troops disappeared.
The armies were sent on the offensive and the situation gradually improved.
Who ran the overall organisation of the armies?
Carnot
How did the position of the French troops improve?
On 15th - 16th, The Battle of Wattignies was won by Jourdon and Carnot.
Three Austrian regiments were destroyed.
They drove back invaders on the Alpine frontier.
Internal counter-revolutionary and federalist revolts were crushed in the Autumn.
By the end of the year, all foreign invaders were forced back.
How did the fall of the Girondins impact the National Convention?
The ‘moderate’ faction in the National Convention collapsed.
This meant the Montagnards were free to dominate government.
What was the role of the CPS?
They were private (and therefore secretive).
They came to dominate government between September 1793 and July 1794.
They could suspend measures if they seemed contrary to national interest.
They assumed authority over the Committee of General Security.
What was the aim of the CPS?
To destroy all counter-revolutionaries and win the war.
Their ruthless campaign brought the ‘Terror’ to France.
When was Marat murdered?
13th July 1793.
He was killed by Girondin, Charlotte Corday.
What was the impact of Marat’s murder?
The sans-culottes demanded that all ‘suspects’ be arrested.
Their demands for action posed a real threat to the authority of the CPS and the Convention.
When did the sans-culottes march on the Convention after the murder of Marat?
5th September 1793.
They demanded lower bread prices and higher wages.
What pieces of legislation were caused by sans-culotte action?
9th September- Establishment of the armées révolutionnaries
17th September- Law of Suspects passed
29th September- The New Law of the General Maximum
