Military

The intensification of the war with the crowned heads of Europe of the First Coalition - Causes a second Revolution and the fall of the monarchy on 10 August.
The Constitution of 1791 is no longer valid and France must craft itself anew as a republic.

Uprising in the Vendee as a response to the Levee en Masse, tensions around the Constitution of the Clergy and Clerical Oath of 1790, and the failure of the revolution to impact the lives of ordinary peasants/workers by abolishing feudalism. Execution of the King also angers the conservative people - Civil War erupts taking France's military resources and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. Levee on masse eventually causes the recruitment of over 750,000 soldiers to improve military situation.

Political - Journee of May-June 1793 and the forced expulsion of the Girondins from the Convention sparks the debate between how France should be governed - between the Federalists in Bordeaux, Lyons, Nantes, Toulon, and Marseille and the radical centralized government of Paris - Massive military force under Kellermann is sent accompanied by Representatives on Mission to quell the uprising brutally - contributes to military crisis.

Assassination of Father of the People - Jean-Paul Marat by Charlotte Corday - Creation of revolutionary martyrs and ideology behind vertu of loyal revolutionaries. Creates tensions and fears of traitors within Paris.

Economic:
The assignat is plummeting due to massive inflation - 36% of coinage by 1793 - on common goods. People are starving and demand the Convention establish a Law of Maximum on common goods to stop starvation and economic stagnation. National Convention's solution is to sell of the land of the emigre's after decreeing they return home - Rise of the Enrages under Roux and the formation of the armee revolutionairre.

Revolution is fighting for its life and giving no quarter - Danton remarks "let terror be the order of the day" to preserve the liberty of the people and the achievements of the Revolution.

Soon division spreads to include: National Convention, The Great Committees, those loyal to the revolution, and the terror against enemies: Vendee rebels, Federalist cities, the Girondins, Danton and his indulgents, the Enrages, and anyone else standing in the way of vertu.

This is why this is the most fascinating period of the revolution - albeit the darkest.

Robert Darnton Historiography: Greatest aspect of revolution is not violence but energy to implement a constant program to change the world anew. Argues psychological level of change is the most profound - everyone touched by the revolution in some way. Most powerfully felt in reorganization of time.

Reorganization of time: New calendar dating back to the overthrow of the monarchy in 1792, which became Year One. Months named after natural phenomenon - ie Germinus (when plants germinate), Brumaire (the foggy month), etc.. reflecting Rousseau's ideas that nature's beauty brings the good out in man

Creation of revolutionary martyrs to replace Catholic Saints.

Many achievements/Social Reforms:

Creation of a totally democratic Jacobin Constitution in 1793 which brings about universal suffrage - suspended in October 1793 in favor of emergency/provisional government and locked in a chest in the National Convention for a time when peace reigns again. within the constitution the people are the only source of sovereignty and are always right. The constitution is officially put on hold on 10 October 1793.

Principles of Liberty, equality, and property are still upheld as

The abolition of feudal dues once and for all on 17 June 1793

Sale of emigre/noble land lightens economic pressures from 3 June 1793 - common people can buy strips of property

Right to insurrection and rebellion is upheld - people can put pressure on government if their will is not being met - formal constitutional recognition of direct democracy.

Introduction of the metric system to standardize all forms of measurement.

Introduction of right for women to divorce from an unhappy marriage.

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Representatives on-mission - highest ranking members of the Convention who travelled to the provinces to oversee the military operations, particularly the conduct of the commanders - after Dumouriez France was suspicious of defection - had extraordinary powers - exercised brutal power in the Vendee.

The Committee of Public Safety - 6 April 1793 - Met in secret and was composed of 12 of the most trusted delegates from the assembly elected by universal suffrage - monitored traitors from within and issued orders to the Reps-OM - Robespierre was most influential member - Emergency measure that was renewed every month during wartime. Took charge economically and politically. Granted full executive powers by the law of Frimaire 4 December 1793. Disbanded under the Constitution of 1795 in Year III.

Committee of General Security - 2 October 1793 - Maintained internal security, pursued suspected counter revolutionaries, and supervised the treatment of suspects - controlled the surveillance and watch committees and sent suspects to the revolutionary tribunal.

Watch/Surveillance Committees - monitored citizens for counter revolutionary activity and issued certificates of civic vertu for loyal acts

2. What drastic news changed the role of the Revolutionary Army?

3. Why was the Revolutionary Army established (What was its role/purpose) and why was it disbanded?

4. What are Schama's views?

Law of Suspects was the first significant law and it allowed all suspected persons to be placed under arrest - those who were suspect were:

1. Those unable to justify their means of existence and the performance of their civic duties - Included hoarders, speculators, and those not excited about their national guard or military service.

2. Those who by their conduct, associations, talk, or writing have shown to be supporters of royal despotism, federalism, or enemies of liberty.

3. Those who have been refused certificates of revolutionary patriotism

4. Public officials suspended of dismissed from their dismissal by the National Convention.

5. Former nobles or their families in France who have not supported the revolution.

6. Those who have emigrated as a result of the revolution.

Local watch committees drew up lists of suspects, arrested them, and confiscated their papers - then passed lists on to the Committee of General Security, who sent prisoners to gaols/prisons to await sentencing - eventually over 80,000 prisoners in France. Thus suspects could be held in prison without committing any crimes - divided society between two fates - death or freedom at the hands of the Revolutionary Tribunal.

Followed by key decrees:

Decree of Revolutionary Government - 10 October 1793 - Suspended 1793 Constitution and declared Provisional Govt. Revolutionary army was created to suppress counter-revolution and a garrison established in every major town and city.

Committee of Public Safety would also measure the grain needs/production for each community and send the Revolutionary Army to requisition the required amount to solve economic crises.

The Decree of Revolutionary Government's Provisions were established in the Law of 14 Frimaire on 4 December 1793.

2. What happened?

3. Describe the ideology of liberty and vertu

4. What was the purpose of the DC campaign?

5. How did the attempt DC campaign change society - how was it still linked to religion?

6. What was the outcome?

2. What aspects/roles of the new government did the LoF legitimize/make clear?
List in bullet points:

3. Describe Schama's views and compare them with Doyle's on the ultimate purpose of the LoF- use quotes.

4. Describe Townson's views on the LoF.

5. Who opposed this law?

2. How were Danton's motives opposed to Robespierre's goals of creating a Republic of Virtue?

3. Why was R reluctant to move against Danton/What happened?

4. What was the significance according to Francois Furet?

2. What happened? Marie was sent to trial on 15 October, accused of a variety of crimes from conspiring with foreign powers to incest with her son. A spirited, imploring response to the latter accusation won her some degree of dignity; there was an "obvious wave of sympathy for her" in the courtroom (Hibbert, "The French Revolution", 1980). She was found guilty in the early hours of the morning of 16 October, and was executed later that day.

3. Describe the ideology of liberty and vertu. The idea of giving up your personal interests for the interests of the state at all times.

4. What was the purpose of the de-Christianisation campaign? To attempt to restructure the society from the very core and replace religion with ideals of reason and liberty. It wasn't simply about extinguishing Christianity--it was about totally eradicating it and muddying its memory.

5. How did the de-Christianisation campaign change society and how was it still linked to religion? Despite all the changes and upheavals that the de-Christianisation campaign created, traces of Christianity still lingered. For example, Marianne replaced the Virgin Mary, and religious holidays were removed and replaced with revolutionary holidays such as the Fete de la Federation.

6. What was the outcome? Churches and graveyards were destroyed, and non-juring priests continued to be persecuted. Much of the population was alienated, and riots broke out, demonstrating for the reinstatement of priests and holy days.

The Indulgents represent a moderate government , his ideologies are to spare human blood, and to become tolerant in terms of religion, utility and merit.

2. How were Danton's motives opposed to Robespierre's goals of creating a Republic of Virtue? 

Danton wanted to bring an end to the terror, and restore government under the constitution of 1793 to reinstate the independence of local authorities and remove government controls over the economy and negotiate peace with the first coalition. Dantons views can be concluded with this quote "can you make a single man perish on the scaffold, without making ten enemies for yourself from his family or friends?... I think quite differently from those who tell you that terror must remain the order of the day"

3. Why was R reluctant to move against Danton/What happened?

Danton was a hugely popular and powerful figure and desmoulins was an old school friend. Efforts to resolve the tension failed, even after personal meetings between Robespierre and Danton. Increasingly, Robespierre became convinced that Danton's support for the destruction of the Hebertists was a part of a wider plot to discredit the government and lose its support of the people.

4. What was the significance according to Francois Furet?

Francois Furet has explained that the purges of the Hebertists and Dantonists effectively reduced revolutionary Paris to silence and reinforced the absolute dictatorship of the committee of public safety.

Hebert was placed under arrest for being accused of being involved in a 'foreign plot'. Largely as a result of evidence given to the convention by Danton's associate. Herbertist represented the general will of the people over the single will of the state. ,

2. How did his views place him in conflict with robespierre - refer to changing view of the SC - general will vs single will.

Robespierre was determined to end the religious terror of the de-Christianisation campaign and in this he was supported by the Dantonists. IT was the fact that Robespierre wanted a spiritual France of Single Will, and Hebert wanted General Power.

3. Summarize the main points of Robespierre's speech.

In Robespierre's speech he was asking for a democratic or republic government. as he says "...The first rule of your political conduct must be to relate all you do to maintaining equality and developing virtue... In the system of the French Revolution, what is immoral is impolitic and what corrupts is counter-revolutionary. In simple words he wanted a non-corrupted French that remained spiritual. he was also questioning the fundamental principle of a democratic or popular government. as well as asking what is the end goal for the Terror.

4. What is the significance of the Decree of Conspiracies/Hebert and the Ultra/Citra Revolutionaries execution - ie what does it achieve/cause

Because it consolidated the earlier legislation instituting the terror in one document

2. What aspects/roles of the new government did the LoF legitimize/make clear? 
List in bullet points: 

- The roles, responsibilities and powers of the convention and the committees of general security and public safety.

- It outlined the role of ministers, the role of the revolutionary tribunal and the watch committees in each district.

- Made clear to officials, especially representatives on mission, that they could no longer act without the permission of the convention or committees.

3. Describe Schama's views and compare them with Doyle's on the ultimate purpose of the LoF- use quotes.

Shama believes that the LoF was intended to restrain the ability of revolutionary fanatics to take the law into their own hands. In his words, it was to end "the anarchic process by which zealots could take the law into their own hands."

Doyle agrees with Shama's view that the Frimaire was intended to restrain the terror rather than entrench it, in that Frimaire "heralded the end of the anarchic terror".

4. Describe Townson's views on the LoF.

Duncan Townson points out that "It [the LoF] marked the complete reversal of the principles of 1789... and many of the characteristics of the ancien regime reappeared."

For example this law removed the decentralisation of government, elections to all positions, the separation of legislative from the executive power and non-political justice.

5. Who opposed this law?

This law was opposed by Herbert and the 'ultra-revolutionaries' within the Cordeliers club the Paris Commune and the Sections. They opposed this law because it would retrain the spontaneous brutality of the terror.

On the other side it was also rejected by Danton, who wanted to bring a complete end to the terror.

The uprising in the Vendee came as a response to:

- The levee en masse (conscription of 300 000 men)

- Expulsion of the Girondins from the National Convention.

- Assassination of Marat.

- Federalist revolt and reprisals of representatives-on-mission.

- Ongoing naval blockade and foreign war.

Q2) What drastic news changed the role of the Revolutionary Army?

The National Convention found out that the town of Toulon had formed an alliance with Britain after the capitulation of the Port of Toulon. The army then changes its focus from looking for people who were hoarding food to looking for counter-revolutionaries. The port is then closed by the army which angers locals as it is the main source of their income.

Q3) Why was the Revolutionary Army established? and why was it disbanded?

The Revolutionary Army was originally established to find and detain individuals hoarding food, however after receiving new about the defection of Toulon to the British its focus changed to searching for counter revolutionists within France. The Revolutionary Army was later disbanded on the 4th of December due to the law of Frimaire, as the Committee of Public Safety was anxious to break the anarchy created by these armies and their heavy-handed methods against the peasants during forced grain requisitioning

Q4) What are Schama's views?

Schama has argued that the 5th of September was the beginning of the end of revolutionary insurrection in Paris. He further argues that the Jacobins were manipulating the language and tactics of the popular movement for the reinforcement of state power, rather than its subversion.

- The authority of the Committee of Public Safety was severely reduced and power had now been divided between Committee of Public Safety, Committee of General Security and Legislative Committee. Never again would a powerful group within a committee be able to assert dominance over the government.

- On 1 August (14 Thermidor), the law of 22 Prairial, which had threatened the safety of the deputies themselves, was repealed.

-On 5 August (18 Thermidor), the Convention ruled that all detainees who did not come under the jurisdiction of the Law of Suspects should be set free and that the revolutionary committees had to give grounds for arresting suspects. This legislation allowed the release of 3500 prisoners by the end of the month.

- On 10 August (23 Thermidor), Barere called for the abolition of the Revolutionary Tribunal. Initially this did not succeed at first, eventually the Revolutionary Tribunal was reorganised so that suspects now had to be provided with legal defence and could summon witnesses. As a result, number of trials and executions decreased and by the end of 1794 the Law of Suspects abolished. On 31 May 1795, the Revolutionary Tribunal was abolished. On 24 August 1794, the Revolutionary Commune of Paris was abolished.

- Convention deputies began to debate more freely. They intended to end dictatorship, restore parliamentary government and rule of law.

- After the death of Robespierre, the Jacobin Club had closed for two days.
- Carrier demanded a return of terror 'in order to annihilate the aristocrats who show themselves'. A call to the National Convention to enfore the Law of Suspects was propsed.

- The resurgence of the Jacobins led to another revolutionary Journee, a demonstration of Paris' continued support for radicalism.