History: SAC 4 AOS 4

August Decrees

4th-11th August 1789, NCA drafted 19 decrees, with 18 becoming adopted

• Signalled Ancien Regime was gone, and that liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty was replacing old structure.

• Decrees 5-11 claimed “Louis XVI” monarchical power would be untouched, however severely reduced.

• Decree 1: NA abolishes feudal regime in its entirety

Did the August Decrees fulfill their purpose?

For peasants: Harvest dues had not been abolished, Tithes remained in force until 1793.

• Privileged orders did not abandon Seigneurial claims

• Land owned by Second Estate needed to be paid out for compensation, which was 25% - 30% of a peasants wages.

Declaration of the rights of man and Citizen: DORMAC

Adopted by NCA, was a foundational statement of principles and natural rights to precede the constitution.

• Included enlightenment of ideas/ abolishment of Ancien regime

• Included 17 articles, becoming adopted 26th August 1789.

• Written by 40 deputies, including Sieyes

“Above all a statement of bourgeoisie idealism” - McPhee, Jones, Rude.

Constitutional positions

Conservatives: Wanted King to have absolute veto over legislation, and wanted to limit radicalism.

• Supported by Necker

Moderates: Accepted two-house legislation, but demanded power of King to veto legislation should not dismiss assembly.

• Supported by Mirabeau

Radicals: Wanted no royal veto, so that assembly had the power to make constitutional checks

• Supported by Sieyes

Voting for constitutional power of King.

September 10 1789, and led to defeat of conservatives, 849 votes to 89. Meant King Louis lost power to:

• Appoint judges

• Declare war or negotiate

• Sign Treaties

• Veto laws regarding constitution and taxation.

Louis given royal allowance of 25 million frances per year.

Woman’s march to Versaille

October 5 1789, around 6000 - 10,000 woman began protesting about high price of bread at Hotel de ville in Paris. Then began marching to Versaille demanding:

• Bread

• Passing of August decrees/ DORMAC (louis had not signed yet)

Reached Versaille by 5pm, entering hall of NCA, and 6 woman allowed in private audience to discuss with King.

Outcome of woman’s march to Versaille

Delegates received written declaration from King, which satisfied many woman, breaking up the protest.

• Louis then received Lafayette and commune delegates, agreeing to ratify August Decrees and Declaration of rights of man and citizen.

Changes to citizenship qualifications

NCA argued that citizens needed to possess a certain level of wealth to exercise electoral rights.

• 20-29th of October 1789, Sieyes proposed to create two categories -active and passive- of citizens which was then adopted.

• Active = men with voting rights

• Passive = woman, children, domestic servants

Over 60% of French men had right to participate in elections.

Changes to Municipal communes/ Military

December 1789, new Municipal officers were elected by active citizens.

• 1790, France divided into 83 administrative departments, replacing confusing borders of Ancien Regime.

• Municipal Communes: collected direct taxes, maintained law and order, and controlled the National Guard.

• Military men were promoted by merit

Fiscal, Economic, and Corporate reforms

January 1791, new tax system implemented and all citizens would pay taxes according to their ability.

• etc. ‘Contribution Fonciere’ = Land tax with no special privileges.

June 14 1791, NCA passes ‘Le Chapelier Law’ which forbade association/ meetings of workmen, in response to strikes for higher wages.

Changes to weight and measurement

March 1791, NCA adopted a new decimal system.

• Introduced the use of the ‘metres’ as a unit for distance as well as a new ‘metric system’

• Prior to revolution France had more than 100 different ways of dividing/ measuring land.

Changes to church

Church property was nationalised (taken ownership of), which made up 10% of the wealth France.

• Around 700,000 nobles and bourgeoisie purchased church land, which was 1 in 8 families.

• February 1790, religious orders dissolved except for those involved in teaching children or helping the sick.

Civil construction of clergy

May 1790, NAC proposed that the no. of diocese (local district churches) would be the same as the no. of departments, reducing from 130 to 83.

• Pope’s role as head of church was replaced by the state

• Pope’s right to appoint clergy was replaced by elections.

Clerical Oath/ Pope’s response

November 27 1790, NCA introduced ‘clerical oath’ which meant members of clergy had to:

• Swear to be faithful to law, and nation

• Those who didn’t could be deprived of their job/salary.

• 54% from lower clergy took oath, 36% didn’t

1791, Pope Pius VI told French Catholics to not abandon their religion for the state.

Political/ Religious Factors that led King Louis to leave France

Political:

• Escaping France, and reaching Austria, meant he could ask for help from other monarchs to restore monarchical rule in France

• Austrian Emperor Leopold II, and King of Spain Charles IV were willing to help

Religious:

• Although he signed Civil construction of clergy, Louis privately opposed it as he was very religious.

King Louis and his family attempt to escape Versailles

June 20th, planned to leave ‘Tuileries Palace’ in 2 carriages, heading to Montmedy (borders Luxembourg) to meet troops and be smuggled across the border.

• Lasted 24 hours until they were recognised/ captured

• Brought back to Paris 25th of June 1791.

Outcomes of Louis XVI’s escape

Illustrated Louis was not prepared to be King of revolutionary state, or renounce religious beliefs.

• 1791 Constitution giving the King power to veto legislation was renounced, and NCA was given full power over legislation.

• His monarchical power was suspended

Champ de mars

16 July 1791, crowds of mostly working class citizens assembled at champ de mars demanding referendum of Kings fate.

• Petition drawn up by leaders of ‘Cordeliers club’, calling for Louis XVI to abdicate his throne.

• Crowd recognised King Louis as a traitor/ fugitive

Consequences of Champ de mars

Bailley (Mayor) called on National Guard led by Lafayette to disperse crowd, due to fear of riots.

• Militia was met with boos, and the throwing of small stones from the crowd

• Lafayette ordered troops to open fire, killing 50 demonstrators, wounding 12.

Bailley/ Lafayette held responsible for massacre, marking divisions in power.

1791 Constitution

Completed on 3rd of September 1791, and was based on principles of a constitutional monarchy, and prefaced freedoms of DORMAC:

• Taxation of all citizens in proportion to their means

• Freedom of speech and worship

Signified end to Ancien regime/ Feudalism, and instead new liberal order.

• King Louis XVI signed = 13th September.

1791 Constitution: On Property, Sovereignty

Property: Was to be untouchable, except when needed for public good in which it could be seized with the government’s payment.

Sovereignty: Resided in the whole of the nation, and could not be taken.

• No individual or fraction could seize power.

Louis XVI’s alliance with Austria and Prussia

6th July 1791, Emperor Leopold II of Austria issued ‘Padua Circular’ which called for head of European states to form union to:

• Restore liberty/ limit radicalism in France

Declaration of Pillnitz: August 1791, Leopold II, and Prussian king -Frederick William II - declared they were ready to use necessary forces to restore King Louis’s power.

Jacobins Political Club

Founded 1790 by Robespierre, and was a radical club who wanted no monarchy.

• Biggest/ most influential clubs with a network of 900 across France

• Supported by San-Culottes

Feuillants Political Club

Founded 1791 by Lafayette, and was in favour of constitutional monarchy.

• Made up men of ‘89’, therefore supported constitution

• Conservative, and supported king/ monarchy

Between 5000-8000 clubs/ societies in France by 1793 - Peter Davies

Girondins Politcal Club

Moderate political group founded 1791 by Brissot, who was pro-war to unite France and spread the revolution.

• Left-bourgeoisie republicans, and represented provinces (rural) of Paris.

• Believed problems in France came from counter-revolutionaries within.

Cordeliers Political Club

Founded 1790 by Danton, and were radicals/ popularists who opposed the Assemblies attempt to prevent commons from voting.

• Believed commons were ‘active’ citizens of society

• Wanted constitutional monarchy but not Louis XVI

• Low subscription fees, and woman allowed to join

San-culottes

First appeared 1790s, describing town men who wore long trousers, instead of knee-length britches associated with wealth.

• Majority were workers of Paris; Craftsmen, shopkeepers, labourers, cities poor.

• Demanded voice in elected Assembly, and end to distinction between ‘passive’ and ‘active’ citizens.

• 10% of urban workers involved in revolutionary action.

New Legislative Assembly

1st October 1791, new Legislative Assembly organised, and self-denying ordinance implemented.

• Meant anyone who had been a deputy of NCA could not stand again in Legislative Assembly.

• 745 new deputies, with 23 clergy, and over 700 commoners.

Political alignments

Right: Were conservative, and included supporters of the King.

• Had 264 deputies, including Lafayette.

Centre: 345 moderate deputies, who had no definite leadership or policies.

• Supported war with Austria/ executing King

Left: Radical group, with 136 deputies mainly from Jacobins /Cordeliers.

• Distrusted King, wanting greater political democracy.

Emigres

Person who fled from France because of the revolution, primarily to neighbouring countries such as Britain, Germany, Austria or Spain.

• Included mainly nobles and members of the army.

• Over 2100 royal army officials fled between Sep-Dec 1791

Beginning of War

Brrissot’s view about France going to war gained popularity, as he believed:

• Prove people’s loyalty to revolution, and flush out internal traitors

• Robespierre was against war

• April 1792, France declared war on Austria with support form NLA

• Only 7 deputies were against war.

King Louis XVI’s role in War

Was supreme commander of French army, of 140, 000 volunteer troops.

• Troops lacked training/ experience

• Equipment defective/ ammunition in short supply

Supported idea of war, as if Austria won he would be restored to throne, and if Austria lost he would appear as a patriot.

New Decrees by Legislative Assembly 1792

New Decrees introduced by LA to try and deal with supposed traitors in France:

• April 1792, aimed to deport non-juring priests who refused to swear to clerical oath

• June 1792, aimed to supplement National Guard with men from French countryside.

Federes

Volunteer National Guard members from provinces, with LA enlisting around 20,000 Federes to defend capital of Paris.

• Girondins supported Federe’s

• Louis XVI believed Federe’s represented a force that could be used against him, and used suspenseful veto 4 times to block decrees.

First invasion of Tuileries Palace

June 20, 1792, San-culottes held armed demonstration encouraged by leaders of Cordeliers.

• Mixed crowd of 8000 demonstrators, carrying pikes/ pitchforks.

• Presented petitions to LA, demanding recall of Girondins ministry (which was replaced by feuillants by Louis)

Moved to invade Tuileries palace with little resistance, lasting 6 hours, demanding Louis hear petition.

Lafayette’s last political plot and failure

28th of June 1792, stood before LA and demanded;

• closure of political clubs, reduce freedom of press, and suspend right of petition = LA ignored

• Lafayette then tried to mobilise National Guard, but lost influence after champ de mars.

As King/ Queen did not like him, Marie alerted authorities of his intentions.

• August 1792, spent 5 years in Austrian Prison.

Brunswick Manifesto

July 25th 1792, issued in the name of Duke of Brunswick (commander of Austrian forces) and intended to Frighten French.

• Threatened Parisians with ‘severe punishment’ if French royal family was harmed.

• Demanded King Louis XVI and families freedom, or ‘military punishment’

Not have intended effect, and instead angered Parisians.

Storming of Tuileries

Around end of July 1792, 5000 Federes arrived to Paris and petitioned to LA to remove King.

• Mayor demanded monarchy abolished on behalf of 47, out of 48 sections.

20,000 armed San-culottes/ Federer’s made way to Tuileries Palace, defended by 1200 swiss guards/ royal police.

• Swiss shot without permission, causing crowd to advance

560 Swiss guards murdered, 400 attackers killed.

Aftermath of storming of Tuileries

Revolutionary Commune: Representatives of 48 sections, replacing old municipal authority established 9-10th August 1792.

• RC held more influence, and it expanded its membership to 288 by elections

• Louis XVI’s monarchy suspended, and placed at Temple Prison.

• Feuillants viewed as royalist traitors, arrested/ executed.

Rise of Revolutionary commune/ changes made by NC 1792

LA under pressure of RC disassembled, yet implemented RC’s requests until dissolution, including:

• Decreed all refractory priests to leave France, abolish all Feudal dues.

• NC eradicated category of ‘Passive’ citizens, yet only males over 21 who had an income could still vote.

Domestic Servants/ Woman still excluded from voting.

French Invasion

19th August 1792, Austrian forced invaded France, capturing Longwy and Verdun = Sparked mass panic in Paris.

• Danton ordered RC officials to conduct house searchers looking for counter-revolutionaries to imprison, such as:

• non-juring clergy, ex royal servants, and royalists.

Danton encouraged crowds to rush to frontlines, and kill traitors.

September Massacres/ Significance

Night of 2nd September 1792, crowds of armed San-culottes attacked and slaughtered Danton’s prisoners.

• Continued for 4 days, killing around 1200-1400 of 2700 prisoners.

• Included death of 240 priests

• San-culottes viewed murders as legitimate means of defending revolution, whereas Girondins viewed those involved as murderers.

Beginning of National Convention

20th September 1792, new assembly of France gathered -National Convention, reinstating:

• Commitment to sovereignty of people, protection of all persons/ property, and abolition of monarchy.

• Declared France republic 22nd of September.

• Challenges = creating legislation for war effort, conducting trial/ execution for Louis XVI.

Factions in the Convention: Right Wing/ Left WIng

Girondins (right-wing): Around 180 members including Brissot, representing conservative/ wealthy landowners.

• Wanted stable federalist government

• Opposed San- Culottes

Montagnards (left-wing): 200-300 members from Jacobins/ Cordeliers including Robespierre.

• Drew power from alliance with urban poor/ San-culottes

• Wanted strong-centralised government.

Factions in the Convention: The Plain

The Plain (centre): Around 250 members who did not commit to either group, instead remaining moderate.

• Voted on a issue-by issue basis

• Majority were bourgeoisie

• Believed in economic liberalism

Kings Trial/ Public opinion

Louis correspondance with Austria discovered in 1792, and NC in December 1792 accused Louis XVI of crimes such as:

• Flight to Varennes, champ de mars, financing counter-revolution, conspiracy with lafayette.

• Girondins did not wish to vote for death of King

• Jacobins/ Cordeliers wanted immediate execution.

Kings execution

January 1793, NC voted unanimously for death of King

• 387 voted in favour of death penalty, 334 voted against

• Louis XVI publicly guillotined 21st January, 1793

• Public viewed it as entertaining.

Conscription - Levee en masse decree

War intensified as a result of Louis XVI’s execution, Feb 1793, France declared war on Britain, Dutch Republic and Spain.

• Large Scale conscription ordered 24th February 1793

• Recruitment was left to local authorities, with men being chosen by chance.

• 40 woman served in ranks, before being ordered home.

Other Grievances/ Vendee

Historian Tackett, argued rural populations decrees of revolution had:

• Taken away their priests, killed their king, and passed laws that did not reduce taxes.

In Vendee -rural region- it’s people resisted obeying government, and remained faithful to church.

• Conscription = Triggered revolts in Vendee in Feb 1793, as young men would be taken from employment/ Farms, while National Guards were exempt.

Significance of Counter-revolution in Vendee

Largest Counter -revolutionary uprising in French revolution, which the government responded to with intercine war.

• Led to around 58,000- 200,000 deaths in 3 years

• Revolt aimed at local patriots, juring priests, and local officials

The Second Terror: Legislation

Legislation passed March-April 1793 by NC:

Committee of general security: bring enemies/ internal traitors to justice.

Revolutionary tribunal: hasten trial/ execution of suspects

Committee of surveillance

Committee of public safety: control war inside/outside France

Representatives on mission: Reinforced dictatorship of Paris

Consequences of Second Terror

5th September 1793, NC announced to state it would eliminate all threats to its existence.

• 1793-1794 more than 50,000 killed for being suspected counter-revolutionaries.

• Supported by Danton, and Robespierre as they wanted a centralised government.