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 not 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/ natural rights that preceded the constitution.

• Included enlightenment of ideas/ abolishment of Ancien regime

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

• Written by 40 deputies, including Sieyes

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 at Hotel de ville in Paris, Then began marching to Versaille demanding:

• Bread/ cost of living

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

Outcome: Louis XVI signed these documents to break up protest.

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 creation of -active and passive citizens

• Active = men over 25, pay 3 day wage in tax

• Passive = woman, children, domestic servants

Over 60% of French men had right to vote.

Changes to Municipal communes/ Military

• Municipal officers were elected by active citizens.

• 1790, France divided into 83 administrative departments.

• Military men were promoted by merit

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

Changes to church property

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

• Around 700,000 nobles/ bourgeoisie purchased church land = 1 in 8 families.

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

Civil construction of clergy

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 = 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.

Economic reforms

January 1791, new tax system implemented = 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.

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 National Guard under leadership of Lafayette called to disperse crowd - 50 demonstrators dead, 12 wounded.

1791 Constitution

Completed on 3rd of September 1791, and was based on principles of a constitutional monarchy/ 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

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.

• Restore liberty/ limit radicalism in France

Jacobins Political Club

Founded 1790 by Robespierre

• 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

• In favour of constitutional monarchy.

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

• Conservative, and supported king/ monarchy

Girondins Politcal Club

Moderate political group founded 1791 by Brissot

• Pro-war to unite France and spread the revolution.

• Represented provinces (rural) of Paris.

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

Cordeliers Political Club

Founded 1790 by Danton

• radicals/ popularists, opposed 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

• Self-denying ordinance: meant anyone who was a deputy of NCA, could not stand again in LA

• 745 new deputies, 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.

Deportation of non-juring priests

Introduced by NLA in April 1792, aimed to deport nonjuring/ refractory priests who refused to swear to clerical oath

• 30,000 - 40,000 priests deported

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.

Federes

June 1792, Volunteer National Guard members from provinces

• LA enlisted 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.

Lafayette’s last political plot and failure

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 military punishment’ if French royal family was harmed/ freedom not given

Not have intended effect, and instead angered Parisians.

Storming of Tuileries

August 10, 1792: 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, grew influence and replaced municipal officials, 9-10th August 1792.

• RC expanded its membership to 288 by elections

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

• Feuillants viewed as royalist traitors, arrested/ executed.

Changes to citizens by LA/ RC

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

• LA 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 among France

• Danton ordered RC officials to conduct house searchers to imprison/ kill counter revolutionaries

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

September Massacres/ Significance

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

• Continued for 4 days, killing around 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

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

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.

Trigger of counter-revoloutionary war in Vendee

• Vendee citizens resisted obeying government, instead remaining faithful to church.

Conscription - Triggered revolts in Vendee in Feb 1793, angered they would have to leave 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/ committees

• Committee of general security: Bring internal traitors to justice.

• Revolutionary tribunal: Hasten trial/ execution of suspects

• Committee of public safety: Control war inside/outside France

Legislation of the Terror #1

Law of 22 Prairial (10th June, 1793) : Removed NC oversight of revolutionary tribunals, allowing them to occur without review/ appeal.

Law of Suspects (17th Sept, 1793) : Immediate arrest of anyone suspected of opposing the revolution.

Legislation of Terror #2

Law of Maximum (29th Sept, 1793) : NC attempt to ease food crisis by adding maximum price to food items.

Law of 14 Frimaire ( 4th Dec, 1793) : Centralised power under ‘Committee of Public Safety’ to quickly guillotine people.

Consequences of Second Terror

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

• Supported by Danton/ Robespierre = wanted a centralised government.

• 70% of all deaths in ‘Terror’ occurred in Vendee/ and Federalist revolts

Economy in France 1793

• Necessities such as soap, candles, and firewood had increased by 25-40%

• Food requisitioning for French army/ British navy blocking ports = food shortages

• Led to riots on grocery stores/ wagons = majority led by woman

Fall of Girondins

Early 1793, Grondins lost public favour to Montagnards due views on federalism/ Kings execution.

• Grondins blamed Marat for inciting violence through protests, and put him on trial, however he was acquitted April 1793

• Marat led anti-Girondin riots

• October 1793, Brissot/ 21 other Girondins tried and guillotined.

Federalist revolts

Occurred mid 1793, and was an expression about:

• Nature of government in Paris

• Power of san-culottes

• Damage done to trade due to first coalition

French living in provinces wanted more economic certainty, free trade, and more political power across the provinces.

• Federalist = anti-Jacobin

Bordeaux revolt

Bordeaux -port city in France- and was pro Girondin.

• In response to arrest/ death of Girondins set up ‘commision of public safety’ urging local people to reject rule in Paris.

• Established own NC, planning to march on Paris and restore constitutional government.

• Force of 1200 men, but only 400 set out before backing out.

Outcome = 200 Bordeaux merchants arrested, 104 guillotined.

Lyons and Marseilles revolt

Lyons elected Girondin mayor in early 1793, before being overthrown by ‘Jacobin’ club.

• Lyons and neighbouring city Marseilles allied to defend city against Jacobins/ NC.

• Set up their own revolutionary tribunal, killing 30 Jacobins.

• August 1793, NC cut off food supply to these cities

• April 1794, 2000 men, woman and children killed.

Power of San-culottes

Montagnard government introduced legislation in honour of San-culottes to keep their cooperation.

• Jacobin constitution of 1793: commitment to public education, right of workers to earn enough, and end to slave trade

• Levee en masse

• Economic Concessions: setting max prices on food

Dechristianisation Campaign

This was done through ‘de-christian’ of France, where religious symbols were replaced with revolutionary iconography.

• Revolutionary armies attacked churches

• Donkey were led through streets wearing Bishop clothing.

Second Factional Purge: End of Hebertists

Jacques- Rene Hebert -leader of San-culottes- called for ‘Journee’ september 1793, forcing NC to obey general will of people such as introducing state controlled economy.

• Feb 1794, Herbert attempted to spark an insurrection against NC

• Outcome = Robespierre/ allies, arrested Herbert and 18 of his associates, who were guillotined March 1794.

Third Factional Purge: Danton and Desmoulins

Danton and Desmoulins wanted to:

• Bring end to terror

• Restore government under 1793 Const.

• Negotiate peace with first coalition

They criticized the committees, with their views to end the ‘Terror” gaining popularity.

• Outcome = Danton, Desmoulins, and 16 others were tried/ guillotined April 1794.

End of Robespierre

June 1794, French Victory in Battle of Fleurus led to full military withdrawal of first coalition, and no more justification for ‘Terror’

• Public began to view Robespierre as dictator, and supported his impeachment.

• Captured at hotel de ville/ shot in jaw

• Put on revolutionary Tribunal trial along with 21 others

• Guillotined 28th July, 1794.

Thermidorian reaction: July 1794-October 1795

Period of reacting to excesses of ‘Terror’ and reasserting conservative bourgeoisie control over government/ population.

• Over 100 Robsepierrists executed over next 3 days of his death.

• 5th August, NC ruled that detainees no longer suspects and should be set free, and committees had to give grounds to arrest suspects.

Released 478 prisoners between 18-23 thermidor

Retribution for Terror

Throughout 1795, those who had been targeted by ‘Terror’ seeked retribution:

• Jacobins, and san-culottes under threat/ being arrested

• Retaliation against local Jacobins- known as ‘white terror’ symbolising monarchy

• Anyone associated with instigating ‘Terror’ was put to death.

Year III: Freedom to all Religions

Refractory and non-juring priests hiding, imprisoned, or in exile.

• 18th September 1794: Decree cut salaries paid to constitutional priests

• Feb 1795: Ventose year III, allowing religious diversity of citizens.

Year III: Economic challenges

December 1794, ‘law of maximum’ abolished, therefore there was no more price controls in place to protect poor people.

• Harvest of 1794 led to severe food shortages, as majority of food was being sent to frontlines.

• Assignats declined in value by an additional 20% (70% all together)

• By March 1794, price of meat had risen by 300%.

Journee of 12, Germinal year III:

Riots due to food crisis led crowd to break into the NC

• National Guard was called to disperse crowd

• 26 Montagnards, and 4000 san-culottes/ Jacobins were arrested for their suspected involvement in the riot.

• Significance = led NC closer to conservative rule.

May 1795: Last major insurrection

Uprisings led by market woman, and workers from central districts who invaded Tuileries palace.

• Crowd violently killed deputy who tried to stop them, and beheaded him on a pike

• Intervention by National Guard led to arrest of 10,000 who were exiled to prison camp

• Significance = Marked last of political influence among the poor.

1795 Constitution

Implemented October 26, 1795 and aimed to:

• Return the revolution to moderate ground of 1789

• Ensure that radical san-culottes would not have anymore control over government.

• Narrowed who could vote, as not all citizens were entitled to equal political rights

New Branch of Government introduced - the ‘Directory’