The “Miracle of Valmy”
The French Revolutionary Army successfully stopped the Prussian army at the Battle of Valmy Sept. 20, 1792
A 2nd rate battle it becomes a HUGE moral victory for the French and other victories start to occur
The very next day . . .
Sept. 21, 1792 France declared a
REPUBLIC (1st) National Convention (1792-1795)
replaces Legislative Assembly Landslide election of Jacobins and Republicans
(well-educated middle class) Marks “true” political democracy in
France The Monarchy was abolished The Republic was based on Equality,
Liberty and Fraternity
The National Conventiondivides into 2 factions:
The Mountain: radical republicans, pro-Paris, pro-strong centralized Govt. Called the Mountain b/c they sat on
highest bleachers left side of the hall Led by Robespierre and Danton
The Girondins: moderate and rural (bitter rivals to the Mountain)
a note on Maximillian Robespierre The most controversial person of the
Fr. Rev. Truly believed in transferring
Rousseau’s Social Contract into reality
Known as “The Incorruptible” for his morals
Convinced he knew “the General Will”
If French would not be “free and virtuous” voluntarily, then they would be “forced to be free”
.
The Sans-culottes
Members of the Parisian working-class, shopkeepers, skilled artisans
Definitely influenced National Convention
Involved in the Storming of the Bastille, Bread March to Versailles, the September Massacres
Girondins dislike/distrust them as time goes by, Mountain uses them
The Sans-culottes
Believed the National Convention was too moderate
Threatened the National Convention with mass uprisings …and they could deliver
January 1793
Citizen Louis Capet (Louis XVI) convicted of treason and guillotined
Out of 721 votes, 361-360--those who had supported regicide knew that they were in big trouble if the government fell
February 1793 France declares war on:
Britain, Spain, Netherlands (+Austria/Prussia)
May 1793
Mountain believes Girondins would ally with conservatives and royalists to remain in power
Arrest and behead 31 leading Girondins
W/ support of Sans-culottes and Enrage´s
Constitution suspended
Enrages
Leaders of the radical working class in Paris
Even scarier than the Sans-culottes After leading members guillotined,
many Girondins left Paris to work against the revolutionary government
By this time, many in France had lost faith in the Revolutionary government
Marat
Marat was supporting the Mountain (and Sans-culottes, and Enrages)
My favorite K-College prof despised Marat the most & I carry on the tradition
1793 stabbed to death while soaking his diseased skin in a bathtub by Charlotte Corday (Girondin supporter)
She was beheaded Women’s political clubs were closed
down by the government
July 1793-July 1794: The Reign of Terror
Cornerstone was 12-man Committee of Public Safety
Received dictatorial powers from Nat. Conv.
Ran Gov’t (which they centralized from Paris), made war decisions, planned the economy, dealt with justice and law
Law of Suspects: Accused enemies of Rev. tried by Revolutionary Tribunals (treason usually #1)
Committee of Public Safety, cont.
Used Sans-culottes, Enrage´s, Paris Commune, Hebertists, Cordeliers, women, to attain their goals
Another leader: Saint-Just Mountain sent out “deputies on a
mission” (like Louis XIII’s ____________) to keep eye on countryside
Necessary since revolts broke out across France
Law of the Maximum/Nationalization
The Government decreed maximum allowable prices fixed in paper assignats for key items
Price of bread fixed at levels the poor could afford
Rationing was introduced Small workshops were nationalized, raw
materials and grain were requisitioned by the government
Government produced arms and munitions
These measures indispensible for France to wage “total war” against its enemies (foreign & domestic)
Was an early version of socialism
The Terror
About 40,000 people die Most guillotined; but at Nantes 2000
people drowned chained to barges which were sunk drowning victims
Reign of Terror was a political weapon directed at all classes—NO ONE WAS SAFE! 8% of victims were nobles 14% were bourgeoisie 6% Clergy 70% peasants/laborers
The War Effort
Lazare Carnot reorganized the French army
Levee en Mass—forced conscription: single men combat, married men making arms and transport, women make & work in hospitals, tents (+clothes)
Spring 1794 800,000 man army Turned around war and began to
make inroads against the First Coalition
Reign of Terror, War Effort, & the Planned
Economy Bloody . . . but it worked Created tremendous fear Created tremendous nationalism
(but not just in France as time would show)
Brought French Revolutionary ideals to conquered areas
also abolished slavery in French colonies (albeit short-lived)
The Republic of Virtue
Created by Robespierre A new political culture designed to
promote revolutionary virtue New calendar introduced…
eliminated references to religious, Greco-Roman Gods, etc.
3 10-week days in a month; 10th day rest & celebrate virtues such as “Heroism” “Stoicism” “Hatred of Tyrants and Traitors”
1794 The Cult of the Supreme Being
A Deistic natural religion which recognized the existence of God and the immortality of the human soul
Notre Dame Cathedral became The Temple of Reason
Catholics were firmly against the government by this time
The Thermidorian Reaction: July 1794 French finally get their fill of
Robespierre Those influenced by Voltaire’s beliefs
helped to topple Robespierre July 27 Robespierre was delivering a
speech and shouts of “Down with the tyrant” met him and by sunset of the next day, he had been tried & executed (Danton had preceded him …followers killed also)
The working class had stopped supporting Robespierre when their fellows were targeted by the Law of Suspects
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