Knowledge Check: The Emergence & Spread of Terror

Question 1

What beliefs were shared between Jacobins and Girondins?

Answer 1

Jacobins and Girondins both supported a republican government and both supported the war, aiming for a French victory.

Question 2

What differences were there between Jacobin and Girondin support bases and beliefs on power distribution?

Answer 2

• Jacobins had a concentrated Parisian support base of Sans-Culottes whilst Girondins has a wide provincial support base.
• Jacobins believed in centralised control whilst Girondins favoured decentralised power

Question 3

What were the social repercussions within France of the external war?

Answer 3

The War had led to increasing inflation (to the detriment of the sans-culottes) and the outbreak of sporadic peasant rioting in rural France.

Question 4

When was the Armoire de Fer discovered?

Answer 4

20th November 1792

Question 5

During Louis’ trial, what was the role of the Convention?

Answer 5

Acted as both judge and jury during Louis’ trial despite dubious legality of this decision for the legislature to act as a court.

Question 6

What was the appel nominal? Who introduced it?

Answer 6

• The process by which deputies were forced to announce their vote publicly in order to increase accountability.
• Introduced by Marat.

Question 7

How many people voted against LXVI being guilty?

Answer 7

No one but some abstained

Question 7

When was Louis tried before the Convention?

Answer 7

15th - 17th January 1793

Question 8

What crimes was Marie Antoinette accused of and what was she convicted of?

Answer 8

• Incest, Only one she wasn’t convicted of
• Orgies
• Squandering government money
• Conspiracy against the state
• Sharing intelligence with the Enemy

Question 9

When were the expelled Girondin deputies put on trial and executed?

Answer 9

The expelled Girondin deputies were put on trial and executed in October 1793, with this result effectively a foregone conclusion.

Question 10

What methods were used to fulfil déchristianisation which was the official policy of the Paris Commune?

Answer 10

• Facilitated by removing or vandalising statues, crosses and religious ornaments.
• The figures on the Notre Dame were all executed.

Question 11

How many clerics lived in Paris before dechristianisation compared to after dechristianisation?

Answer 11

6,000 prior to dechristianisation but following the Terror there were only a few hundred.

Question 12

When was the Festival of Reason held?

Answer 12

November 1793

Question 13

What was the view of Robespierre on the religious policies of the Paris Commune? How did he preserve the previous practicing of religion?

Answer 13

• Believed it to be too radical as a policy and that faith would be a help in maintaining order.
• Persuaded the Convention to secure religious toleration.

Question 14

What did the Law of 14 Frimaire II determine?

Answer 14

Gave the CPS powers over local government, ministers, generals and representatives on mission, whilst it also closed down popular societies.

Question 15

How did the Law of 14 Frimaire II impact the Sans-Culottes?

Answer 15

• Diminished the influence of the Sans-Culottes as it prevented them from gathering politically and discussing politics.
• This reduced the hold of this group over the Jacobins.

Question 15

How had the CPS begun to split and become a weakened body by May 1794?

Answer 15

The CPS had become divided, with Robespierre, Couthon, and Saint-Just taking control, while both radicals and moderates in the group felt increasingly alienated.

Question 16

How many people were executed between March and June 1794?

Answer 16

Over 1,000

Question 17

Why were CGS members angered by the decisions of the CPS?

Answer 17

• Anti-clericals and atheists within the CGS were unhappy with Robespierre’s decision to overturn dechristianisation.
• The CGS hadn’t been consulted on the Law of 14 Frimaire II
• Powers had been infringed upon by the CPS.

Question 18

Why were Catholics dismayed by the policies of the CPS?

Answer 18

• Feared dechristianisation
• Feared the Cult of Supreme Being

Question 19

What happened at the Coup of Thermidor?

Answer 19

• Convention unanimously ordered Robespierre and associates were arrested
• Some National Guard units freed them
• They were recaptured and executed on the 28th July 1794

Question 20

How many men were in France’s military by 1794?

Answer 20

1 million

Question 21

What was Carnot and Saint-Just’s attitude towards traditional generals? What action did they take against them?

Answer 21

• Didn’t trust the aristocratic generals associated with the Ancien Regime
• Replaced them with younger, non-noble generals who were committed to the revolution.
• These noble generals were often executed.

Question 22

Who are 2 examples of generals introduced to the war effort by Carnot and Saint-Just following the removal of aristocratic generals?

Answer 22

• Hoche
• Jourdan

Question 23

When was the Siege of Dunkirk?

Answer 23

August 1793 - September 1793

Question 24

When did Lyons surrender, Republicans win at Cholet, and recapture Marseilles?

Answer 24

October 1793

Question 25

How did the balance of power change in the Convention following the Girondin expulsion of June 1793?

Answer 25

- Balance of power was heavily weighted towards the Montagnards - Leads to Robespierre and Jacobins dominating Government.

Question 26

In what 2 ways could the CPS assert its dominance over the Executive Council?

Answer 26

- CPS could suspend the orders of the Executive Council if it believed they acted contrary to the national interest - Any CPS provision with support of 2/3 of members had to be carried out by the Executive Council.

Question 27

How was the membership of the CPS supposed to operate?

Answer 27

The CPS‘ membership was supposed to change once a month, yet this did not happen.

Question 28

Which individuals are examples of CPS members who became entrenched and increasingly powerful within its membership?

Answer 28

Robespierre, Saint-Just and Carnot became increasingly dominant within its membership, allowing them to overpower other groups within the Executive.

Question 29

How was the Convention supposed to moderate the actions of the CPS? How did this process turn out in practice?

Answer 29

- Intended to report to the Convention weekly for scrutiny and accountability - In practice this session accounted for the rubber-stamping of Executive decisions.

Question 30

What did the Law of Suspects determine?

Answer 30

Determines that the definition of a suspect would be changed to allow people to be arrested on account of conduct, relationships, words or writings.

Question 31

How did Danton attempt to justify the war based on land?

Answer 31

- Danton justified the war effort by proclaiming the old doctrine of the ‘natural frontiers’ forming France’s borders. - This included the Alps, the Rhine and the Pyrenees.

Question 32

In what month did Spain declare war on France and France annex the Republic of Mainz?

Answer 32

March 1793.

Question 33

When did France declare war on Great Britain and the United Provinces?

Answer 33

February 1793

Question 34

In what month/year did the Prussians take Verdun and the French win at the Battle of Valmy under Dumouriez?

Answer 34

The French won the Battle of Valmy but had Verdun taken by the Prussians in September 1792.

Question 35

In what month/year did the French take Mainz and Frankfurt and the Prussians retreat from Verdun and Longwy?

Answer 35

October 1792

Question 36

In what month/year were the French victorious at the Battle of Jemappes and take lands in the Austrian Netherlands?

Answer 36

November 1792

Question 37

In what month/year did the Austrians begin to besiege the Republic of Mainz?

Answer 37

April 1793

Question 38

In what month/year did the British begin to blockade French ports? What example is there of this?

Answer 38

The British began blocking French ports in June 1793, such as Toulon.

Question 39

In what month/year did the French withdraw from the Republic of Mainz, leading to it collapsing?

Answer 39

July 1793

Question 40

Where was the Vendée? Why was this ripe for anti-revolutionary action?

Answer 40

- Western France - Largely rural, Catholic and strongly conservative. - It also contained refractory priests.

Question 41

When did the rising in the Vendée begin?

Answer 41

March 1793

Question 41

What was the name used for the army which rose up in the Vendée? What actions did this army use to express their opposition to the Republic?

Answer 41

- The Catholic and Royal Army - Used violence and guerilla warfare, as well as massacres of officials, juring priests and the national guard.

Question 42

When did the Convention decree the destruction of the Vendée?

Answer 42

1 August 1793

Question 43

The 100,000 soldiers sent by the Convention in September 1793 to supress the rising in the Vendée were only successful in what month?

Answer 43

December 1793

Question 44

When did the Convention introduce the Committee of General Security? What was the purpose of this body?

Answer 44

- October 1792 - Intended to take responsibility for policing and the administration of justice. Had to report to the Convention (centralisation of power).

Question 45

When was the Revolutionary Tribunal established? What were its roles and powers?

Answer 45

- March 1793 - Intended to try counter-revolutionaries. - Made up of five judges, a prosecutor and jurymen.

Question 46

When was a revolutionary law passed that allowed the execution of rebels bearing arms within 24 hours?

Answer 46

March 1793

Question 47

When was the Committee of Public Safety (CPS) established? What was its purpose?

Answer 47

- 6 April 1793 - Responsible for the conduct of war, control of the army, control of supplies and application of revolutionary wars.

Question 48

What did the Sans Culottes demand with regards to price of goods as the war deteriorated?

Answer 48

As the War effort deteriorated, the Sans-Culottes demanded price controls on basic goods.

Question 49

By what percentage did food prices rise between 1791 and 1793?

Answer 49

90%

Question 50

When was an indictment issued for the arrest of Marat? What actions of Marat motivated this?

Answer 50

- 12th April 1793 - Pressed for by the Girondins due to his attacks on Girondin political views.

Question 51

When did the sans-culottes surround the National Convention demanding price controls on bread?

Answer 51

3rd May 1793

Question 51

How many sans-culottes surrounded the National Convention demanding price controls on bread?

Answer 51

8,000

Question 52

On what date were the Girondins expelled from the National Convention?

Answer 52

2nd June 1793

Question 52

When did Robespierre pass a law allowing price controls on wheat and flour? What was this law known as?

Answer 52

- May 1793 - First Law of the General Maximum.

Question 53

How many sans-culottes surrounded the National Convention, leading to the expulsion of the Girondins?

Answer 53

80-100,000 sans-culottes surrounded the Convention, forcing the Deputies to expel the Girondins.

Question 54

What was the response of the départements to the expulsion of the Girondins from the Convention? What was this known as?

Answer 54

The départements responded to the Girondin expulsion by revolting against the Republic, with this known as the Federalist Revolt.

Question 55

How many of the 83 départements protested against the Girondin expulsion? What examples are there of this?

Answer 55

- 60 of the 83 départements were involved in the Federalist Revolt against the expulsions, including areas such as Lyons, Toulon, Marseilles and Bordeaux.

Question 56

How did the people of Toulon advance their anti-revolutionary sentiment beyond the actions of other areas in AUgust 1793?

Answer 56

Toulon merged their federalist revolt with royalist action, proclaiming Louis XVII as King of France. They also invited English and Spanish troops into the city.

Question 57

When was Toulon retaken by the French from occupation? Who aided this retaking of the port?

Answer 57

- December 1793 - Napoleon Bonaparte

Question 58

What issue was there with the Jacobin Constitution?

Answer 58

The Jacobin Constitution, although approved by a huge majority at its plebiscite, was never put into practice due to the wartime situation.