The Terror Flashcards
(77 cards)
1
Q
What did the Jacobins and Girondins agree on?
A
- A republican government.
- Support for war and and the commitment towards a French victory.
- The need for further enlightenment to improve government, the economy and society.
2
Q
How did the Jacobins and GIirondins differ?
- Support
- SC
- Attitude to change
A
Jacobins had a strong Parisian support base, and wanted centralised control over government.
Girondins had a wide support base in the provinces and wanted decentralisation.
Jacobins were well favoured by the Sans-Culottes, and were ready to respond to their demands.
Girondins were suspicious of the SC and feared their activism. They believed control would curb ‘liberty’ and favoured a free market economy.
Jacobins believed in a radical militant approach to bring about change.
Girondins wanted a more moderate way to bring about change.
3
Q
What were the difference between Jacobin and Girondins attitudes towards Louis?
A
Jacobins wanted Louis executed.
Girondins were hesitant and whilst the accepted his guilt they didn’t want him killed.
4
Q
What was the significance of military victories?
- militarily
- In terms of international relations
A
- They vindicated the Girondins’ commitment to the war effort.
- Enlightenment ideas were spread across Europe through war.
5
Q
Following the successes in November how were the Girondins hoping to gain support?
A
- 16th November, declared that the River Scheldt would be made free and open to all river traffic. (they hoped to win over the united provinces and its ally GB)
- 19th November: Edict of Fraternity, promising ‘assistance to all people who wish to recover their liberty.’
6
Q
What were the repercussions of war within France?
How did the Jacobins react?
A
- Growing inflation, increased the restlessness of the Sans-Culottes.
- The outbreak of the Chouan rebellion.
- The Jacobins exploited these problems to argue for the need to centralised control.
7
Q
How did the voting procedure of Louis’ execution occur?
A
It was to be reached by Appel Nominal: Whereby the deputy had to cast his vote publically; standing on a raised platform in the middle of the hall.
8
Q
What successes did the French Army have between September 1792 and January 1793?
- Army of the north
- Army of the Alps
A
- The Amry of the north had been successful in the Austrian-Netherlands
- The Army of the Alps had seized Savoy and Nice, followed by parts of Piedmont-Sardinia.
9
Q
What did Danton say about the war effort in January 1793?
What was significant about one of these borders?
A
France needed to extend itself to its natural borders; the Alps, Pyrenees and Rhine.
The Rhine was critical for European trade, especially for Britain.
10
Q
Who did France declare war on in 1793?
A
February: Britain
March: Spain- who were allied with Portugal.
11
Q
Who opposed France in the war of the first coalition?
A
Austria, Piedmont-Sardinia, Prussia. From 1793; Spain, Portugal, the United Provinces and Great Britain.
12
Q
How did the war of the first coalition begin for France? give two examples.
A
- poorly.
- Prussians take Longwy in August.
- They then take Verdun in September.
13
Q
When does the war of the first coalition take a turn for France?
What’s happened by October?
A
- September 1792; French victory at Valmy.
- Austrians have withdrawn from Verdun and Longwy, Custine’s army then begins to have multiple victories; Worms, Mainz and Frankfurt.
14
Q
What happens in November 1792 regarding the war?
A
-French victory in Jemappes followed by the Edict of Fraternity, the french are getting more confident in their war effort.
15
Q
What happens in February 1793?
-Internal and external war?
A
- France declares war on the united provinces and Britain.
- Rising in the Vendee.
16
Q
When happens in March and April 1793?
A
Back and fourth of French victory and losses, nothing too major.
April- Democritus defects to the Austrians
17
Q
When does the British blockade begin?
A
June 1793
18
Q
Why was the Vendee such a breeding ground for rebellion?
A
-Refractory priests.
-Sale of church lands had brought in new Bourgeoisie who had raised rents.
Inflation and lack of food supplies meant peasants had been better off under the ancien regime.
Remaining local noblemen didn’t like the revolution.
19
Q
WHat began the rising in the Vendee?
A
The levee for 300,000 men in March 1793.
20
Q
What was occuring in the Vendee rebellion by March 14th 1792?
A
They were massacring juring priests, local officials and national guards, guerrilla warfare spread through the countryside.
21
Q
How far had the rebellion reached by June 1793?
What did this coincide with?
How did the convention react?
A
- Spread over the Loire, had captured Le-Mans and was heading towards Paris.
- Federalist revolt.
- 1st August; They passed a decree demanding the destruction of the Vendee. 100,000 soldiers sent to crush the rebellion. It took them nearly two months, and even then they didn’t fully extinguish it.
22
Q
Why did the Jacobins support the use of extraordinary measures in 1793?
A
- They wanted to win the wars and reassure the Sans Culottes.
- It strengthened their voice, weakened the Girondins as they did not favour such central control.
23
Q
What was established as the first ‘extraordinary measure?’
A
- The CGS, in October 1792, for general policing and administration.
24
Q
How was the army strengthened as a result of the ‘extraordinary measures?’
A
-There was a draft in February 1793 for 300,000 men.
25
What 'extraordinary measures were created in March 1793?'
- Representants en Mission
- Revolutionary Tribunal
- Rebels bearing arms could be executed without appeal in 24 hours
- Surveillance committees
26
What was the final 'extraordinary measure' to be put in place?
April 1793: The Committee of Public Safety
27
Why were the Sans Culottes so unhappy by 1793?
- Inflation due to British naval blockade and war in the colonies limited food.
- Inflation rose by 90% and wages only by 80%, unemployment grew.
- War went badly
28
What did Marat do in March 1793?
What was the result of this?
How did the Girondins react?
Slammed the Girondins as Bourgeoisie businessmen and blamed them for France's problems.
A series of attacks on Girondin printing presses on the 9-10 March.
They arrested him. He was tried but acquitted. He was carried back to the convention a hero and the Girondins were portrayed as enemies of liberty and the republic.
29
What happened on 3rdMay 1793?
8000 Sans- Culottes stormed the convention in demand of price controls. This allowed Robespierre to win a vote on controls on wheat and flour, secured the alliance between the Jacobins and the Sans culottes.
30
What happened between 26th May and 2nd June 1793 that can tell us about the relationship between the National convention and the Sans-Culottes?
- 26th Robespierre called for a rising against the 'corrupt deputies.'
- Thousands of Sans Culottes, supported by National Guard besieged the convention demanding that the Girondins be expelled.
- By the second of June a crowd of 80-100,000 Sans Culottes stormed the convention and the Girondins were expelled.
31
When and what was the Federalist revolt?
May 1793 as a reaction to the Girondins being expelled.
It was mainly in wider France where the radical revolutionary ideas hadn't penetrated.
32
What evidence is there for the Federalist revolt being significant?
- 29th May, Jacobin leaders forced out of office in Lyons (France's second city.)
- 60 of 83 departments revolted and there was serious conflict in 8.
33
How did the federalist revolt pose a real threat?
- Jacobin officials were imprisoned or executed.
- Armies were prepared in departments to help fight for the restoration of the Girondins.
- Rebels in Caen and Marseilles took representants en mission as hostages, Lyons held out for two months against troops.
34
Why was the revolt in Toulon different?
Why was this location so significant?
How did the government deal with the revolt?
- It merged with a royalist reaction, proclaiming Louis XVII king.
- It was a key naval base; had 26 ships (a third of the available french navy)
- Napoleon Bonaparte strategically planned an attack and they took the city by December.
35
How did the government crush the remainder of the Federalist revolts?
-Not too tricky, and they then deployed representants en mission to force the cities back into line.
36
When was the new Jacobin constitution?
| Why was it never put into place?
- 24th June 1793.
| - Because of the war time situation.
37
What were the key aspects of the 1793 constitution?
| How does it reflect the political atmosphere at the time?
- All adult males could vote.
- Everyone had the right to express themselves through political action.
- Everyone was entitled to public assistance- so the government had to supply them with work.
- It expressed that society was more important than the individual, it was like an early form of socialism.
38
When was the levee en masse?
| Who proposed the Levee en masse and why?
- 23rd August 1793
- Bertrand Barere.
- It was only tactical, France was more in need of weapons that fighters. They essentially just wanted to revitalise the war effort.
39
How could men in society contribute to the Levee en Masse?
- Men from 18-25 would be expected to join the army immediately.
- Married men were to 'forge weapons and transport supplies.'
40
How could women in society contribute to the Levee en Masse?
Children?
Old people?
- Women were to 'make tents and serve in hospitals.'
- 'Shred old linen for lint.'
- Brought into squares to excite worriers and preach hatred of kings and the unity of the republic.
41
How did Carnot and Saint Just change the personnel of the army?
- New generals were Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Lazare Hoche, and Jean-Charles Pichegru.
- The previous distinctions between regulars and volunteers also disappeared, all soldiers wore blue.
42
How did Carnot and Saint Just change the technology of the army?
- They created a commission of technicians and scientists to develop the dispatching of telegraphs to and from the war.
- Created a balloonist division to observe the war from the air.
43
How did Carnot and Saint just ensure there would be enough supplies for the army?
- New manufacturing processes to increase supply of gunpowder.
- Factories and workshops were issued with manuals on how to manufacture steel.
44
What significant victories were there for France in the war between August and December 1793?
- Aug: Netherlands.
- Sept: Hondschoote, siege of Dunkirk is lifted.
- Oct: Wattignies.
- Dec: Austrians and Prussians forced to retreat over the Rhine.
45
Who was in the clique of dominant members of the CPS that emerged in September 1793?
Robespierre,
Saint-Just,
Couthon,
Cornot
46
What was the initial relationship between the CPS and the convention?
- The CPS had to report to the convention once a week but it essentially became a rubber stamping exercise for new reforms.
- The convention supplied the CPS with generous funds for their 'special missions.'
47
WHen was Marat murdered?
13th July 1793.
They demanded that all 'suspects' be arrested and their demands posed a serious threat to the convention and the CPS due to their radical nature.
48
What were the demands of the Sans Culottes on the 5th September 1793 when they marched on the Convention?
- Lower bread prices
- higher wages
- attack on those who were suppressing the people.
The convention promised action against grain hoarders and counter-revolutionaries.
49
SEPTEMBER 1793
- What happened on 9th September 1793?
- 17th?
- 29th?
-The convention set up revolutionary armies to attack grain hoarders.
- Law of suspects passed. It redefined a 'suspect.' A new suspect could be arrested because of their conduct, relationships, words or writings.
- Surveillance committees set up.
-Law of general maximum established. It also imposed wage regulations.
50
What did the convention declare in September 1793?
| What shows increasing radicalisation here?
It must destroy the enemies or they would destroy the public.
- Law of suspects
- Increasing numbers of people going to the revolutionary tribunal.
51
Who was executed during the early phase of the Terror?
- 16th and 24th October Marie Antoinette, the Girondins
| - 6th November The Duc of Oreleans
52
What happened in the Vendee during the terror?
Carrier was the blood thirsty representant en mission.
7873 people guillotined and many more were shot or executed without a trial.
2000 executed in noyades. Mock marriages were carried out.
53
What happened in TOulon during the Terror?
After Napoleon recaptured it, the put down was really bloody.
Led by Barras and Freron, 700-800 people were executed.
54
What happened in Lyons during the Terror?
Barere suggested the entire city be brought to the ground for 'going against liberty.'
In December a commission was sent under Herbois and Fouche. People were executed in Mitraillades. By the end of 1794 at least 2000 people had been killed.
55
How many cities had risen up against the government of the Terror?
12, all around France.
56
What policies did the Sans Culottes bring about?
- Law of maximum
- Law of suspects
- dechristianisation campaign
57
What examples are there from the dechristianisation campaign?
- religious signs and symbols destroyed.
- desecrated the royal tombs.
- Figures on the West front of Notre Dame were replaced with busts of Marat.
58
How many clerics had there been in Paris before the revolution? How many were there by 1793?
- 6000
- A few hundred
50 churches, 60 university colleges, 130 monasteries before 1789. These were sold off as Biens Nationaux, and the remaining churches were all closed in November.
59
When was the festival of reason?
- November 1793
| - Organised by Hebert and the Paris commune.
60
How was the festival of reason regarded by the COnvention?
What were the differing views of the CPS?
- They would not accept it and refused to visit it as a body.
- Robespierre believed that religion was key to maintaining authority.
- Hebert and Fouche wanted a completely secular society.
61
What was 'The liberty of cults?'
A decree in December 1793 to affirm religious toleration.
62
Why was a more extreme law passed at the end of 1793, when the internal and external threats had largely been brought under control?
-The CPS argued it was needed as too many opposing bodies had emerged in government.
--It was actually a way of curbing Sans Culottes activities, as they were losing support from other areas of society who had been alienated by the dechristianisation campaign.
63
What was the Law of Frimaire?
| When?
Gave the CPS control over other bodies.
December 1793.
Armies were disbanded from March.
Popular societies were closed down.
Centralisation; departments were only responsible for the collecting of taxes.
64
What was the idea behind the two laws of Ventose?
January and March 1794
Land would be seized from counter revolutionaries and given to the citizens. They were carried out with little enthusiasm or ignored.
65
What did Herbertists want?
| What did the Indulgents want?
- They wanted the Sans-Culottes to rise up against Robespierre who they accused of setting up a dictatorship.
- (Danton, Desmoulins) They wanted the terror to be scaled back.
66
When were the Hebertists and indulgents executed?
| What was the result of this for the CPS?
- 24th and 30th of March 1794
| - They had total control, however there were growing divides in their views.
67
How many people were executed between March and June 1794?
| What were the aims of these executions?
- 1000 (prisons were 'cleansed' of their refuge.)
| - Robespierre urged the country to rid itself of corruption.
68
Why did RObespierre establish the cult of supreme being?
| When was the festival?
He believed dechristianisation campaigns had gone too far.
| 8th June 1794
69
What was the positive impact of the war from April to June 1794?
-Military
Negative?
-Socio economic
The french had regained the initiative and drove the Austrians, British and Dutch back.
Inflation and supply problems caused discontent in Paris. Barere introduced measures for poor relief, pensions and free medical treatment in May.
70
When was Law of Priarial?
What was its effect?
Why was it introduced?
What did it cause?
-June 1794
- All political prisoners brought to Paris
- Obligation to denounce suspects
- No witnesses or defence
- This law replaced all previous legislation and meant that the immunity of the members of the convention disappeared.
- Because of the attempted assisinations of the members of the triumvirate.
- The Great Terror
71
How many people were executed in the 45 days of the Great Terror in Paris alone?
Who was the chief executioner?
How was it more class based?
- 1284
- Tinville
- 35% nobility, 25% clergy and 40% Bourgeoisie.
72
What was the economic situation of the Terror?
- There was a very centralised and planned economy.
- It did not create a new taxation system, it did not control money supply and it failed to prevent inflation. Nor did it end national debt, or develop new industries.
-However, this would have been hard for any government in a wartime situation.
73
Why did the CGS become disenchanted with the Terror?
What was going on in the CPS?
What did the convention think?
What was happening in local governments?
What did RObey do before his downfall?
They weren't consulted over Priarial, they hated dechristianisation, their powers had also been infringed by Robespierre setting up a new network of spies to root out counter revolutionaries.
They were all arguing
That Robespierre was setting up a dictatorship.
They were breaking down due to overload of work and the atmosphere of fear.
Stopped attending meetings.
74
What happened on 8th Thermidor?
| What happened on the 9th?
Robey came before the convention and condemned a number of unnamed deputies and said that France needed further purging.
The convention heckled the CPS and declared its downfall arresting the members.
75
What was the reaction in Paris to the arrest of the CPS?
The commune tried to raise a contingent of the National guard to defend Robespierre, but only a third of the sections responded.
The CPS members were executed on the 10th Thermidor.
76
What were some positive results of the Terror?
- Internal
- external
- economic
- revolution
- Measures successfully dealt with internal enemies and eliminated counter revolutionary activities.
- Enabled external war to be prosecuted successfully and eliminated the Federalist revolt.
- Prevented economic chaos and helped ensure the survival of the people at war.
- Enabled the revolution to survive and establish new republican values, for example to help the poor and give a voice to the suppressed.
77
What were the negatives of the Terror?
- obvious
- resources
- Sans Culottes
- Democracy?
- It was a time of violence, destruction savagery and sadistic behaviour. It brought an unnecessary loss of life.
- Its measure wasted precious resources at a time of war.
- Sans Culottes were favoured at the expense of other groups and economic development was held back.
- Totally undemocratic and caused more divisions than it healed.
