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![French
Revolution
• Role of the Sans-Culottes
• What is a sans-culottes?
“He is someone who always goes about on foot… [He]
has no chateaux, no valets to wait on him… He is useful
because he knows how to till a field, to forge iron, to use
a saw… and to spill his blood to the last drop for the
safety of the Republic… In the evening he goes to the
assembly of his Section, … ready to support sound
proposals with all his might, and ready to pulverise
those which come from the despised faction of
politicians. Finally, a sans-culotte always has his sabre
well-sharpened, ready to cut off the ears of all
opponents of the Revolution.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/16-phase23-200525163632/85/16-French-Revolution-20-320.jpg)
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16 French Revolution
- 1.
- 2. J'ai vécu. (Ihave survived.) ∼ Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, When asked what he had done during the Reign of Terror
- 3. The French Revolution FrenchRevolutionary Culture
- 4. French Revolution • Cultureof the Revolution • Not just government policy • Cultural development reflecting ideas, values of Revolution • Visual arts, literature, music, dress • Dominated by ideas of • Nationalism • Progress • Social unity • Egalitarianism
- 5. French Revolution • Cultureof the Revolution • Visual symbols more than just expression of ideas • Used to demonstrate loyalty to Revolution • Increasingly important as Revolution became more radical • Public shows of loyalty could save one’s life • Cockade: common 18th c. device to show one’s loyalty • National & class unity – insult to symbol serious offense
- 6. French Revolution • Cultureof the Revolution • Borrowed heavily from symbols of classical mythology, Enlightenment, American Revolution • Phyrgian Cap • Derived from ancient Phyrgian cap • Given to liberated slaves • Used extensively in American Revolution • Rimless, made of red felt or wool • Symbolized liberty given to oppressed people • Mainly worn by urban working classes Marianne, symbol of new Republic: youth, regeneration, virtue
- 7. French Revolution • Cultureof the Revolution • Shifts in Fashion • Paris had been center of fashion in Ancien Régime • With Revolution, ornate clothing OUT • Extravagance contradicted values of Revolution • Simple & restrained dress IN • Especially during more radical phases • Tricolour popular in clothing, accessories • Mockery of victims
- 8. French Revolution • Cultureof the Revolution • Formalities of pre-Revolution France • Address: • “Sire,” “Monsieur,” and “Madame” abandoned • Replaced with “Citoyen” and “Citoyenne” – more egalitarian • Greetings & shows of deference • Bows, curtsies, genuflection abandoned
- 9. French Revolution • Cultureof the Revolution • La Marseillaise • Anthem of the Revolution • Written as a war song • When new Republic went to war with Austria • Gained public support Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle sings la Marseillaise for the first time
- 10. French Revolution: La Marseillaise Verse 1: Allonsenfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L'étendard sanglant est levé ! (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes, Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes! Verse 1: Let's go children of the fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny's Bloody flag is raised! (repeat) In the countryside, do you hear The roaring of these fierce soldiers? They come right to our arms To slit the throats of our sons, our friends!
- 11. French Revolution: La Marseillaise Refrain: Aux armes,citoyens ! Formez vos bataillons ! Marchons ! Marchons ! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons ! Refrain: Grab your weapons, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood Water our fields!
- 12. The French Revolution Phase2: 1792-1794 The Jacobin Revolution
- 13. French Revolution • Stormingthe Tuileries Palace • 10 August 1792 • Armed mob attacked palace • Swiss Guard overwhelmed, massacred • Louis XVI & family surrendered • To Legislative Assembly • Formally arrested 13 August • Sent to Tour du Temple, a prison
- 14. French Revolution • Endof the Monarchy • Declaration by National Assembly • France a republic, monarchy abolished • Louis & family stripped of titles & honors • The question then: what to do with the King? • Girodins favored imprisonment • Radical element called for immediate execution • Then – the incident of the iron chest
- 15. French Revolution • By 1791,3 Major Political Factions: • Girodins • Republic w/o the bloodshed, not for execution of the King • Jacobins • Radical, generally urban, lead the Republic into its most violent stage • Sans-culottes • Working class, not members of one of the above parties, radical
- 16. French Revolution • Girodins • Goinginto early part of the Jacobin Revolution • Shared power with the more radical Jacobins • Dominated National Convention • But tensions grew late 1792 and early 1793 An artist’s depiction of the Girondins, the dominant faction until mid 1793
- 17. French Revolution • MadameRoland (1754-1793) • Prominent member of Girondins • Saloniére, writer, active member of Revolution • Salons different from traditional – strictly political • Contributions to Revolution • Writing, advising, political action, driving force behind her husband’s work as Minister of the Interior • Split with Jacobins on question of war with Austria
- 18. French Revolution • The Girodins(or Girondins) • Moderate Republicans who supported a republican government • Believed it should involve entire nation, not just Paris • Radical Jacobins • More influenced by the people of Paris • Especially the sans culottes • Including radicals like Robespierre, Marat, Couthon, Barère
- 19. French Revolution • Jacobins • Originallya club • Men only, though women could watch debates from balcony • Favored abolishing the monarchy • Need for strong centralized government • Bringing about substantive change through political rule • And control of the economy, as in price controls • Allied with the Sans-culottes
- 20. French Revolution • Role ofthe Sans-Culottes • What is a sans-culottes? “He is someone who always goes about on foot… [He] has no chateaux, no valets to wait on him… He is useful because he knows how to till a field, to forge iron, to use a saw… and to spill his blood to the last drop for the safety of the Republic… In the evening he goes to the assembly of his Section, … ready to support sound proposals with all his might, and ready to pulverise those which come from the despised faction of politicians. Finally, a sans-culotte always has his sabre well-sharpened, ready to cut off the ears of all opponents of the Revolution.”
- 21. French Revolution • TheRole of the Sans-Culottes • Working class people of Paris • Democratic government with universal suffrage • Price controls on food, other essential goods • Use of mob violence, intimidation for political change • Involved in almost all of the violent journées in Paris during the early 1790s • Stereotype: Backbone of the Revolution
- 22. French Revolution • SeptemberMassacres of 1792 • Series of murderous riots & rampages in Paris • Targets: the prisons • Housed suspected counter- revolutionaries, royalist soldiers, clergymen & nobles • Precipitated by the Austro- Prussian invasion of France • 11,000-14,000 murdered • Endorsed by radicals like Robespierre
- 23. French Revolution •National Convention • Governed France between abolition of monarchy in Sept. 1792 • And creation of Directory in 1795 • Elected by broader voter base: all men over 21 who were in employment or receiving income • 749 deputies – composed of radical Jacobins, Girondins, and moderates Monument to the National Convention
- 24. French Revolution • National Convention •In first few months, the National Convention • Created a new Republic • All the elements of a new form of government • With little previous experience or examples to draw upon • Managed war with Austria and Prussia • Tried and executed the King • Faced radicalism and riots in Paris
- 25. French Revolution • Trial& Execution of the King – late 1792 • Trial conducted by the National Convention • Crimes against the French People • Found guilty with no votes to acquit • Split on sentence: • Jacobins wanted execution • Girondins wanted an “appeal to the people”
- 26. French Revolution • Executionof the King – late 1792 • Granted final visit with wife & children • Taken by cart through streets of Paris to guillotine “I forgive my enemies. I trust that my death will be for the happiness of my people, but I grieve for France and I fear she may suffer the anger of the Lord”
- 27. French Revolution • Executionof the King – late 1792 • Shocked Europe • Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia expressed outrage • Geared up for military action • United States • General reaction was to mourn death of Louis the man • But not mourning the end of monarchy
- 28. French Revolution •The Guillotine • Symbol for bloody period of Revolution
- 29. French Revolution • Counter Revolution •Much of revolutionary violence occurred in Paris • In the rest of the country, favored a Republic • But with a more moderate revolution • And began to rise up • Jean-Paul Marat began publishing names of counter-revolutionaries • Calling for the death
- 30. French Revolution • Leadersof the Jacobin Revolution • Maximilien Robespierre • Most significant revolutionary leader of the radical period (1792-94) • Critical figure in the Committee of Public Safety (CPS) • Architect of the Reign of Terror • Represented Third Estate at Estates-General • Rise to fame at the National Convention • Admired by Sans-Culottes for his democratic values
- 31. French Revolution • Leadersof the Jacobin Revolution • Georges Danton • Lawyer, abandoned law for revolutionary politics • Powerful public speaker • Speeches contributed to September Massacres • In National Convention, supported establishment of • Tribunals • Committee for Public Safety • But views moderated, came to oppose excessive violence
- 32. French Revolution • Leadersof the Jacobin Revolution • Louis Antoine de Saint-Just • Close friend of Robespierre • Defended use of violence against those opposed to government • Prepared death sentences for prominent Girondins and even former allies • Helped write Constitution of 1793
- 33. French Revolution • Leadersof the Jacobin Revolution • Jean-Paul Marat • Journalist, physician, & politician, among many other interests • Failed to break into scientific elite, growing bitter • Fought bitterly with the Girondins • Believed they were covert enemies of republicanism • Called for use of violence against them • Suffered from skin disease • Rarely seen in public
- 34. French Revolution • Fallof the Girondins • After execution of the king, influence of Robespierre, Danton, Marat grew • Growing hostility centered in Paris • Girondins favored a republic serving interests of all of France • And then the Assassination of Marat by Charlotte Cordray • A Girondin & counter-revolutionary • Believed by killing him excesses of violence would stop • Instead, made a martyr out of him
- 35. French Revolution The Deathof Marat
- 36. French Revolution • Revolutionary Tribunals •Politically motivated courts • Formed by the National Convention in March 1793 • Judicial bodies for revolutionary justice to counter- revolutionaries • Composed of jury of 12 • One of the main organs of the Reign of Terror • Accused persons stripped of their rights • Reduced standards of evidence and required the Tribunals to either acquit or sentence to death
- 37. French Revolution • RevolutionaryTribunals • Architect of the tribunals: • Jean-Baptiste Carrier (1756-1794) • Known for revolutionary zeal, cruelty • Hatred for organized religion & clergy • During Reign of Terror, atrocities • Ordered mass drowning of hundreds • Suspected royalists in Nantes • Many were priests, nuns, women, children
- 38. French Revolution • March 1793,Carrier speaks to National Convention • Proposal of a Revolutionary Court • Based in Paris • Designed to silence critics of the Convention • And its radicalism • While placating the sans-culottes Let us be terrible, to dispense the people from being so. - Danton, 1793
- 39. French Revolution • Paris Tribunal •Extensive powers to deal with those accused • Of opposing, undermining, or working against the Revolution • Soon numerous complaints about the Tribunal • Too slow, too many acquittals • So streamlined and reconstituted • Increased in size from 1 to 4 courts • Law of Suspects - Previously, required evidence • Now, vague suspicion or accusations of • Counter-revolutionary activities or political views • Enough to be indicted
- 40. French Revolution • Tribunalsbecame political courts • With no real legal restrictions • Radical political “clubs” put forth names of the accused • The Jacobins especially targeted political enemies • Line between Jacobin groups & Revolutionary Tribunals blurred
- 41. French Revolution • Committeeof Public Safety • 12-man committee of National Convention • Formed April 1793 • Intended to function as a war council • And a de facto executive cabinet • Contained 9 seats, rotated monthly • To prevent an individual or faction • To become too powerful • Within 6 months, dominated by radicals
- 42. French Revolution • Committeeof Public Safety • Accumulated, expanded its power • Eliminating its political enemies • Through sham trials and executions • Suppressed ideas that started Revolution • Including Declaration of the Rights of Man • Endorsed & contributed to Reign of Terror
- 43. French Revolution • Reign ofTerror • Most violent phase of the Revolution • Committee had near dictatorial power • To protect the Republic from foreign attacks • And from internal rebellion • Between summers of 1793 & 1794, 50,000 French citizens were executed • Argued necessary to protect the Revolution
- 44. French Revolution • Trial& Execution of Marie Antoinette • 14-16 October 1793 • Guilty of • Depleting national treasury • Conspiracy against security of state • High treason, intelligence activities to aid the enemies of the state • Executed 16 October
- 45. French Revolution • The“Grand Terror” begins 5 April 1794 • Robespierre in charge • Saw terror as a bitter but necessary medicine • Purge of reactionary elements so Revolution could survive • Revolutionary Tribunals • Politically motivated courts
- 46. French Revolution • Momentumof Terror • September 1793: the Law of Suspects • Outlined who could be targeted by the Reign of Terror • Included immediate detention of anyone who 1. Hoarded grain 2. Harbored suspects 3. Evaded the draft 4. Possessed subversive documents 5. Spoke critically of government
- 47. French Revolution • The Lawof the Great Terror – June & July 1794 • Allowed Tribunals to act swiftly, autonomously, without review • Ordinary citizens could denounce suspects directly to Tribunals • Accused persons had virtually no rights • No depositions, no cross-examination, no defense evidence • Two choices: acquit or death penalty • Marked increase in number of executions
- 48. French Revolution • TheLaw of the Great Terror • June & July 1794 • Accelerated the wheel of terror • Executions increased tenfold • Often dozens at a time • Streets flowed with blood • Victims were often accused by neighbors with a grudge • Or on the flimsiest of evidence
- 49. French Revolution • Sweeping AwayTraces of the Ancien Régime • Sought to institute • New social and legal system • New system of weights and measures • New calendar based on ancient societies and nature • Dating from 22 September 1792: Year 1 • New religion
- 50. French Revolution • RevolutionaryCalendar • 12 months, 30 days each • Names based on nature • Generally weather events in Paris • Autumn: Vendémiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire • Winter: Nivôse, Pluviôse, Ventôse • Spring: Germinal, Floréal, Prairial • Summer: Messidor, Theremidor, Fructidor French Revolutionary Calendar, 1794
- 51. French Revolution • RevolutionaryCalendar • 10 days in a week, 3 weeks in a month • Names based on numerals • To replace influence of “saint’s days” in Catholic Church • Rural Calendar created • Each day of the year had a unique name based on rural economy • Animals, plants, tools of agricultural French Revolutionary pocket watch showing ten-day décade names and thirty-day month numbers from the Republican Calendar, but with duodecimal time.
- 52. French Revolution • Cultof Supreme Being • Artificial religion created by Robespierre • Deist god who created the world according to natural laws • Celebration of the Enlightenment and regeneration • Failed to catch on with the people • Overwhelmingly maintained their Catholic ties
- 53. French Revolution Robespierre & Religious Reform Artist’sdepiction of the fake mountain, with Robespierre on peak, at Festival of the Supreme Being
- 55. The French Revolution Phase3: 1794-1799 Thermidorian Reaction & The Directory
- 56. French Revolution • Thermidorian Reaction •Began with downfall of Robespierre in July 1794 • Enemies began campaign against Robespierre • Mocking his behavior at the Festival of the Supreme Being • Resisted escalation of the Terror • Month-long absence gave enemies an opportunity to plot
- 57. French Revolution • 1794 Coupd’état • Against the leaders of the Jacobin Club • Who dominated Committee of Public Safety • Triggered by vote of National Convention to execute • Robespierre, Saint-Just, several other leading members • Ended most radical phase of the French Revolution
- 58. French Revolution • Downfallof Robespierre • Spring of 1794: Committee of Public Safety • Near absolute control over government • But two rival groups emerged, critical • Hébertists: more radical • Executed March 1794 • Dantonists: more moderate • Executed April 1794 • Violence escalated
- 59. French Revolution • Downfallof Robespierre • June 1794 • Acting more like a dictator • Passing Law of 22 Prairial • Any French citizen power to arrest, indict before Revolutionary Tribunal • No right of defense, no witnesses allowed • Tribunal required to acquit or execute • Result: Deaths at the guillotine more than tripled Contemporary cartoon showing Robespierre executing the executioner. The monument in the background carries the inscription 'Here Lies All Of France'
- 60. French Revolution • ThermidorianRevolution • July 1794 to March 1795 • National Convention struggled to find its footing • Greater freedom of the press led to conflict between factions • Throughout 1795, factional rebellions, each suppressed • Jacobins coup attempt in May, rebellions in June, July • Royalists in October
- 61. French Revolution • Thermidorian Reaction •Loose coalition of conservative Republicans • Wanted to get rid of the radical Jacobins • Focus on rebuilding the French economy • Wound back the excesses of the Terror • Repealed laws like Law of 22 Prairial & Law of Suspects, & Law of Maximum • Weakened Committee of Public Safety • Embarked on a ‘White Terror’ to purge the Jacobins
- 62. French Revolution • ThermidorianReaction • Ended Constitutional Church • Permitted freedom of religion • Religious worship still strictly controlled • Rolled back the price controls initiated by the National Convention
- 63. French Revolution • WhiteTerror Unfolds • Jacobin Club shut down, outlawed • Groups targeted by Reign of Terror • Formed gangs or militias • To get rid of the Jacobins • Some were royalist in philosophy • All wanted vengeance
- 64. French Revolution • TheDirectory: 1795-1799 • Execution of Robespierre, 21 others • Fear of return of Terror or the oppressive Monarchy The Convention Rises Against Robespierre The Execution of Robespierre
- 65. French Revolution • TheDirectory: 1795-1799 • Directory a Weak Government • In place for 5 years • A new Constitution • Power in hands of propertied classes • Return to rule by the bourgeois • Executive body: 5 Man Directory • Chosen by the Legislature Constitution of Year III François Antoine de Boissy d'Anglas, a principal author of the Constitution of 1795
- 66. French Revolution • TheDirectory • Abbé de Sieyès reemerged as key player • But unhappy with the progress of the Directory • Important time for French Revolution • Economy stagnant, treasury empty, constant crisis • End to excesses of Reign of Terror
- 67. French Revolution • The Directory •Two legislative bodies • Council of Five Hundred (lower house) • Council of the Ancients (upper house) • Executive branch: Five Directors • Joint power • Real power was held by these directors
- 68. French Revolution • TheDirectory • Returned France to more conservative government • More exclusive, less democratic • Power to bourgeois liberal-conservatives • Members of Directory were • Pragmatic • Less flamboyant • Less ideologically driven than Jacobins “The Tyranny Crushed by the Friends of the Constitution of the Year III”
- 69. French Revolution • The Directory •Coup of 18 Fructidor • Directory purged all the winners of the 1797 vote • 57 leaders of Royalists banished to Guiana, almost certainly to their deaths • 42 newspapers closed • Kept current leadership in place • Essentially, not any better than the monarchy they’d overthrown
- 70. French Revolution • The Directory •Public Discord • French people were war-weary, wanted peace • Distrust from the years of atrocities, bloodshed • And the collapse of the economy raised question of what it was all for • In 1797 elections, Royalists won majority & poised to take charge of Directory • Reaction: Coup of 18 Fructidor