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The August Decrees
The Assembly 'abolishes' the ancien (feudal) regime, incuding:
-> Venality
-> All financial privileges
-> Tithes
-> Distinction of birth in relation to employment
-> Seigneurial courts SIGNIFICANCE:
-> The ancien regime had ended and would be replaced by liberty, equality and popular sovereignty
-> Encouraged further legislation to be made.
-> The beginning of the bourgeoisie revolution.
-> Fuelled the resentment of the Third Estate- it did not satisfy their economic grievances. -
Period: to
French Revolution: AOS2
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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The 'blueprint of the Revolution; reflected the ideas of the Enlightenment.
-> "All men are free and equal in rights"
-> Freedom of speech
-> Fair detainment and trial
-> No political or religious discrimination
-> Right to representation SIGNIFICANCE:
-> The fundamental structure of the Constitution
-> Did not clarify who was a "citizen of France"
-> "A statement of bourgeois idealism"-Peter McPhee
-> People were permitted to express their political views-establishment of political clubs. -
The Assembly votes to have one one house in parliament
849 votes to 89 in favour of the bourgeois deputies SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Deputies didn't trust the nobility or the King.
-> The monarchiens lose a significant amount of power to the more radical deputies.
-> Royalists cannot overrule the deputies as they now have much less power.
-> A lot of mistrust within the Assembly-will later cause tension between factions. -
The Assembly votes to give Louis XVI suspensive veto
Suspensive veto= delaying the implimentation of legislation.
673 to 325 votes; 11 deputies abstain, SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Lost most of his authority: couldn't appoint judges, declare war or sign documents/ treaties without the NA's consent.
-> Therefore his influence decreased in exchange for the NA's to increase.
-> Louis was also given an allowance of 25 million francs per year: very humiliating because he is a divine ruler
-> Very evident that the Assembly was not strictly alligned with the King. -
The Fundamental Principles of Government
-> France fuels the power of the nation
-> "There is no power in France superior to the law"; not even the King.
-> The crown is heriditary
-> The National Assembly is the Legislative Power: all laws must be made and passed by them in conjuction with the King. -
Women's March to Versailles
60,000 workers (predominantly women) and members of the National Guard marched to Versailles protesting against high bread prices, unsigned decrees and King Louis' lack of presence in Paris. SIGNIFICANCE;
-> Mass dissatisfaction with the King's rule.
-> The August Decrees and the DORMAC were passed.
-> The Royal Family and the NCA were forced to return to a more radical Paris (more vulnerable and under pressure, now answerable to sans-culottes).
-> Violent potential of the crowds is shown. -
The Reorganisation of France (administrative)
France is split into 83 departments, which were then sub-divided into districts, cantons and communes. SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Satisified some of the criteria in many of the cahiers.
-> Confusing and overlapping borders were eliminated.
-> Local governments were established in each department instead of local lords (bourgeoisie were gaining more control and authority).
-> Education, religion, public matters and taxation were maintained by these governments (less room from corruption). -
The Reorganisation of France (feudal)
All hereditary and noble titles were abolished. SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Citizens could only use their family name.
-> Neither coat of arms nor livery (worn by servants) were permitted.
-> People were to be addressed as "citizen" or "citizeness".
-> A real sense of equality: many social barriers between clases had now been removed/ -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Only 80 bishiops (reduced from 135)
-> Prevented bishop absenteeism
-> Alienated the upper clergy from supporting the Revolution.
-> Church land sold as 'biens nationaux' for profit-loss of wealth, power and status.
-> Church is no longer a private organisation-it is being infilttated by outsiders (non-Catholics). -
Clerical Oath
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The clergy was forced to swear allegiance to the Assembly (the Revolution) over their faith.
-> Tensions increased between the Assembly and the Catholic Church-leads to the Pope's papal bull [April 13 1791].
-> Lack of support (7 out of 85 bishops and one quarter of the clergy) for the oath demonstrated their opposition against the Revolution.
-> Fuelled the Vendee Rebellion -
Mirabeau dies
SIGNIFICANCE: -> King Louis XVI is now vulnerable-has lost key advisor and must now make decisions without his valuable input.
-> The people had also lost a key revolutionary figure who they believed represented and stood up for them (and their rights). They too were now more uncertain and concerned about the future. -
Royal Flight to Varennes
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Demonstrated that Louis XVI was not committed to the Revolution-TRAITOR.
-> Unease increased regarding the monarchy's connections with Austria and Prussia-more rumours of treason and betrayal.
-> People stopped supporting him and now believed that a constutional monarchy was impossible .
-> One of the key reasons that was used against Louis and led to his death.
-> Paranoia and suspicion heightened in Paris in regards to counter-revolutionary activity-contributed to the Terror. -
The Royal Family returns to Paris
SIGINIFICANCE: -> The Paris community's reaction demonstrated their loss of support for the royal family.
-> Under the Assembly's protection-they were not heavily punished.
-> Could not be trusted to leave Paris again-were now considered to be traitors. -
Champs de Mars Massacre
SIGNIFICANCE: -> General Lafayette and Sylvain Bailly lost support from the Paris people-would contribute to Lafayette's defection and Bailly's execution in the future.
-> Marked the beginning of a struggle for power and supremacy between the Assembly and the sans-culottes: the beginnings of radicalism. -
The King agrees to the 1791 Constitution
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Showed that he was held accountable to the nation.
-> Contradicted his previous statements-now untrustowrthy.
-> The ideas of the Revolution had officially been put into place. -
Final session of the National Constituent Assembly
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Marked the end of the reign of the 'men of 1789'
-> Assembly was soon to include more radical and Republican deputies- King Louis's reign and the survival of the constitutional monarchy were longer guranteed.
-> Sans-culottes would become more radical and violent under this Assembly. -
First Session of the Legislative Assembly
SIGNIFICANCE: See 'The Final Session of the National Assembly'. -
King vetos decree against emigres being labelled as suspects
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Provided more evidence towards Louis being a traitor
-> Showed that he still sympathised with nobles who were also traitors-therefore his dedication towards the Revolution was questionable. -
King vetos decree on suspect clergy
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Showed that he wasn't committed to the Revolution.
-> Also demonstrated that he was still loyal to the Church over the government and the nation. -
All refractory priests are declared 'suspect'
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Indicative of the paranoid atmosphere surrounding Paris.
-> Demonstrated that the Assembly was fearful of and detested the Catholic Church and its influence on the Revolution.
-> Further fuelled tensions in the Vendee.
-> Showed that the Assembly was trying to rid the King of any possible counter-revolutionary connections. -
Inflation hits France
-> 100 livres in notes = 63 livres in coins
-> Caused by poor 1791 harvest and the deregulation SIGNIFICANCE: -> Grain wagons were attacked
-> Grocers' riots errupted.
-> The royal court and the bourgeoisie were targeted and accused of hoarding grain and food supplies.
-> Mob violence was encouraged and became the norm as the sans-culottes grew desperate for food. -
France declares war on Austria and Prussia
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Revealed the Assembly's fear of foreign counter-revolutionaries.
-> Increased debt
-> Led to the Levee en Masse, which was pivotal in causing the Vendee Rebellion
-> Alienated potential foreign allies -
Refractory/non-juring priests are banished
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Triggers tension in the Vendee-they do not want to support the Legislative Assembly anymore.
-> The clergy was further alienated by the Assembly, as was Catholics. -
Camp of federes (National Guards) is established outside of Paris
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Essentially kept Louis XVI and his family as prisoners/hostages.
-> Indicative of Paris' paranoia of counter-revolutionary attacks.
-> Played a key role in overthrowing the monarchy on August 10 1792. -
'La Patrie en Danger'
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Caused widespread panic across Paris.
-> Encouraged violence and invited the public to defend the nation (increased patriotism). -
The King dismisses his royal (Girondins) ministers
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Showed that Louis felt threatened and intimidated by the Girondins.
-> Triggered the jouree of 20 June 1792.
-> Further alienated the support of the public, who wanted the Girondins in the Assembly. -
King vetos decrees banishing priests and establishing federes camp
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Showed that Louis wasn't committed to the Revolution-suspicions of being a traitor were essentially confirmed.
-> Turned the Girondins against him.
-> Revealed his desire for executive power.
-> Also revealed his paranoia and fear. -
First Invasion of the Tuileries
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The beginnings of the popular movement.
-> The National Guard let the protesters pass-they are not loyal to the King.
-> Revealed that the Assembly wasn't loyal to Louis either.
-> Louis gained temporary support for 'showing dedication to the Revolution'. -
The National Guard of Marseille arrive in Paris
SIGNIFICANCE: -> King Louis XVI's future was in jeopardy-the National Guard of Marseille supported both the sans-culottes and the Girodins/Brissotins. They were not going to protect him.
-> Played a key role against Louis in the 10 August journee. -
The Brunswick Manifesto
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Caused widespread panic across Paris.
-> Led people to believe that Louis was conspiring against the Revolution with Austria and Prussia.
-> Triggered the August 10 journee and the September Massacres. -
Lafayette leaves Paris to return to frontier after his plan to save the monarchy fails
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Is now considered to be a traitor to the Revolution-cannot be trusted.
-> Has lost all status and power- has little influence on the Assembly or on the people anymore. -
Petion asks the Legislative Assembly to abolish the monarchy
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Indicative of the failing constitutional monarchy.
-> Highlights the Legislative Assembly's authority over the monarchy.
-> He is proposing to reject the 1791 Constitutiion-does he have the right? -
Sans-culottes establish the Revolutionary Commune
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Signalled the sans-culottes new found dominance over Paris.
-> Triggered the August 10 journee and the dissolution of the constitutional monarchy.
-> Forced the Assembly to enfore radical legislation (including abolishing feudal dues, evicting refracotry priests from the country and distributing emigre land). -
Second Invasion of the Tuileries
SIGNIFNCANCE; -> The constitutional monarchy is overthrown.
-> The Feuillants are dissovled, arrested and later executed.
-> Paris has become radical as Revolutionary Commune (sans-culottes) pressures the Assembly.
-> Sets precedent for the Terror. -
Lafayette defects to the Austrians
SIGNIFICANCE: -> France lost a capable general to lead them to victory.
-> Illustrated that France was no longer safe for supporters of the monarchy- it had been overtaken by more radical powers. -
September Massacres
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Highlighted the Assembly's lack of control over the sans-culottes.
-> Indicative of a divide within the Assembly and between the Revolutionary Commune and the Assembly.
-> Set a precedent for the Terror and exposed the true extent of the sans-culottes uncontrollable and violent nature. -
French Victory at Valmy
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Eased the fears and concerns of the people of Paris.
-> Led to an increase in recruitment and volunteers
-> Stronger war effort and more support for the government. -
First session of the National Convention: France is now a REPUBLIC
SIGNIFICANCE:
->A new Republican government
->The Constitutional Monarchy had now been abolished
->Louis XVI is no longer required- he has been overthrown
->The Feuillants had been dissolved
->The Plain (Marais) and the Girondins make up the majority (bourgeoisie, more conservative but not royalists) -
New dating system commences
SIGNIFICANCE: ->1st day of Year One
->New calendar
->Fresh start-wanting to remove any royalist traditions/influences remaining
->Strange to have a 10-day working week and a new calendar -
Committee for General Security is established
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Greater power to a Committee
-> Investigating counter-revolution.
-> Indicative of paranoia and fear of counter-revolution. -
The Iron chest is found at the Tuileries Palace
SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Secret correspondence letters between Louis XVI and Mirabeau
-> State documents Louis kept from his days in office.
-> Evidence to frame Louis for treason against France. -
Opening Trial of the King
SIGNIFICANCE -> Is trialled as citizen Louis Capet, thus showing that he wouldn't be treated like a king when being judged.
-> He is tried for his flight to Varennes, the Champs de Marre massacres, and counter-financing Prussia and Austria against France - claims are very damaging and it makes him appear as a definite traitor. -
King Louis is sentenced to death
SIGNIFICANCE -> Impossible for the monarchy to rule
-> Girondins didn't want Louis to be executed, but for him to abdicate the throne - caused tension in the National Assembly. -
Louis XVI is executed
SIGNIFICANCE -> Constitutional Monarchy cannot return
-> No figure head
-> Increased external threats of war/invasion -
War is extended
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Increased debt-worsening financial situation.
-> Fuels tension in the Vendee (about conscription)
-> Alienated potential support in other European countries -
Conscription of 300,000 men is ordered
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Tension in the Vendee
-> Precursor towards Civil War (in the Vendee)
-> Could possibly result in food shortages
-> Civilians are armed-increased violence and greater risk of riots and massacres
-> Women and children faced with minimal protection -
The Revolutionary Tribunal is established
SIGNIFICANCE -> Government is attempting to increase its control over the nation.
-> Precursor to the laws of the Terror -
Rising in the Vendee/The Vendee Rebellion
SIGNIFICANCE -> France wasn't the unified utopia that Robespierre dreamed of
-> 2/3 of rebels are killed. 70% of Terror deaths occur in the Vendee. De-Christianisation is separating France, not unifying it.
-> Crops are burnt and animals are slaughtered - increased poverty in the Vendee and less imports. -
Summary execution decree is passed
SIGNIFICANCE -> Paranoia increases
-> Easier for the government to capture and eradicate counter-revolutionary threats. -
Surveillance/Watch Committees are set up
SIGNIFICANCE -> Harder for people to act against revolution
-> Displays that government is paranoid about counter-revolutionary
-> Government has gone against the Constitution: people are losing rights from DORMAC ect, -
The Committee of Public Safety is created
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Showed that the public actually wasn’t safe-the country was being plagued by different crises.
-> Power is being centralised to 7 and then 12 members instead of more people.
-> Foreshadows Robespierre's despotic rule over Paris and France. -
Decree establishing Representatives-on-Mission
SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Implemented Terror in the name of liberty
-> Used to quell the violence in the Vendee
-> Played pivotal roles in dethrowning Robespierre. -
General Dumouriez defects
SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Weakened army and military command
-> Set a bad example for the public -
31 May – Convention invaded, Girondins purged from Convention and arrested
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The sans-culottes aren’t intimidated and can actually invade the government
-> The Girondins are gone!
-> The Montagnards/Jacobins are now in power. -
Federalist uprisings occur in response to the Girondins' expulsion from the Convention
SIGNIFICANCE -> Trade was temporarily stopped - ecomically bad for France
-> The National Assembly is predominantly Jacobins: they now had control of the country and could implement more Terror.
-> France is not unified -
New Jacobin Constitution of 1793 is adopted
SIGNIFICANCE -> More rights for the people, including voting rights for women - if this Constitution had been 'adopted', the Terror wouldn't have occured and the Jacobins may have kept their power. -
Danton resigns from the Committee of Public Safety
SIGNIFICANCE; -> Robespierre and his cronies now hold executive control over France.
-> Danton cannot no longer control The Terror-France is left in more dangerous and radical hands. -
Marat is assassinated
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Marat becomes a ‘Revolutionary Martyr’- a figurehead for the revolution.
-> Robespierre now has an excuse to implement the Terror early. -
Robespierre joins the Committee of Public Safety
SIGNIFICANCE: -> A more radical direction for the government
-> Uses his position to promote/advance de-Christianization -
The Vendee Rebellion is subdued
SIGNIFICANCE: -> A precursor for the Terror.
-> Set back industrialisation and economic growth in provincial France.
-> Angered rioters in other regions of provincial France. -
Levee en masse-men, women and children are called to serve
SIGNIFICANCE: -> War is evidently not progressing well.
-> Society continues to be militarized.
-> Tension between revolters (in the Vendee) and the government. -
Revolutionary Armies are formed
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Places Parisians above the rest of France
-> Fuels tension between Federalist/Vendee revolters and the sans-culottes in Paris.
-> Violence and Terror continue and worsen. -
Law of Suspects
SIGNIFICANCE: -> People were more easily convicted of committing crimes against the Revolution.
-> Supported emergency government structures- Committee of General Security, Committee of Public Safety, Revolutionary Tribunal, Watch Committees, Representatives-on-Mission. -
General Maximum on food and wages
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Angers the bourgeoisie and urban workers (e.g. grocery sellers, bakers, farmers)
-> Negatively impacts the economy -
Declaration of Revolutionary Government in France/Legalisation of the Terror
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Clarifies the roles of the two committees.
-> Committee of Public Safety is awarded more power.-> 1793 constitution is suspended-citizens are essentially stripped of their civil rights.
-> The Terror is leigislated. -
Girondins are trialled
SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Former friends of the Revolution are killed.
-> Alienates support from the Federalists. -
Marie Antoinette is executed
SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Retribution and justice for the sans-culottes
-> Hardened her brother’s opposition-will not surrender to France now.
-> Counter-revolutionary fears decreased
-> The Vendeans were furious. -
Major government victory over Vendean rebels at Cholet
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Jacobin government begin winning the Civil War.
-> Spirits are raised-there is more confidence in the government and in the Revolution. -
The Girondins are executed
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Governments continues to eliminate threats to the Revolution.
-> Terror is being used against the government: the government is also a target of the Terror.
-> Resolve of the Federalists is resolved. -
Festival of Liberty and Reason is held in Notre Dame
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Cult of Supreme Beings to appease/satisfy the ultra-radicals.
-> De-Christianisation angered and aliented the general population-spurred the Law of 14 Frimaire.
-> Hebertists (who supported de-Christianisation) were also lated executed as a result. -
Law of 14 Frimaire
SIGNIFICANCE; -> Outlined the relationship between the Convention and the two Committees, as well as the roles of ministers, of the Revolutionary Tribunal and of the Watch Committees of each district.
-> Power is invested/centralised in the Committee of Public Safety. -
Robespierre adresses the National Convention
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Led to the arrest and executions of Hebert and 14 of his followers.
-> Spread fear and paranoia about counter revolutionary action. -
Hebertists are tried and executed
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Critics of the Revolution were eliminated.
-> Alienated the support of the sans-culottes.
-> Contributed to Robespierre's downfall. -
Dantonists are tried and executed
SIGNIFICANCE:
-> Indicative of political tensions within the Jacobins.
-> Triggered more executions without sufficient evidence (just according to suspicion).
-> Robespierre appeared to be somewhat a traitor-he sent his friends (Danton and Desmoulins) to their deaths. -
Festival of Supreme Being led by Robespierre
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Robespierre lost respect from his deputies and the general public.
-> Contributed to Robespierre's downfall. -
Law of 22 Prairial (Suspects)
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Widens the scope of people considered to be counter-revolutionaries.
-> Unfair trialling: no legal representation, no evidence for the defence, imminent death penalty, three-day trials. -
Robespierre makes accusations against members of the National Convention
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The final straw for the deputies of the Convention.
-> Robespierre loses the trust of both the Convention and the sans-culottes- he is arrested and subsequently executed.
-> Plays a key role in Robespierre's downfall. -
Thermodor 09- Robespierre and associates are arrested
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The deputes were not afraid or imtimidated by him.
-> Sans-culottes did not rally behind him or support him-he was powerless. -
Robespierre is executed
SIGNIFICANCE: -> All Jacobin influences/remnants are destroyed.
-> The Terror begins to come to an end.
-> Jacobin Party is dissolved-they become targets of the White Terror.
-> Tensions and concerns increase within the Convention regarding who supported Robespierre. -
National Convention is reorganised; Law of Suspects is revoked; Political prisoners are released
SIGNIFICANCE: -> All remenants of the Terror and the Jacobin era have been destroyed.
-> Paranoia and political tensions have eased/died down.
-> An attempt to save those who had been responsible for creating these institutions (of the Terror). -
Detainees who are not under the Law of Suspects are released
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Were now free to seek revenge and retribution for having suffered under the Terror and Robespierre's regime. -
Revolutionary Commune of Paris and Sectional Watch Committees are abolished
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Jacobin era and its influences are dismantled.
-> The Terror is coming to an end. -
The National Convention stops offering financial aid to the Church
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Indicative of the bitter relationship between the Church and the Convention.
-> Powers have been separated-it is no longer the government's responsibility to fund the Church.
-> The poor, sick and homeless can longer be aided financially. -
Jacobin Club in Paris is closed
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Radicalism had ended.
-> Allowed the Marais and the Girondins to reclaim seats and restore order.
-> The sans-culottes would virtually have no representation.
-> Bourgeois ideals would now prevail. -
Survivng Girondin deputies retake their seats in the National Convention
SIGNIFICANCE: -> France returned to conservative governing.
-> The bourgeois and pronvicial citizens would benefit-the sans culottes would suffer. -
Law of Maximum is abolished
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Prices of vital goods increased (meat by 300 percent and butter by 100 percent).
-> Urban workers grew more desperate-contributed to final uprisings in April and May 1795.
-> Frmers thrives-gained more profit, were able to pay taxes and buy more land. -
Decree regarding the reorganisation of the Revolutionary Tribunal
SIGNIFICANCE: -> Suspects could have legal defence and summon witnesses.
-> Law of Suspects was abolished by the end of 1794.
-> Judicial system was much fairer - the number of trials and executions was now decreasing. -
Freedom of worship is officially restored
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The Church and the State were seperate powers.
-> Christians of all denominations were free to worship. -
Constitution of 1793 is abolished
SIGNIFICANCE: -> The radicalism in Paris had been overwhelmed by bourgeois values.
-> The bourgeoisie had returned to power.
-> Increased tensions in Paris between the government and the sans-culottes (heightened by extreme famine).
