Discover the aftermath of the French Revolution, including the rise of political clubs like the Jacobins, the wars, and the execution of Louis XVI.

The Situation in France After the Revolution

• • Despite Louis XVI signing the Constitution, he secretly negotiated with the King of Prussia.
  • Rulers of neighboring countries were alarmed by the events in France and planned to send troops to suppress the revolution.
  • In April 1792, the National Assembly declared war on Prussia and Austria.
• War and Patriotism
  • Thousands of volunteers joined the army, viewing the conflict as a war of the people against kings and aristocracies.
  • They sang patriotic songs, including the Marseillaise, composed by poet Roget de L’Isle.
  • The Marseillaise, sung first by volunteers from Marseilles, became the national anthem of France.
• Impact of Revolutionary Wars
  • The wars caused economic hardships and losses.
  • While men fought at the front, women managed households and earned a living.
  • Many believed the revolution needed to go further, as the Constitution of 1791 granted political rights only to the wealthy.
• Political Clubs and Jacobins
  • Political clubs became crucial for discussing government policies and planning action.
  • The most influential club was the Jacobins, named after the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.
  • Members:
    • Included small shopkeepers, artisans (shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch-makers, printers), servants, and daily-wage workers.
    • Led by Maximilian Robespierre.
    • Many Jacobins adopted long striped trousers, rejecting the aristocratic knee breeches, earning them the name sans-culottes (meaning "those without knee breeches").
• The Jacobin Insurrection
  • In the summer of 1792, Jacobins organized an uprising fueled by anger over food shortages and high prices.
  • On August 10, they stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, massacred the king’s guards, and held the king hostage.
  • The royal family was imprisoned, and elections were held, granting voting rights to all men above 21 years, regardless of wealth.
• France Becomes a Republic
  • On September 21, 1792, the newly elected Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.
  • In a republic, the government is elected by the people, with no hereditary monarchy.
• Execution of Louis XVI
  • Louis XVI was sentenced to death for treason.
  • On January 21, 1793, he was publicly executed at the Place de la Concorde.
  • Marie Antoinette, the queen, was executed shortly afterward.
• Conflicting Views on Liberty
  • Camille Desmoulins:
    • Argued that liberty embodies Happiness, Reason, Equality, and Justice.
    • Criticized the use of executions, stating that it creates more enemies.
  • Robespierre:
    • Advocated for the use of terror as a necessary tool to protect liberty and the republic.
    • Defined terror as "justice, swift, severe, and inflexible."