Jacobins• Party of the Revolution• Originally a club for the
French elite• Initially moderate
reformers, became violent to anyone who opposed them
• Formed Committee of Public Safety
• Enforced conservative views by using the guillotine
Jean Paul Marat• Jacobin journalist who
wrote in his paper, names of Girondists to be killed
• Wanted any opponent of radicalism to be killed
• Skin condition (from living in sewers) caused him to soak in tub most hours of the day
• Murdered by Charlotte Corday
Girondins• Moderate Republicans who
were educated, middle class
• Wanted war with Austria• Became opponents of
Robespierre• Faction dissolved after they
were unable to prevent trial and execution of the king
• Target of persecutions by Jacobins, specifically Mountain
Sans Culottes• Working class, refused
to wear the ‘breeches’ of the wealthy thus, the name (which literally means ‘no pants’)
• Anti-rich, therefore, anti-king
• Radical republicans who wanted direct democracy
• Considered savages by• most
Bourgeoisie• Wealthy, educated members
of the 3rd estate (thus they paid all the taxes)
• King had denied them nobility status (which would have exempted them from taxes)
• Demanded a written constitution, and formed a national guard
• Participated in revolution for themselves, not the masses
Fueillant
• Politically moderate branch of the Jacobins
• Supported the King and wanted a Constitutional Monarchy
• Included 264 ex-Jacobin members
Mountain• radical Jacobins• Noted for their democratic
outlook• Montagnards controlled the
government during the climax of the Revolution in 1793–94
• sat on the higher benches of the assembly
• Against the King, imposed policy of terror
• Ultimately led Robespierre to his downfall and execution
Robespierre• Originally, wanted
democracy and worked for the poor
• Helped write Dec of Rights of Man
• Rose to power by killing his enemies
• Led the Reign of Terror, killing 40,000 people in 15 months
• Eventually executed
September Massacres• King was married to the Austrian
princess Marie Antionette• Prussian (Austrian) army was marching
into France to restore Louis to the throne• Opponents of the Revolution had been
thrown in jail• Jacobins did NOT want them released, so
they broke into the jails and killed them all
• 3 day wave of chaos and mob violence• Then moved on to killing Girondins and
over 200 priests (they also supported king)
• Also sent message to Prussians “don’t mess with us, we’re crazy”
Charlotte Corday• Girondin who supported the
King• Was distraught over the
September Massacres and Reign of Terror
• Saw Marat as the source of evil and discord in France
• Felt he was responsible for the deaths of thousands
• Believed killing Marat would end the Terror and preserve the Revolution
• Stabbed him in his tub• She was tried, convicted and
guillotined in 4 days
Phrygian Cap
• Represented freedom and patriotism
• Radical Revolutionaries (jacobins) began wearing them after the Storming of the Bastille
Tri-Colore
• Revolutionary flag of France
• Three colors represent – Liberty– Equality– Fraternity (brotherhood)
• Used following the Storming of the Bastille