Historians Have Long Known The Period From Early March To Early April 1793

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HistorianshavelongknowntheperiodfromearlyMarchtoearlyApril1793
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asadekpeninsngtheformationoflearningthatwillSeliliViolenceYear
II.RevolutionaryTribunal,theoversightcommittee,deputyksistemadeliverymissionto
departments,thePublicSafetyCommittee,catchingalotofforeigners,
theimmuneParliament(firstestablishedinJune1789):allvotedbyNaonal
Conventionwithinjustafewweeks.Fitting,mostofthemeasures
Thesemeasureswillbeimplementedmorestringent,onlyinthelastfewmonthsand
especiallyafterjourne5September,1793,whenmany
frompartsofParisandtheclubforcedtheCommitteeofPublicSafety
Conventionandtoenforcepoliciesmoreoppressive.though
howeversuddencreationinMarchofanymeasures
andinsasstillamatterofhistoryngpen.Inthehistoryofthepasthasbeen
understoodattributedthisdevelopmenttothe'state'thistime:aboveallto
Vendeuprising,tocollapsenearthenorthernfrontinthewarand
ThenextgeneralDumouriezbetrayal.Here,withoutrejectingthepantryonlywaperis
Therefore,IwouldliketoexplorethepsychologicalandemotionaldimensionsofthedecisionoftheConvention,andin
dooffersomereflectionsonTerrorarrival.Iwillbase
pemerhaanIinallcorrespondencewrittenbyprovidingminister
fromvariousNationalAssembliesandbyothercontemporarieswholivedthroughtheperiod
The.Intheirsearchforanpemerhabycontemporaries,mostexperts
historyhasreliedalmostentirelyonthememoirsofaRevolutionary.
Talleyrand'smemoirs,AlexandreLameth,BertrandBarere,PaulBarras,MadameRolandand
marquisdeFerrirescalleduponmanytimesbyhistoriansofthenineteenthcenturyandthesecond
twenty.Butitwasunusualmemoirwrittentwentyorthirtyyearsafterthega
Revolution.Thatpasses,themoredifficulttouse.Theyusually
traveledonvarioustopics,interspersingpolikwaperisaccountwith
pemerhapersonalanallnewsfamily,health,localgossip
orinstructionsonafarmorbusiness.Inaddition,alotdependson
Specificrelationshipsbetweenindividualauthorsandtheircorrespondents,andunfortunatelyweare
usuallyhasonlyonepartofthe'conversation.Ingeneral,wehave
givingprioritytoexchangeagainandmaintainedbetweenclosefriends,
friendsorrelatives.anycharacterthatisveryuseful,especiallywhen
theyread'intheseries,'whenonecomparesthereactionsandresponses
deliveredbyseveraldifferentwitnessesthatthroughthesameexperience.
accountthesedaysbycontemporariessuchaspithy,anddeliveranopinionpemerha
withoutknowledge,cangivetheimpressionthattherichintoastateofmind,and
Revolutionaryexperiencewhenthedecisionwasmadengpen.
Itisimpossibleinthepresentessaytoprovideabroaddevelopmenton
allperiswaMarch1793.HereIwouldliketogiveparticularemphasis,
Thefirst,ontheimportanceofonlyobsessionconspiracyamongtheleadershipand,second,
aboutaremarkableeffectonthemindsoftheelitemilitaryvictoryattheendof1792.Issues
conspiracybeliefsduringtheFrenchRevolutionhasbeenthesubjectofdebatein
Inrecentyears,debateshaveproducedmanykelandar
atleasttwobooks.Inmyownview,thetrusttrillionth
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infactrampantamongthepopularclassesthroughouttheeighteenthcenturyand
ontheeveof1789.However,therearebooksthataremuchlowerforthe
suchaphenomenonamongtheeducatedelitewhowillbeginnggi
andledtheRevolution.AlthoughsomewritersoftheeighteenthcenturysuchasVoltaire
andAbbBarruelabsolutelyconvincedoftheexistenceofaconspiracy,
JoriaccordingtosearchthroughthedatabaseARTFLnotused
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JoriaccordingtosearchthroughthedatabaseARTFLnotused
oranywordthatisclearlysynonymous,andthosewhodo,the
referredmainlytoperisperiswawainthepasthistory.Montesquieu
mengisyTarkanthattheconspiracyismuchmorelikelyinthecontemporaryworldthanin
GreekandRomantimes.Diderotmockedpopulartendencytoexplaintheprice
higheconomicrointermsofplot:"Peopleknowthatthegrainmustbecheap,
astheygetalittleandveryhungry.Buttheydonotknow,andwillnot
knowhowharditistoreconcilethevicissitudesoftheharvestneedsto
wheat...."Indeed,intheeighteenthcenturyandthenew
modelforanalysisperiswapolikandeconomyhavebecomereadyforclassesathigh,
Themodelnotrequiremovementoftheindividualspirit.Languageconspiracyrarelyor
DoesnotexistincorrespondenceRevolutionaryRegimeOldconservedforthefuture.
Onecansaymuchthesameofthetreatisewrittenbythefuture
RealbenefitstogainPreRevolutionaryperiodandoftheCahiersdedolanceson
1789.Althoughtherearemanyrequestsforakauntabiliministerand
generalknowledgeofgovernmentfinances,thenotionofconspiracyand
languageislargelynotpresent.Mostsoldiersin1789was
hopearistocracycanovercome"prejudices"andwonovertothecause
Revolutionthroughreasonandpersuasion.Inflationconspiracyfearamongtheleadershipafter
June1789appearespecially,inmyview,ofthefourelementsoftheprocess
Therevolutionitself.Itcauses,inthefirstplace,ratherthanarealthreat
revolutionaryopposition,ledbyagreatmanynoblesand
clergymenOldRegime.IfinJauagain,theeffortsoftheopposition
noblesandsoldiersmovedacrosstheRhinenotseemveryefficient
andnotpossible,itisverydifficultfortheleadershipoftheRevolutiontoassessthedanger.
Thethreatseemedallthemoremenacingwhenmorethantwenty
fivethousandparishprieststhroughoutthegovernment,notsatisfiedwiththereorganizationha
Revolutionary'ChurchintheCivilConstitutionoftheClergy,refusedtotaketheoath
limiteddakaanthtothenewregime.Itisimpossibletoignoretheindividual
suchasthis,thenobilityandclergy,whosenhopehavetheeffectofatrillionth
inthepastandarenowwidelysuspectedofplottingconspiraciesandcounterrevolution.
Second,oneshouldtakeintoaccountthedecentralization,filledinsandpsychologicalas
powervacuumthatcharacterizedtheperiodfrom1789to1793.Bytheendoftheseason
summerof1789thecountrywassweptbyapowercrisissuchasanyFrench
experiencedintheirlifetime.ManyOldRegimeofficialsintendants,
subdelegates,thepolicecommissioner,taxcollector,magistratefledto
theirlifeorlaylowforafewmonths.evenafter
administrativeandjudicialsystemhadbeenestablishedbytheStateCouncilin
1790and1791,itcantakemonthsbeforethetrillionthstructureandrunning.in
Intheory,thepowerinthesystemisquiteclear:thelowerstemoftheministersoftheking
throughthedepartment,districtandmunicipalbureaucracy.Butinreali,itisvery
difficulttoenforcethelawandcommandssentfromonelevel
next.Therewillbemanyexamplesofstubbornness,disobedienceandpassiveresistanceopen
batotheinstructionsfromabove.Atthesametime,moreover,there
mizatrunkextendsonnearlyallauthoritiespreviouslystrengthened
themoodisnotvolatileanddakstabilaninthecountryandhelpmultiply
anatmosphereoffearandsuspicion.Thisisespeciallythecasewith
theemergenceofanypowerlineaspopularassociations,andnationalguardunits
partsoftheneighborhoodinParisandinseveralbigcitiespower
oftencompeteforpowerwiththelocaladministrationandsometimeswith
TheStateCouncilitself.Insuchaconfiguration,centralizedpowersolooks
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significantlydifferentfromtheabsolutemonarchyoftheOldRegimenotanyoneeverquite
Certainwieldingpowerandmight,infact,be
closetconspiratorshidingbehindthe"maskPATRIOsme,"manipulatingthesituation
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closetconspiratorshidingbehindthe"maskPATRIOsme,"manipulatingthesituation
pantryonlyforpersonalorforthebenefit
aforeignpower.Toga,patriotelitewasshakenbyaseriesofgenerallytrue,
athighprofile
betrayalbyindividualswhohavetheirpreviouslybelievedandcalculated
asastrongsupporteroftheRevolution.Seperweknow,LouisXVIinflightattempt
June1791wastotallytraumatizedforFrenchcitizenseverywhere,especiallyafter
King'shandwrittennotescanbefoundwhereLouiswasofficiallydisavowedoath
whichservetheConstitutionthathewasofficiallyswornin.
LafayeedefectiontoAustriainAugust1792,andtheversesoftwoaffairsMirabeau
inNovember1792(withtheopeningofthefamous"lockedsafe"),thenext
willshaketheconfidenceofthesoldiers.IfMirabeauandLafayeebothheroes
longconsideredtheRevolutionnow
Dininasatraitor,howcananyone,anyonewhocan
believe?Manyofprovidingministersfeelmorfiedanddegradedthatthey
havelittlefaithinthepast,andtheypromisewillnotallowit
happenagaininthefuture.Fourth,trustconspiracyamongthe
elitewerereinforcedfromtimetotimethroughtheinfluenceofbroaderconcerns
Thepopularclass.Suchfearsare,inpart,fromtheradicalParis
militants,inparticular,cameincreasinglytoidealizeandknowwhento"le
peuple,"andtosomeextentacceptandintegratetheirvalues,as
theyoftenspeakintheirrobes.Butconcernisalsopopularspread
amongtheelitebecausethetensionishighandnotvolatile
Nursingasasocialsciencestudieshavesuggestedtherecouldbeamerger
certainemotionalpeopleareusuallyquiteseparateanddistinct.insome
panicattacksinParisoreveninallofFrancerumorsofimpending
revolutionarycoupcanracebothupanddownbetween
elitesandpopularclasses.Inanycase,onecan
documentingtheinflationfearsofconspiracyduringtheRevolutionthroughanalysis
ksistemalanguagewhichiscontrolledbythetrustintheplot,suchasthose
incorrespondenceandprovidingministerialspeechesinvariousassemblies
nationality.Thisanalysisshowedasignificantincreaseinthefrequencyofsuchlanguage
intheLegislativeAssemblyoftheautumnof1791,whichcontinuedtoincrease
increasedunderthisConvention.faithspreadquicklytoallfactions
patriotsonbothleftandrightandindeedtothegroupexemption
also.Whatisinterestingistheemergenceofthe"bigconspiracy,"inwhich
internalconspirators,plottersandconspiratorsoutsidethecourt
Selfwasallthoughttoworktogether,withoneormore
businessmanmasterspullingthestrings.Thatpasses,themorestrongbeliefamongsome
individualsthanamongotherpeople,andtheyarenotlinearintheirsemester
theirdevelopment,buttheebbandflowfromtimetotime,depending
tothesituation.However,acleartrendtoriseafterthesummer
1791.ThesecondfactorthatIwanttogetbuildinMarch1793assessment
istheimpactoftherecentsuccessoftheFrencharmyinthemindsetofleadership
Revolution.Frenchfirstwenttowaronawaveofenthusiasmgenerated
byJacquesBrissotandtheGirondinshisfriendsVergniaud,Gensonn,Guadetand
Condorcet.TherhetoricofthegrouphasreacheditspeakinmidJanuary
1792,withafieryspeechintheLegislativeAssemblybyonespeakerafter
a.Inhisspeech,particularlydramakonJanuary14lawyersBordeauxMarguerite
ElieGuadetvowedthatthecountrywoulddefendtheConstitutionoftheFrenchma
againstallenemiesinEurope.Seperhespokethesewords,benefits
ministerwassweptbyawaveofenthusiasm,andincreasedarms
raised,shoutedouttogether,"yes,wesoswear!"Pledge
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vigorouslyrepeatedbytheaudienceinthehall.AdrienColson,amanneras
ifithadbeenpresentthatday,thoughttheshowwasmoredramakoftheoathTennis
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ifithadbeenpresentthatday,thoughttheshowwasmoredramakoftheoathTennis
Tennistwoandahalfyearsearlier.
Spontaneousoathisshowingtremendousenthusiasmandselfconfidence
withFrancemengisyTarkanwaronAustriainApril1792.Months
Earlyinthewar,however,fromApriltoSeptemberthedeadlockinthefront
Prussianinvasioninnorthernandmyrrhseaisverydisappointingand
funforthesoldiers.Infact,frustrationandanxietysummerwill
ngpeninstrumentalintheoverthrowofthemonarchyandSeptember
Masskilling.ButvictoryovertheinvadingPrussiansatValmy
September21markedthebeginningofaremarkablereversaloffortune.AsthePrussians
Francewithdrewfromtheregioninchaosanddisarray,Republicforcesstruck
quicklytowesternGermany,theSwissConfederation,Savoy,Niceareaandperhaps
moreremarkableacrossthewholeofAustriatoLowlands
Dutchborder.Bytheendofthismilitaryrevolutionhasgonefarbeyond
theconquestofLouisXIV,advancingfromanyFrencharmysincethedays
Charlemagne.Inalltheircorrespondence,witnessessaidemotionalmost
millenarianforthevictoryandforthefuturethattheynowsawscattered
beforethem.destinyRevolutionfreedthenationsofEurope,stated
ClearlypreviousJanuarybyBrissotandtheGirondins,nowseemstobeachieved,and
theintensityofpassionsoontouchingsekappolyclan.JeanbonSaintAndr,the
Montagnard
ProtestantsofMontauban,describedthePrussianarmy,"HangersFredericktheGreat",
escape"suchassheep,shepherdstremblebeforecriminals."
"Nowistheperfecttime,"wroteayoungfriendRobespierre,PhilippeLebas,
"todestroytyrannythroughoutEurope."Itseemspatentlyclear
thattheonlythingthathasblockedasixmonthFrenchvictory
beforeitwasinventedatreacherouskingandgeneral.Afterthekinghad
abolishedandwhentheyhaveeliminatedLafayee,everythingwas
bepossible."Theendofthemonarchy,"wroteRiffardGirondinsdeSaintMarn".Seemingly
hasmarkedtheendofallourproblems,"PierreDubreuilChambardel,which
usuallysittingbetweenPlain,clearlyagrees:"Nowatlast,"hewrote,"wecan
showstheentireuniverseofafreenationthatcandothat
havedaredtoabolishthemonarchy."ThearroganceoftheRevolutionseems
knowsnolimits.ThereisanassumptionthatPoland'free',NaplesandSpain.
IfthismeanstakingthewholeofEurope,sobeit.Periswarecentlybeen
indicatingthatfreepeoplecaneasilyovercomethearmy
thebestinthecontinent,andtherearemanyreferencestothegreatdefeatofthePersianempire
bytheancientGreeks.InaspeechonNovember9GirondinsPierreVergniaud
rejectedherfluencytoanewlevel,becausehedreamedofwarto
endthewar:"Menhavediedintherecentfighting.
Butitisnotsothatnonewillberema.Iswearto
you,inthenameofuniversalbrotherhoodthatyouarecreating,thatseap
thebattlewillbeasteptowardspeace,humanityandhappiness
formankind."Brissothimself,inalettertoDumouriezfinallyrevealed
LastNovember,urgedthepublictomenghenaboutheraboutalliances
thePrussians,orEnglish,oranyone.Mesleavetheirway
OldRegimeministerthought:"howsmallschemestheycanbecomparedwith
awakeningaroundtheplanetandhistoricrevolutionthatwearenowcalled
tolead."Inthefuture,hepredicted,ChinawilladvancetoBerlin.
AsMontagnardJacquesPinetwrotetothearea:"Wewilloverthrow
apsethrone."
Therecannotdoubtandthisisevidentinsomeofthespeechesduring
KingtrialnextDecemberandJanuarytheassumptiontheywillnow
overthrowallthetyrantsofEuropeisafactorindeterminingthepenng
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eliminatetheirformertyrant,"LouisCapet."DeputyConvention
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eliminatetheirformertyrant,"LouisCapet."DeputyConvention
JeanBapsteMailhemadeclearinstatementstothiseffectinthetrial
KinginNovember.ThesuccessoftheFrencharmy,heannounced,notlong
AnotherwouldchangethewholeofEuropeandbringthedestructionofallkings.treatment
Theconventionoftheirown"mesbeanexampletoallnations."thelarge
Frenchselfconfidencecanalsobeseeninthebuildingrhetorictopengisyharan
waragainstBritainandtheNetherlandsinearly1793.InJanuary,thisBrissot
friendArmandKersaintdevelopextraordinaryinsightconquestofthecountrywill
reachedassoonastheysettledownwithBrishandtheirDutchallies.
Theywillmovetofreeallthecoloniesheldby
bothpower:"EuropeandtheUnitedStatescalledus."AndcomeoutandbringtheRevolution
PortugalandBrazil.OnJanuary12,Brissothimselfexplainedthesamemessage.
Intheformofmoney,shipsandFrenchmenhaveaclearadvantageover
Britain,whichis,heclaims,"theshadowofagreatpower,"purelycircumstantial
indebtthanbeforethewar.Infact,warwithEnglandwill
provideanopportunitytobringtheblessingsoffreedomforIndia.many
ThesamelanguagehasbeendrivenbypeopleofMountainandPlainastheConvention
votedunanimouslytomengisyTarkanwaronBritain.throughouttheweek
FebruaryandearlyMarch,inalettertoboththecommunityandthekPATRIO
familyandfriends,allthebenefitspredictedrapidvictoryandgreat
fromthearmiesoftheRepublic.Thereistremendousconfidence,arosaryfulfilled
betweenGirondins,andMontagnardsPlainsamemembers."Icannotdoubt,"wrote
strongMontagnardGeorgesCouthon,"thatifwereallywantit,will
canliberateEuropeinthenextsixmonthsandcleansetheearthofall
wrong."HisfriendJeanBapersteMonesfullyagree:"Thewarwill
successful.Idonoteverdoubtit,becauseitwasdonefortherightpurpose
andsupportedbypeoplewhoarenotevergoingtoretreat"Brissot'sfriendHenri
BancaldesIssartsbelievetheupcomingfightwillbeawarto
endthewar".Wasthateverwilltake.anguishtoEurope
"TheyoungmerchantfromBordeaux,JeanBapsteFonfrdeBoyer,Diikrafchallengesthat
submittedwar,buthebelievesthefinalvictory"
end?,bothendsecurity,endallworriesweak.
Werejectanyideaofcompromise.Wewillsavethecountry,"hesaid
concluded,"aslongaswedonoteverlookback."Itisin
Thesameatmosphereunboundeddeterminationandconfidencethatthebenefitsnow
beganformallyseizedtoFrancealmostallareaspreviouslyoccupiedby
theirmilitaryvictory.InthefirstweekofMarchBelgium,Nice,Savoy,theBankof
RhineandsomeplacesinSwitzerland,togetherwithformersmallarea
independentofSalminEasternFrance,allhadbeenscheduledtobeputinto
ThenewFrenchdepartment.PinetbefunnextFranceandBelgium"all
isone.Therewillbenodifferencebetweenthem,andbothcountrieswill
formbutonecommunitybrothersandfriends."Moneseralreadythinking
thenametheyshouldgivetothenewFrenchdepartmentinthesouthofBelgium,
decidedthatthe"PlainesduNord"wouldbeappropriate.Couthonpredict
thatonceithasbeen"occupied,"Hollandwillalsobeaskedtounitewith
Republic.
ItwasinthesamemoodundoubngconfidencethatonMarch7Convention
unanimouslymengisyTarkanwaronSpain."OneenemyisFrance,"
TarkanmengisyBertrandBarere,"willbringanothervictoryto
freedom."Ofcourse,thewartoapplytothewholeofEuropeco
whetheralltheFrenchborderandatseawillobviouslydemandmore
forcesandarmyandnavymayberearranged.Thedeputieshave
aware,moreover,thatmanyvolunteershavejustreceivedar1792
foralimitedperiodoftimeandhasnowleftthefrontandback
home.Buttheyfeelconfidentthatmostpeoplewill
takeuparmsagainwhentheyrealizetheircountryneedsto
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takeuparmsagainwhentheyrealizetheircountryneedsto
newsacrifices.AndtheybelievethattheConventioncanraiseanarmy
theneedforadditionalmuldepanwar,astheyhavebeenableto
didtheprevioussummer.Aftercountinghatheyhavedetermined
thatthecountrywouldneedabout300,000additionaltroops,andcommand
whichhavebeenattheendofFebruarytobegintakingrequired.
Ingeneral,theyconsiderthatanewarmycanberaisedwithout
difficulty.TheyaccountforalargepopulationofFrance,withsupply
greaterthanyoungerpeoplethananyothercountryinEurope.andin
Abovealltheyrecalledthespiritofthesummerof1792when
nationalguardsmenandvolunteersfromcitiesaroundFrancehave
rushedtojoinandfacethePrussiansattack."Wehope,"
ClaudeAntoineBladtoldtohisfriendsin
Brest".Thatcryof'homelandindanger'sufficienttoleadto
helpusalotmoredefensethanwehadaskedfor"PierreVinetcameto
muchthesameconclusion:"Opiniononthedepartmentscouldnotbebetter.
Allhaveadoptedthesamemoo'victoryorkemaan""Ifwe
toopposeallEuropeleaguedagainstus,"wroteLouisMariePrudhomme,"
weneed300,000moremen.Wewillhavethem.Forthevolunteerswill
knowthatoursoldiersarefightingforallofEurope"Thethingis,wetrillionth
know,isthatmanyofthemostpowerfulyoungwarrior.Citypeopleto
mostalreadyserveinthemilitary.Ifthedecisionisto
successful,theremustbealargenumberofnewrecruitsfromthelowerclassesandmore
lowmiddleand,aboveall,ofalargegroupoffarmers.andas
Conventionwillfindtrouble,alotofFrenchpeopleand,
especiallyagreatmanyfarmers,notatallpreparedforbattle.
InitiallyprovidingtheministerseemstoignorethecounterattackinAustria
BelgianandPrussianattacksagainstwesternGermanyinearlyMarch.they
havedifficultytoputasidetheirvisionofvictorydak
theinevitabilityoftheforcesoffreedom.Bladdescribedtheearlynewsfromnorth
asa"minorsetback"thatwillnotsoonbeovercome.Onlyafterfriends
DantonandLacroixthembackfromthefrontonMarch8andpresentthereport,
isfullGraviConventiondealingwiththesituation.Almosttwoweeks
ThencamethewordofcalamitousdefeatinFranceandthetransferNeerwinden
throughoutBelgium,ataquarteroftheirforcesinGermanyhavebeenpushedbackto
Alsace.Thissituationseemsallthemoreincomprehensibleandpainful,astheConvention
recentlyannexednorthernneighbor.Thisargumenthasbeenmadethatitisaregion
Franceitselfhasbeenoverrun."ItistheterritoryoftheRepublic,"wroteMoneser,"that
weneedtotakeitback.""Wemesrevenge!"criedFonfrde,
"Revengefortheattacksthatourbrothershaveexperienced.Wemes
Liegetakebackthatbelongstous,andAixLachapelle,whois
ours."ButalmostsimultaneouslywiththenewsNeerwindendefeat,reportsbeganba
riotstakingintheterritories,oftheFrenchpeopleandespeciallyfarmers
refusedtoget.EspeciallylargescaleuprisingintheWest,inpart
GreatBriany,Maine,AnjouandPoitouwest,buttheyatfirsttouch
almostseapcornerofthiscountryevenbrokeninseveralcitiesgenerally
PATRIOktrillionthofGrenoble,Bordeaux,Angoulme,OrlansandToulouse.inweek
terribleweekendofMarch,theConventionapsebombardedwithlettersonboth
twodisastrouswarsandinternalrebellions.Greetingproposemeasures
emergencymeasurestoshoreupthenorthernborderwasinterruptedbyaletterfrom
areaswithadesperatecallforhelpagainstaninsurgency
Thedecisionseemstoexplodeatanytime.correspondencepanic
pouredinfromcitiesacross
Briany,allsaidtobesurroundedby"pirates.""Seaphour,"wroteanofficer
fromNantes,"wereceivedmorebadnews.Weareconcernedwiththetimethatyou
receivethisletter,thedepartmentwillbeinthefire."Surpriseddeputymissionin
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receivethisletter,thedepartmentwillbeinthefire."Surpriseddeputymissionin
BretoncapitalRennesreportedthat"almosttheentireruralmarching
[tous]inbattleformation,ledbyatalentedleader.
"Thosewhoownbenefitshavecomefromthedepartmentsinvolved
particularlyproblematic,andsomewroteletterstolovedonesdesperate
returnhome.EenneChaillon,agalinasmalltowninwest
Nantes,learnonlyafterseveraldaysofconcernthatgirls
eldesthadmanagedtoescapeacrosstheLoirewithotherchildren.she
withgreatrelief,thoughheknewthathe
houseandlotofpropertywasdestroyed.Andbecauseitwasinitiallyimpossible
toassesstheextentoftherise,anotherbenefitwithfriendsandfamily
neartheaffectedareasisalsosignificantconcern.WhenDubreuillisten
thattherebelshadtakenParthenay,hecontinuestofearforhisownfamily
liveonlyinthesouth.PierreCampmasevenworriedthattheresurrectionwill
spreadasfarashishomeintheMassifCentral,andhecalledhisfamilyfled
themselvestoAlbi.FromMarchtoMay1793,therewasanissueoverbusyprovidingminister
Theirlettershomefromtheinternalcounterrevolution.Andalmostwithoutexception,
theybelievethatit'sacoordinatedplot.Howelsecan
makingitclearthattheriotswereallbrokenatthesametime?
Surelyit'snotjustacoincidencethattheinternalrebellionoccurred
onlywhenAustriaandPrussianshadinvadedthenorth.Whatotherexplanationisin
theretothepeasantuprisingwhich,theybelieve,hasgotso
manyoftheRevolution.Toamantheypersuadedthecentralrole
refractorynobilityandclergyinleadingtherebellion.Marchdisaster
isallofapiece.Theissueofrecruitment,PierreGilletwrote,"isjustanexcuse
tohidethisgreatplot."Bancalagreed:".Internalenemies
andisfittedexternallycoupledtohatchconspiracyagainstfreedomand
Convention"Comingontheheelsofthesedisasters,andperhapsevenmore
destroy,isabetrayaloftheRevolutionattheendofMarchthecommanderinchief
thenorthernfront,CharlesFranoisDumouriez.AlthoughParishassomemilitants
putindoubtthegeneralaanth,boththeGirondinsandMontagnards
initiallydeniedtrillionthitoutofhand."AlltheConvenon,"wrote
PinetonMarch13,"anger"againsttheircommonrightkri.Concernshavebeencauses,
however,whenDumouriezsentasharpattackagainstboth
JacobinsandtheConventionitself,blamingthemfornotenoughsupport
army.
Finally,afterthedefeatofFranceinNeerwinden,theConventionfeltcompelledto
sentfourbenefits,togetherwiththeMinisterofDefence,to
dealingwiththepublic.ButnowDumouriezhadmadeanagreementwith
Austriaandwhencommissionersba,hehadthemallarrestedandsent
Austriatoprisonwheretheywilllive,whetherforafewyears.hethen
announcedplanstoturnaroundtheFrencharmy,marchingin
Paris,rejectedtheConventionandputyoungchildrenonthethroneofLouisXVI.Infact,
suchasweknow,thearmyoftherepublic,tenaciousvolunteersPATRIOksenasasuspiciousof
theirofficials,willhavenothingtodowiththegeneralplan
them.DumouriezwillbeforcedtofleeacrossthelineasmuchasLafayeehave
didjustsixmonthsearlier.ButtheimpactonRevolutionaryisbad.
Afteralltherecentbetrayaloftheother,wheretheircommontreason
hasplacedsomuchtrustseemsanoverwhelmingcatastrophe.
Deputiesfromthefactionseapwrotebackaletteroflovetoyourfriendsandregion
them.Bladisalmostnotbelievethatthe"conquerorofValmyandJemappe,theRepublicof
hasonlyrecentlybeenhonoredforhissuccesswasonlya
vilerogue."Pinethasmorfiedthathehadallowedhimselfdeceived
andthusnotpenetratethisnewconspiracy.Wheretreacherywould
tos?Cantheyeverbelieve?Itisposibukf,ashesaid,
thattheywere"surroundedbytraitors."Inthissituation,inmostMac
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thattheywere"surroundedbytraitors."Inthissituation,inmostMac
andearlyApril,panicfilledhitboththeConventionandthecityofParis.
Tensionsfurtherintensified,moreover,withaseriesofriotsinthecityon
lateFebruaryandthatiswherethebestaccountgivenbyGeorgeless
teach.Peopleandespeciallywomendemandedanendtoallkindsofcommodityinflation
deemednecessaryandhaveburstintostoresalloverthecityto
helpthemselves,payiftheyarepaidatallonlyprice
whichtheyconsideredfair.Now,thebadnewsfromthefrontandfromWesternFrance,
citygatewaslocked,thealarmwassounded,theoversightcommittee
Neighborhoodsitallthetimeandmanyindividualswereordereddetainedinraids
nighttime.Conventionwentintopermanentsession,withsomerepresentativesarestillthere
inthehallsandnight.Soonrumorsswirlingplotto
ministerkilledbenefits,withthosewhodoevilarewillingto
show,yieldingatrillionthdakatmosphereintheLegislativeAssemblyon
MayandagaininSeptember1792."Wefeelgreatanxietyover
allperisperiswawa,"writesRosalieJullien."Peoplesaythatthereare
anewplotagainstfreedom.Everyoneisnervous.""Icannot
duratnight."Andheeasilythanhisconcernwiththe
previousSeptember.BetweensansculoesalsostartdemandingthattheParisiansback
toprison,becauseatthetimeoftheSeptemberMassacres.Indeed,itisin
thiscontextthatDantonmadehisstatementsoftencall:"Letus
profitfromthemistakesthatledus.Weterriblemess,sopeopledonot
willhavetobe."ForPrudhomme,hadnotseemedsodangerous
Great.Althoughherecentlysuspiciouspeople,nowseemsdak
havenochoicebuttoreturnto"thepeople":"Bravesansculoes!.Younow
theonlythingthatwereallycanrelyon"Withexperience
pasthistory,itiseasytoconcludethatthecrisisinMarch1793
Thisrevolutionwaslargelyoffensethatitwasmadnessto
expandthewarandtaketherestofEuropethattheyshouldbeawareof
allieswilllaunchacounterattackagainstthearmiesandthat
manyruralresidentswillbenotwillingtoleavethefield
eachforawarthatfar.Butitisthatmostofreali
theyexpectedanykind.Anddealingwithsomanythreats,providing
ministernotbesonervousanduncertain,sometimesonthevergeofpanic.
Formorethanayeartheyhavebeenhauntedbythethreatofa"bigconspiracy."
Theynowseemtohavedrunkclearthattheinternalandexternalattacks
allcoordinated,allworkingtogethertodestroytheRevolution.almost
seapbenefitsthatleavethetestmonicontemporarywhetherfromMountain
orGirondeorPlainwassuretrillionthofaconspiracyexisted.DeputyLouisfreeen
Mercier,essayistandplaywrightofthelateEnlightenment,understandpsychology
Currentlyonlytoowell."Notmanymen,"hewrote,"canmaintainIntegri
but,wheneverythingaroundthemthreateningandshakingandcollapsing
....Theyarepushedtogetherandcarriedawaywithouteverrealizingitthey
hitthedesiresofothers."Newscalamitousbenefitsreceivedbyminister
inthisperiodwhensocrowdedtogetherthatitisdifficultto
inParistodeterminewhoknewwhatandwhenandtowhatextentcertainevents,or
otherwisepublicfearsandtodakpasaninfluenceonthedecisionstaken.
Buttherecannotdoubtthatthegrouping'situation,'dakdirectallegedly
threatenthesurvivaloftheRevolutionfromtheinsidejustatthetimewhen
kpolyleadershiphassoopmisleddirectlytoimprovements
measuresthatwillformthebasisofTerrorismregime.Inanatmosphereofsuspicion
suspiciousnessandintenseemotionstheyquicklycobbledtogetheralmostall
inginsthatcometoformthebasisoftheregimeofYearII.Thereneverwasaplan
whichsistemak,andtheywillcontinuetoimproveandinventsome
Nextmonth,astheyimplementedgraduallyandstrengthens
theirasins,therewereinitiallyonlysketched.Althoughthenewstructuredak
soonwillworktotheadvantageoftheJacobinMountain,allpartiestothisConvention
helpcreatethem.Infact,almostalltheasinshavebeenprecedents
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helpcreatethem.Infact,almostalltheasinshavebeenprecedents
structuredinavarietyofcrisisbefore.RevolutionaryTribunal,representativesofthemission,thecommittee
8/10
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surveillanceandpublicsafetycommitteehaveallbeenprefiguredafter
flighttoVarennesorintheweeks,followingtheAugust10:sometimes
thedecreestates,sometimesinlengthydebates,sometimesalso
throughimprovisationlocaladministration.Thatpasses,theabolitionofparliamentaryimmunity
andthepurgethereafterprovidingtheministernotunprecedented.
ButtheGirondinsthemselveshaveimpliedsincetheyrequirecleaningtrillionth
firstattempttooverthrowtheMontagnardleadersintheautumnof
1792.
Butthe1793crisishashadaprofoundimpactnotonlyontheinsas
Violence,butalsotowhatmightovercomesdiisas'thought'terrorism
it.Againandagain,thebenefitsofseapfactionsdrovehometheideathat
whentheRevolutionitselfisindangerofdestruction,allmeanswerejustified
tomaintainit.CouthonwasclearinearlyMay:"Themeasureswill
acrimeunderthegovernmentpoliksafeandwellestablished,nowa
ngpen,"hesaid.GirondinsbersimpaEdmeMichelPetmakemanyarguments
same:"whenfacedwiththedirenecessity,wehadto
asidethelaw....itisterriblecompromiseswemustmake
topreserveRevoluonus."ForfarmersDeputyDubreuil,"dakConventionagain
canrelyonhalfmeasures,butthoserequiredby
conditions.Onlythenwillthecountrybesavedandourcowardlyenemiesbeaten
maanddefeated."OnMarch18,inthemidstofcrisis,Barerespeech
kdramainthenameoftheNationalSecurityCommittee.Hespokeabout
reversalofwar,riotandmakingwhatmanythoughtwas
socialuprisingattempttobridleinbreakinginto
instoresandloot.Hethendemandedaseriesofdecrees
oppress.Prosecutiontribunalscreatednewrevolutionshouldbemademore
efficiently.Terminaonactionbringing'revolutionary'oragainstthetaking
mustbesentbeforeamilitarycommissionandexecutedwithintwo
twentyfourhours.Allforeignerswhocannotjustifytheirpresencemes
expelled.Mesricharetaxedtopayfornationaldefenseandall
messoldpropertyemigrate.Itshouldalsobenopenaltyforanyonema
encouragetheseizureofprivateproperty.InonesentencetowhenBarereurged
ma,allConvenonfirstbutthenallthebenefitsMontagnardsminister
Begantoshout"anKema!Kemaan!Kema's!".Infact,quitethequietcrisis
comingweeks.Itwasnotlongbeforeitbecameclearthatthearmyoftherepublichasdeclined
ThisDumouriezcommand.Infrontofthenorthhavebeenstableforawhile,and
asriotintakewascrushedbysoldiersandguardsmen
thestateofcitiesinBriany,MaineandmosteverywhereexceptintheVende,
MarchandearlyApriltopanicjustyet.Intheshortterm,manynewlaws
layingthegroundworkforincreasedrepressionandcentralization
notstrict
enforcedandonlywillbeenergizedandupliftingduringsummer
follows:afterthecrisisFederalist,afterthemilitarydefeat,after
Marat'smurderandthesubsequentinterventionoftheforcesofpopularParisand
regioninAugustandSeptember.However,thisbriefreflection
helpemphasizethecomplexityofthephenomenonofthearrivalofTerrorism.itis
clearthatthe'situation'inthespringitwar,rebellionintheWest,
DumouriezbetrayalplaysafundamentalroleinthepenngoriginsYear
II.However,basedonthisanalysis,itisalsoclearthatames
takingintoaccounttheemotionalimpactandespeciallyontheemotionalexchangebetweenthespirit
andjoy,ontheonehand,andfearandangerontheother.
Infact,wecanhypothesizethatthestatealonewillnotbesufficientto
violence,withoutthepriortransformationofthementalityof
Revolutionary.Anychanges,moreover,cannotbeexplainedbyrhetoricalOld
Rousseauregime,ornovelcentmental,orabstracttheoriesofpowerornaturalrights
so.Instead,Iwouldargue,itfinallypenngtoprocessand
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so.Instead,Iwouldargue,itfinallypenngtoprocessand
theexperienceoftheFrenchRevolution,andperhapsafterall,penngtothephenomenon
therevolutionitself.
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Historians Have Long Known The Period From Early March To Early April 1793

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Historians Have Long Known The Period From Early March To Early April 1793

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