The Jacobins

1
The Jacobins

• Founders of the Republic of Virtue
• Instigators of the Terror

2
The Jacobin Club

• Founded in 1789 by the deputies from Brittany,
  the club had a high entrance fee.
• This meant its members were originally wealthy
  liberal constitutional monarchists.
• Jacobin clubs spread over France from 1200
  members in 1789 to around 100,000 in 1793

• Robespierre led a radical faction, which argued
  for the political rights of the poor and was
  opposed to the division into active and
  passive citizens.
• 16 July, 1791, following Varennes, the
  monarchist, constitutionalist Jacobins withdrew
  to form the Feuillant Club

3
The Jacobins

• Varennes created a crisis which defeated the
  moderate Feuillants and gave popular support to
  the pro-war Brissotins /Girondins.
• Robespierre argued against war, believing it
  would lead to military dictatorship and/or the
  overthrow of the revolution itself.

• War was declared in April, 1792, and by July,
  Austrian and Prussian forces invaded France.
• The Brunswick Manifesto issued July 25, 1792,
  increased French fears and led to the end of the
  monarchy and the fall of the Girondins
• Power now swung away from the Assembly to the
  Commune of Paris, the Jacobins and the Cordeliers

4
The Incorruptible Maximilien Robespierre
158-1794

• 1789 Elected Deputy for the Third Estate of Arras
• Became leader of the radical faction in the
  Legislative Assembly leader of the Jacobin Club
• Was elected to the Convention and committee of
  Public Safety
• Guillotined 28 July 1794

5
RobespierreWhat is needed is one single will
the danger within France comes from the middle
classes and to defeat them we must rally the
people.Terror is nothing other than justice,
prompt, severe and inflexible it is therefore an
emanation of virtue. Break the enemies of the
republic with terror , and you will be justified
as founders of the republic.
6
ANTOINE ST. JUST 1767-1794

• Son of a cavalry officer, he joined the National
  Guard in 1789
• He published a book in 1791 Spirit of Revolution
  and of the Constitution of France
• Elected to the Convention Sept. 1792
• Became the youngest member of the Committee of
  Public Safety. Executed with Robespierre.

7
LAZARE CARNOT (1753-1823)

• An officer in the French army, skilled in
  military engineering.
• Elected 1791 to the Legislative Assembly
• Elected 1792 to the Convention
• He was revolutionary Frances leading military
  expert
• Made a member of the Committee of Public Safety,
  he directed the armies of the French republic.

8
GEORGE AUGUST COUTHON

• Member of the Legislative Assembly
• Member of the Committee of Public safety
• Close ally of Robespierre and St.Just
• Guillotined with them on 28 July, 1794