Radicalization of the French Revolution, from 1789 to the end of 1794

Résumé du document

The French Revolution is often depicted as a process of growing violence, underpinned by more and more radical theories. Indeed, a Manichean view often leads people to believe that France was peaceful in the beginning of 1789, and turned violent and radical in 1793. In other word, it is often said that the French Revolution is a period of constant and growing radicalization. Nevertheless, this view is not correct. I think the word radicalization is very ambiguous, that is why one need to give a precise definition of this concept. To me, the word “radicalization” has to be analysed through different perspectives. First, this term put an emphasis on theories, which have proved to me more and more radical, that is to say hostile to the Ancien Régime. Second, the term radicalization asks the question: who gets power? Third, I think that the level of violence is linked to the term radicalization. On top of that, the radicalization is due to different events, such as the Tennis Court oath, flight of the King… Which events provoked the radicalization of the French Revolution? What are the main characteristics of this Revolution?

Extraits

[...] The defeat of the guards has paved the way to the terror. In September, thousands of prisoners have been massacred, because suspected of being in favour of the King. Those massacres have clearly shown that the Assembly was unable to oppose the will of the mobs, and murderers committed crimes without being punished by the legal power. But in 1792 and 1793, there was no precise definition of what was legal and what was illegal. It seems that the actions of the revolutionaries became legal, since the legislative assembly and the convention implicitly approved of these acts. [...]

[...] Radicalization of the French Revolution, from 1789 to the end of 1794 The French Revolution is often depicted as a process of growing violence, underpinned by more and more radical theories. Indeed, a Manichean view often leads people to believe that France was peaceful in the beginning of 1789, and turned violent and radical in 1793. In other word, it is often said that the French Revolution is a period of constant and growing radicalization. Nevertheless, this view is not correct. [...]

[...] For instance, in Lyon, thousands of people were executed and monuments were destructed under the orders of Collot d'Herbois and Fouché. In Picardie, Dumont had conducted a very tough politics against priests. Committees of public safety were also created in many cities of France, and Jacobins could legally arrest and try aristocrats or persons suspected of being hostile to the French Revolution. Arbitrary acts were committed. The radicalization of the Revolution was seen as a danger by many people. Even if the Jacobins were deeply convinced that they represented the majority of the population, it was clearly not the case. [...]

[...] There is no doubt that the war against European monarchies and the economic crisis of 1793 have helped the Jacobins to take power, because such circumstances justified the need of a strong government, able to tackle major problems. Moreover, the victories of the revolutionary army in September and October 1793 Wattignies and Hondschoote legitimized the power of the committee of public safety. To conclude, one can say that the radicalization of the French Revolution has been provoked by events, such as the massacre of the Champ de Mars, the flight to Varennes or the arrest of 20 girondin deputies in June 1793. [...]

[...] It has been a major step, and has led to the radicalization of the Revolution. So far, the constituent assembly had reached a compromise between the interests of the King and some revolutionary principles. For instance, Mirabeau, the leader of the fledging Revolution, was in favour of the monarchy. But the flight to Varennes has proved that the compromise was unsatisfactory to the King. The failure of the attempt of the royal family to leave France has been a humiliation. [...]