The French Revolution: From Constitutional Monarchy to Republic

France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic

Despite the new constitution, the political situation in France remained tense, both internally and with neighboring countries.

• King Louis XVI's Secret Plans:

  • Although Louis XVI had signed the Constitution of 1791, he secretly entered into negotiations with the King of Prussia.

  • Rulers of other neighboring countries were also worried by the developments in France and sent troops to put down the uprising.

  • Before this could happen, the National Assembly voted in April 1792 to declare war against Prussia and Austria.

• Patriotic Fervor and War:

  • Thousands of volunteers flocked from the provinces to join the army, viewing this war as a struggle against kings and aristocracies all over Europe.

  • They sang the patriotic song Marseillaise, composed by Rouget de L'Isle. This song is now the national anthem of France.

• Economic Hardships and Political Clubs:

  • The revolutionary wars brought economic difficulties and losses to the people.

  • While men were fighting at the front, women were left to cope with the task of earning a living and looking after their families.

  • Large sections of the population were convinced that the revolution had to be carried further, as the Constitution of 1791 only gave political rights to the wealthier sections of society.

  • Political clubs became important rallying points for people who wished to discuss government policies and plan their own forms of action. The most successful of these was the Jacobin Club.

• The Jacobin Club:

  The Jacobin Club got its name from the former convent of St Jacob in Paris.

  Its members mainly belonged to the less prosperous sections of society: small shopkeepers, artisans, shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch-makers, printers, as well as daily wage earners.

  Their leader was Maximilien Robespierre.

  They wore long striped trousers, different from the knee breeches worn by the more fashionable sections of society. This symbolized their break from the elite. They were known as the sans-culottes (literally, 'those without knee breeches').