Girondins |
During the constitutional monarchy there were two radical groups vying for power, the Girondins and the Jacobins. Although both groups were more radical in their views than the moderates who had designed the constitutional monarchy, the Girondins were somewhat less radical. At first the two parties were united in their views.
The Girondins were concerned about the plight of the blacks in France's colonies and were instrumental in passing legislation granting equal rights to all free blacks and mulattoes. Girondist leader Jacques-Pierre Brissot proposed an ambitious military plan to spread the Revolution—one that Napoleon later achieved. He called on the Convention to dominate Western Europe by conquering the Rhineland, Poland, and Holland. They wanted to declare war against Austria in early 1792 in the hopes that a show of strength would give them leverage or to show King Louis XVI the National Convention had real government power. The Jacobins grew increasingly critical of Girondin policies. During the September massacres later that year, the Girondin leaders tried to persuade the crowds out of their bloody attacks. The Jacobins, who understood the Parisians better than the provincial Girondins, encouraged the violence. They continued to attack the feeble Girondins. When the constitutional monarchy fell and he King was put on trial for treason in December, the Girondins argued against his execution. The Jacobins thought he needed to die to ensure the safety of the revolution. When the Jacobins were successful the tide turned against the Girondins. The Jacobins in the National Convention had 22 Girondin leaders arrested and executed. The Jacobins had won. |