The September massacres
The advance of the Prussian army into France in the late summer of 1792 fueled pan- ic. The Paris Commune (the city government) ordered drastic measures.
Thousands suspected of being counter-revolutionaries were thrown in jail. In early September, the sans culottes, believing more drastic measures were needed, removed more than one thousand prisoners from the Paris jails and executed them. This, they believed, would eliminate enemies of the revolution and prevent an uprising. Some of those executed were priests and nobles, but the majority were common criminals. |
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"A Small Supper"
Analyze the political cartoon by James Gillray, an English writer, that is set during the September Massacres. It depicts a sans-culottes family "refreshing themselves of the fatigues of the day".
1. What is going on in the image, generally?
2. What does the home look like? Include specific details.
3. How are the sans-culottes being depicted?
4. What is the message of the artist?
1. What is going on in the image, generally?
2. What does the home look like? Include specific details.
3. How are the sans-culottes being depicted?
4. What is the message of the artist?