About the French Jacobins

The French Jacobins were a political club that ruled during the Reign of Terror phase of the French Revolution. Having taken control of the Committee of Public Safety, they launched a campaign to end the old systems of feudalism and royalty. Though they succeeded in defending the Revolution, their reign came at the cost of thousands of lives and the destruction of their own party.

Features

The Jacobin Club was established during the Estates-General of 1789. Started by a group of Breton deputies, the Jacobins established thousands of chapters throughout France with its central office located in Paris.

At its height, the Jacobins had 420,000 members and administered great influence over the body politic and French society as a whole due to its extensive networks, which were better organized than any other political club or party.

They had a party constitution, which called for a president to be elected on a monthly basis along with four secretaries and a treasurer. Because the fees to join the club were high, the party leadership was usually comprised of wealthy Parisians.

Significance

During the French Revolution, the Jacobins established themselves as a driving force for political and social change. They took control of many high-powered organizations, most notably the Committee of Public Safety, which was ultimately responsible for the Reign of Terror. They had strong support from the lower classes, who felt their views were best represented by the Jacobins, especially "The Incorruptible" Robespierre, who effectively took control of the club in its later incarnation. With Robespierre, the Jacobins controlled "The Mountain," a series of important positions within the National Convention that could decide the fate of the constitution and the future of the legislative body.

Time Frame

After establishing their constitution on February 8, 1790, the Jacobins worked to gain power in the National Constituent Assembly. Many moderate members of the club left as Robespierre began to take power, and the views of the club became more radical due to fears of counter-revolutionaries.

After Louis XVI was removed from power, the Jacobins took control of the National Convention and Robespierre joined the revolutionary tribunal, an organization that tried political prisoners. Launching the Reign of Terror on September 5th, 1793, the Jacobins rounded up thousands of political prisoners for execution in the guillotine. By 1794, conspiracies had been established to end the reign of the Jacobin Club. On July 27, a vote was held by the Committee of Public Safety to execute Robespierre and other Jacobins. Known the Thermidorian Reaction, the Jacobin Club was disbanded.

Considerations

The Jacobins adopted a philosophy based heavily on the Rights of Man by Thomas Paine. They were a radical, left-wing organization that pushed for the separation of the church and state, a strong central government, universal suffrage and public eduction. They favored economic interventionism when necessary rather than a laissez faire attitude. While in power, the Jacobin Club fulfilled the promise of August 4, 1789, and brought an end to feudalism in France by financially compensating individuals. They also favored rationing of food and conscription in the army to help defend the country.

Effects

Although the Jacobin Club successfully completed the destruction of the monarchy and any trace of royal government as well as defending the country from invasion, their control of the National Convention resulted in the bloodiest chapter of the French Revolution. Instead of adopting the values that the club had held so dear, Robespierre brought the Jacobins into government-sponsored terrorism that left no class or section of the nation out of its shadow.

Today, the word Jacobin is still used to describe radicalism. It's synonymous with anyone who wants to abolish the existing social order and establish a new one by whatever means necessary.

Resources

• Jacobins