Jacobin dictatorship

In the summer of 1793, the revolution in France entered its highest phase. The most radical politicians came to power, the rule of which went down in history as the Jacobin dictatorship. They lasted only a year, but during that time they managed to do a lot.

Coming to power and fighting speculation

May 31 in Paris broke out the uprising of the poor. It was headed by representatives of the most radical political group in the Convention - the Jacobins. They were supported by urban and rural lower classes, representatives of the petty bourgeoisie. Artillery guns drove up to the building of the French parliament , on June 2, the deputies decided to arrest the Girondists - political opponents of the Jacobins. So in the country a new political regime was established.

The Jacobins lasted about a year. During this period, many changes took place in France. The situation both inside the country and abroad was such that it seemed that the revolution was about to be suppressed. The armies of European states stood at the French borders: in the north - the Austrians and Prussians, in the south - the Spaniards, and the coast flew the English fleet. In the province of Vendée, a peasant uprising was raging, headed by the emigre nobility. In the country, the economic situation has worsened: food prices have risen, speculation has flourished. In such circumstances, emergency measures were required, and the Convention, under the pressure of the Jacobins, went for it. In September, under the influence of the grain deficit, a law was passed on the establishment of maximum prices for the most important goods. The violation was punishable by the death penalty.

Reforms of Jacobins

In October 1793, France adopted the constitution, which was the most progressive in its time. It introduced universal suffrage for men who reached the age of 21, vested equal rights of those who vote and those for whom they vote. Laws were adopted by the Legislative Corps and entered into force only after their approval by the people. But in reality, the French constitution of 1793 never began to act. In times of war, the Jacobins led the country through emergency orders - decrees that had the force of law. This is how the Jacobin dictatorship developed - the system of power, under which the parliament was put on the second plan, and the real power belonged to the executive bodies - committees.

The main support of the revolution was the peasantry, so the new government resolutely carried out reforms in the agrarian sphere. Already in June 1793 the communal lands were transferred to the peasants, all feudal duties were liquidated, and the documents testifying to them were to be destroyed. The lands belonging to noblemen and clergy were confiscated. Now the peasants have become full masters of their land. And although the Jacobin dictatorship did not go any further in the agrarian question, these laws alone provided them with the support of the peasants, who willingly defended the revolution with weapons in their hands.

Much has been done in the army. The officer positions were those who showed themselves in practice, and did not have a noble lineage. Young people came to the place of the old officers. It was at this time that Napoleon Bonaparte began his career, showing his organizational skills in taking Toulon. The Jacobins managed to subdue the uprising in the Vendee. Outside enemies were also repulsed. In June 1794 the revolutionary army defeated the Austrians under Fleuryus, protecting the French borders.

Terror and fall

At the same time, the Jacobin dictatorship had its own negative consequences. The leader of the revolutionary government Maximilian Robespierre and his supporters did not hesitate in the means, dealing with their opponents. Terror against the Girondins and supporters of the monarchy was conducted on quite legitimate grounds. Already in September 1793, a decree appeared authorizing the arrest of all suspicious persons. But the greatest scope was achieved by terror in June 1794. The decree adopted at that time introduced a new concept - the "enemy of the people", which would later acquire a new life in the Soviet Union. A clear definition of who to count as enemies, the document did not give, but set for them punishment - the death penalty. Judicial proceedings turned into a complete absurdity: for the person's accusation, the jury's verdict was sufficient. The subordinates could not even dream of any lawyers. So the Jacobins provoked a wave of terror, which touched thousands of people.

Mass arrests, contrary to the expectations of the authorities, did not protect it from the opponents, but only accelerated the fall of the dictatorship. The more prosperous strata who became rich during the revolution were dissatisfied with the new order and tolerated them, only until the danger of intervention had passed. The poor, who until recently led the Jacobins to power, were also outraged by terror and dissatisfied with their indecisive policies - the laws on the restriction of prices were violated in every way, the lands confiscated from the enemies of the revolution were never distributed among the poor. The final of the Jacobin dictatorship was a coup d'etat on July 27, 1794, when their opponents in the Convention approved the decision to arrest and execute Robespierre and his supporters. Soon it was carried out, and representatives of the big bourgeoisie came to power.

Many of the reforms of the Jacobins were abolished, and in 1795 a new government came to power - the Directory. In France, a new political regime was established, reflecting the interests of those who made their fortunes during the revolution.