The armies of the allied nations were only hundred miles away from Paris and they were confident of their victory. They had also planned to distribute the French territory among themselves.
On the other hand, southern provinces of France had revolted. Lyon, La Vendee and Paris were the chief centres of disturbance and the situation in France had become chaotic and confused. The economic condition of France was deteriorating rapidly.
The value of assignats fell rapidly. People were starving and therefore they started looting shops and creating all sorts of disturbance in the country. The factory owners and the labourers were also not having amicable relations with one another.
Jacobins Capture Power
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A constant struggle between the Girondists and the Jacobins had been going on since long. Though both were the supporters of democracy yet there was a great difference in their ideologies.
Girondists were against bloodshed and they wanted to punish the culprits of the September massacre, but the Jacobin party did not even give up bloodshed in order to achieve its aim.
Jacobins got arrested about 31 members of the Legislative Assembly with the help of Paris Commune on 2nd June 1793. It reduced the influence of Girondist party and Jacobins established their supremacy.
Though the internal and external conditions of France were quite deplorable, Jacobins established the Reign of Terror and achieved success in crushing all the external and internal turmoil.
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The Reign of Terror
After the downfall of the Girondists, Jacobins captured power, and the prominent members of this party, such as, Danton, Dr. Marat and Robespierre established the reign of terror to achieve their mission.
Committee of Public Safety, the Committee of General Security and the Revolutionary Turbinate were the machineries of the reign of terror.
Low of Suspects was used to arrest any individual, and after a trial in the Revolutionary Tribunal any person could be guillotined. People were also punished by the special representatives.
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They behaved like despots and had the power to capture any individual and get him punished through the machinery of the ‘Reign of Terror’.
During the regime of Jacobins people were greatly terrified and they obeyed the commands of these leaders like speechless animals.
More than five thousand people were guillotined in Paris only. Thus they established their control over the National Convention byway of terror and horror, and perpetrated many heinous acts.
Capital Punishment to Marie Antoinette
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Even after the death of the king, Louis XVI, his queen Marie Antoinette was imprisoned in the fort of Temple. Her son and daughter and the sister of Louis XVI, Elizabeth, were also confined in the fort.
The queen was also charged with treason and she was put up on trial on 3rd October, 1793 which continued for about twelve days. At last she was also guillotined on 16th October 1793 as the charges were proved against her. Thus the terrorists horrified the entire public of France.
The Relatives of King Guillotined
Louis Philip, the brother of Louis XVI, who voted in favour of death sentence to his brother, was also guillotined.
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He was charged with cooperation with the Girondists. Madam Elizabeth, sister of Louis XVI also met the same fate. Only the minor son and daughter were exempted from death punishment because of their tender age.
Girondist Leaders Guillotined
Some Girondist leaders were also held responsible for treason and put on trial. The evidence which was supplied by the Girondist leaders was declared null and void and about 20 persons were put to the guillotine.
Madam Rolland was guillotined on 8th November for some members of the Girondist party used to visit her house. She said before her death, “Oh, Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name.” In the same way Bailly, Barnave, and Vergnjaud were put to death.
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War against Foreign Enemies
After achieving victory over internal problems, the members of the National Convention directed their attention towards external enemies (Austria, Prussia, England, Spain etc.) who were capturing the territory of France rapidly.
The members of the National Convention were anxious to wage war against the external enemies, so they appointed Carnot to the post of Defence Minister. He declared military service compulsory for all young ones in order to increase the number of soldiers. Carnot was a capable military officer.
He organised the army of France in such a way that the French army which hitherto was defeated everywhere began to score victories and he was awarded the title, ‘Organiser of Victory’.
He not only defeated and pushed the enemies back but also took advantage of their differences and broke their coalition. To make France a Nation in Arms he gave the following direction to the people of France:
“Young men of 18 to 25 years of age shall go to war; the married men shall forge arms and transport supplies; the wives shall make tents and clothes and serve in hospitals; the children shall tear old linen into lint, the aged shall resort to the public places to excite the courage of the warriors and spread hatred against the kings.”
Death Sentence to Danton and his Supporters
Danton who was an able leader proposed to stop the bloodshed after the end of external fear, but Robespierre opposed him and guillotined him for treason. Some of his supporters were also put to guillotine.
Murder of Robespierre
After the death of Danton the power of Robespierre had increased much and he got 1366 persons guillotined. When he wanted to get a law passed against the members of National Convention, he himself was subjected to conspiracies and was guillotined. After his fall the reign of terror ended.
Completion of Reforms
The National Convention tried to complete the work of reforms. It declared that in France the medium of instruction would be French. Serfdom was abolished in many French colonies.
Women were permitted to claim equal share in the property. No one could be imprisoned for non-payment of debts. The metric system was enforced in order to bring about uniformity in the country. Principle of freedom was adopted in the religious sphere.
The National Convention also endeavoured to establish economic equality. The Government had the right to forfeit the property of emigres and the criminals.
The National Convention established art schools, normal schools, polytechnic institutions, museums and libraries in order to spread education among the massed.
The reaction which took place in France after the death of Robespierre is known as Thermidorian Reaction.
By this time the terrorists were put to death, and the Reign of Terror and Paris Commune were dissolved and all the subordinate machinery of the reign often I was abolished.
The doubtful prisoners were released and the National Guards were re-organised. All this stemmed from the reaction of the members of the middle class.
A committee was formed to draft a new constitution. It was also known as the “Constitution of the Year Third”. Two-chambered Legislature was introduced in this constitution.
The first chamber was named as “The Council of Five Hundred” while the second chamber was called “The Council of the Ancients”. The numbers of members in these houses were 500 and 259 respectively.
The constitution of 1795 failed to satisfy any party. Both, the followers of monarchy and those of democracy, were dissatisfied with this constitution. It led the country towards economic downfall and did not succeed in solving various problems confronting the country.
Evaluation of the Work of the National Assembly
There were a number of problems facing the National Convention which it solved creditably and saved the country from the impending havoc which was looming large over it. But it would not be out off to mention that the members of the National Convention were not competent enough to carry on the work of administration properly.
The conflict between Jacobins and Girondists affected the achievements of the National Convention adversely. Madelin, a prominent historian, has thus evaluated the work of National Assembly:
“In brief, the national convention of France touched the zenith of virtue in the eyes of its admirers and the nadir of crime in the estimation of its critics.”