Short Essay on the Role of Jacobins in the French Revolution

The members of the old Breton Club shifted their meeting place with the passage of time and began to hold their meetings in the church named ‘Jacob’. Later on, the members of this club came to be known as Jacobins.

Mirabeau, Danton, Robespierre and Dr. Marat were some prominent members of this club. As compared to Girondists they had no ideology and were opportunists through and through. Dr. Mahajai has written in this context:

“As compared with the Girondists, the Jacobins were men of rougher stamp, occasionally ill-educated, coarse, and unscrupulous.

In some cases they were cruel. In many cases they were corrupt. However, they were practical and alert politicians who were prepared to run great risks.”

In spite of their constituting a minority in the National Convention they not only struck at the roots of their powerful opponents, Girondists, but also established their authority in France and brought the Paris Commune and the National Guards under their sway.

As they were opportunists, they did not mind changing their policies again and again. In order to terrorize the supporters of the monarchy, they advocated the establishment of the Reign of Terror.

The Committee of Public Safety, Committee of General Security, Revolutionary Tribunal and the Guillotine were the chief organs of the Reign of Terror by which the suspects were put to death after a summary trial.

‘Law of Maximum’ and ‘Law of Suspects’ were the chief weapons to establish control over the public of France. Thousands of persons were guillotined by the help of ‘Law of Suspects’, and many were punished for non-compliance of the ‘Law of Maximum’.

Thus, during their reign of terror they exercised tremendous pressure of atrocities on the mankind and put an end to the Girondists who opposed their policy.

Looking to the lawlessness, bloodshed and chaotic prevailing in France then, one might blame the Jacobins for their rule but their foreign policy proved to be a great success.

Cannot, one of the Jacobins, organised the army of France in such a way, as it in crushing defeat on the armies of the foreign enemies and saved the capital from imminent downfall. The title of ‘Organiser of Victories’ was bestowed upon Carnot for his wonderful army organisation.

But too much of terrorism proved dangerous for the existence of the Jacobin party. Their own differences of opinion created a gulf among the members. First of all, Danton became the victim of these differences and was guillotined. Robespierre followed him after a few days.

A reaction called ‘Thermidorian Reaction’ took place after the death of Robespierre. It resulted in the downfall of the Paris Commune and the demolishing of the Revolutionary Tribunal.

It also minimised the powers of the Committee of Public Safety. Thus the age of terror and bloodshed ended; and peace and order were restored in France after a long time.

Causes of the Downfall of Jacobins

1. The establishment of the Reign of Terror proved detrimental to the existence of the Jacobin party.

2. People began to think that this ‘Reign of Terror’ was useless after the Prussian and Austrian War had ended, and there was no fear of a foreign attack.

3. The life and property of an individual were not safe during the Reign of Terror, hence people were vehemently opposed to it. The machinery of this reign of terror alienated the sympathies of people because of its bloody deeds.

4. The Jacobin leader, Robespierre began to interfere in the religious beliefs of people and established a new sect known as the ‘Worship of the Supreme Being’. It hurt the feelings of the people.

5. Too much bloodshed and forfeiture of property annoyed the public and Jacobins lost their ground.

6. The split among the members of the Jacobin Party also contri­buted to the downfall of the Jacobins.

7. The labourers were annoyed with the party as they had fixed their wages under the Law of Maximum and encroached on their right for more wages. Hayes has rightly remarked in this connection:

“The death of Robespierre ended the Reign of Terror. The purpose of the Reign of Terror, however, was already achieved. The Revolution was preserved in France and France was victorious in Europe.”