History 1401E Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Lazare Carnot, Paul Barras, Cordeliers
24 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Today continue discussion of the second revolution" and consider reaction in france to the perceived excesses readily apparent by 1793. Probable that without the second revolution" first would have failed. Historiographical debate bleus v. blancs"; la rouge" v. le noir". Essentially a dictatorship organized at a time of extreme emergency. Took on work of committee of national defence, and intended to facilitate constitutional executive, and government ministers. By summer 1793, effectively in charge, with jacobin radicals" in charge. Incontestable success in defending france at a time of considerable foreign danger. Assassination of marat by charlotte corday in sept 1793 provided signal for the great terror. Use of terror to eliminate open enemies, and deter secret ones. Revolutionary tribunals created with special process for enemies of the state. About 17,000 guillotined throughout france, about 3000 in paris. Most of those executed were common people (about 70%). Considerable opposition began to develop in parts of france.
