the revolution between April and September 1792
War was a significant reason for the radicalisation of the
revolution in 1792 as it transformed France. However, I believe
there are other reasons that are significant for the radicalisation
of the revolution between April and September 1792.
The forthcoming of war in April 1792 radicalised the revolution.
The revolution became more radical because the french were
losing badly in their war with neighbours Austria and Prussia.
The radicals believed that if they lost the war, they would be
punished and the monarchy and the Ancien Regime would be
put back in place. This increased the radicalism in people such
as the Girondins who were a pro-war faction. They believed
war against foreign enemies would unite and strengthen the
revolution, they promised spreading the revolution would unite
everyone from their aristocratic oppressors. As a result the
revolutionaries defeated both the Austrians and Prussians at
Valmy which forced them to retreat from French territory.
Another reason for the radicalisation of the revolution is the
sans-culottes. With the coming of war in April 1792 it gave the
sans-culottes a chance to exercise there influence. This was
shown through the two Journees, 20 June and 10 August
which put the revolution on an even more extreme route. On 20
June, 8000 sans-culottes and some national guards marched
to the Tuileries and carried petitions demanding that Louis
withdraw his Vetoes and bring back his pro-war ministers. On
11 July ‘La Patrie en danger’ was issued and called for all men
to support the war effort. However, the journee of 10 August
was far more radical in which nearly a thousand of the sans-