Elections leading to the National Convention
Outbreak of the massacres on 2nd September coincided with the 2nd stage of elections for a
new National Convention
All adult male citizens given the vote for the first time
Girondins tried to exploit the need for a return to stability under their leadership because of
news of Parisian atrocities
In Paris: no Girondin candidates elected bc of their hostility towards Commune + actions of
sans-culottes; Robespierre was peoples’ 1 st choice; Marat, Danton + Desmoulins also chosen
Voter turnout was low so widening of electorate had little impact
Outside Paris returned same sort of men that active citizens had chosen 1791
Although no parties, number of elected deputies clearly supported the Girondins while
others backed the Jacobins
Jacobins came to be known as the Montagnards because they occupied the high seats to the
left of the president, Pétion
Many deputies unaffiliated- known as ‘the Plain’; occupied seats in centre of the hall
- Many of these were representatives of those who prospered in the new
France e.g. officials, judges, administrators, NG officers, doctors, lawyers,
large farmers + landowners
20th September: New Convention opened + French army won a victory against the Austro-
Prussian forces at Valmy
- This news reached Paris on 21st September + gave the National Convention
an air of optimism
Montagnards Girondins
(radical The Plain (moderate, pro-
revolutionary (unaffiliated) republic but
left-wing) not-revolution)
Pétion
(president)
Outbreak of the massacres on 2nd September coincided with the 2nd stage of elections for a
new National Convention
All adult male citizens given the vote for the first time
Girondins tried to exploit the need for a return to stability under their leadership because of
news of Parisian atrocities
In Paris: no Girondin candidates elected bc of their hostility towards Commune + actions of
sans-culottes; Robespierre was peoples’ 1 st choice; Marat, Danton + Desmoulins also chosen
Voter turnout was low so widening of electorate had little impact
Outside Paris returned same sort of men that active citizens had chosen 1791
Although no parties, number of elected deputies clearly supported the Girondins while
others backed the Jacobins
Jacobins came to be known as the Montagnards because they occupied the high seats to the
left of the president, Pétion
Many deputies unaffiliated- known as ‘the Plain’; occupied seats in centre of the hall
- Many of these were representatives of those who prospered in the new
France e.g. officials, judges, administrators, NG officers, doctors, lawyers,
large farmers + landowners
20th September: New Convention opened + French army won a victory against the Austro-
Prussian forces at Valmy
- This news reached Paris on 21st September + gave the National Convention
an air of optimism
Montagnards Girondins
(radical The Plain (moderate, pro-
revolutionary (unaffiliated) republic but
left-wing) not-revolution)
Pétion
(president)
