Political Clubs

Political Clubs Timeline

Until 5 May 1789, the Estates General had not met since 1614. This was a sign that a period of change had begun, and the French Revolution was going to make a drastic change in France's political system of power.

The National Assembly

In June 1789, the newly formed National Assembly took their first actions by removing feudalism and the state's ability to control the Catholic Church and expanding the group of people with the right to vote. Among many of their demands, the National Assembly approached the King with the demand that the people of France would now have access to food, as the population was suffering from famine.

The National Assembly acted as the effective government for three years until France became a Constitutional Monarchy in September 1792. Their constitution impacted France through its aims to limit the power of the monarchy. The National Assembly successfully established equal rights for men of all statuses, an end to tax exemptions given to nobility, and the consolidation of public debt.

Jacobins

First known as the Breton club, the Jacobin club is said to be one of the most important political clubs during the French Revolution. What began as an informal gathering of 44 Third Estate deputies at Versailles café eventually became a club with over 1,500 members in just one year.

Fig. 2 - Breton club lecture

Meeting both before and after the Estate-General gathered in 1789, the Breton club would discuss the political issues of the whole of France and would later reflect on the ongoings at the Estates-General. Wishing to grow their club, admittance was shared with deputies from other regions of France and liberal aristocrats. The Breton club was the first significant political club during this time and is said to have pioneered the public voice in politics, so there is no surprise that it produced so many influential figures, including:

• Maximilien Robespierre.
• Antoine Barnave.
• Emmanuel Sieves.
• Honore Mirabeau.

Fig. 3 - Jacobin club

Policies and Values

As left-wing revolutionaries, the Breton club had two main political aims:

1. They wanted to end the reign of King Louis XVI.
2. They wanted to give the people political authority and establish a Republic in France.

With the abolishment of nobility on 19 May 1790 and the civil construction of the French clergy in July, the Breton club met less often, and members began to dissipate. In particular, members from other regions were no longer seen at the gatherings, as they felt they had achieved their goals.

Jacobin Club

In October 1789, following the Women's March on Versailles, the National Assembly and King Louis XVI were forced to return to Paris, the capital of France. With this came the re-introduction of Breton club meetings and a rebranding of the club, which meant they now had the formal title 'Société des Amis de la Constitution'.

Jacobin Timeline

The Jacobin club grew significantly during this period, having 1,500 members in October 1790. Membership in the Jacobin club was restricted to the middle and upper classes. They created an annual fee of 24 livres and confined membership to only active citizens.

The club's downfall began in 1791 when many members left to join the royalist group, the Feuillants. The club's involvement with the Reign of Terror led to their disbarment in 1794, and Robespierre and 21 of his associates being executed. This movement against them was done by the National Convention.

Fig. 4 - Jacobin club Vignette

Girondins

Another significant political club during the French Revolution was the Girondins. This group was formed in late 1791, growing significantly in the National Convention between the years of 1792-3. Jacques-Pierre Brissot, a republic lawyer and previous member of the Jacobin club, was the founder of the Girondin club, which was built upon his values.

Fig. 5 - Girondin club

Girondins Policy and Values

The Girondins gained a respectable name for the group in 1792, and the club was known to be measured and intelligent. Most importantly, the club was known for its loyalty to the French Revolution. Below is an overview of the Girondin club.

• The Girondin club had around 200 members at the National Convention.
• Their policies were made by 60 popular deputies named the 'inner sixty'.
• The Girondins were Republicans.
• In April 1792, they started a revolutionary conflict to win public support and further the revolution.
• They wanted a free and capitalist society protected by the rules of the law.
• The club wanted a national government that would be decided on by all citizens, not just the people in the capital.

The Girondin's club and their influence on the French government ended in June 1793 when the head of the Paris national guards, François Hanriot, led a movement which forced the National Convention to hand over the deputies to the law. Their arrests were under the accusation from Robespierre that the club had become a threat to the Republic.

Royalists

During the French Revolution, the term royalist was given to those who supported the Old Regime and wished for the royal house of Bourbon and the Catholic Church to revert to its position of power in 1789. The most notable political club created under these pretences was the Feuillants Club, which grew significantly after several members from the Jacobin club transferred under the leadership of Antoine Barnave. Fuelled by their royalist views, these new members joined the Feuillants club after a disagreement on July 1791 about the removal of King Louis XVI.

Fig. 6 - Feuillant's club

Over time the Feuillants diminished due to the active French Revolutions and the Jacobin club's success during this time. This led to the Feuillants club's end, as they had lost hope for their royalist ideals after the dissolution of the monarchy in August 1792.

Women Political Clubs French Revolution

Despite being suppressed during the French Revolution, women still found ways to be influential in politics. Determined by their social status, the women of Paris could indirectly affect politics, often through their husbands' voices or occupations.

Fig. 7 - Women in politics illustration

Eager to have a say in political changes, women were said to have spread their new opinions on the class system, the rights of individuals, and education. But since women were not accepted into official political gatherings, where did the women have these discussions?

Well, women often gathered in the evenings at events hosted by women called Salonnieres. The Paris high society salons were a revolutionary concept where women were free to speak their opinions, breaking the heavily patriarchal stereotypes of the period. The women that attended these meetings were higher members of society, often the partners of aristocrats or daughters of French ministers. Through their connections, women could indirectly influence political decisions in Paris as they had an advantage over women from the lower classes.