France Abolish Monarchy and Become a Republic

The situation in France continued to be tense during the following year. Although Louis XVI had signed the Constitution, he entered into secret negotiations with the king of Prussia. Rules of other neighboring countries too were worried by the development in Frence and made plans to send troops to put down the event that had been taking place there since the summer of 1789.

Before this could happen, the National Assembly voted in April 1892 to declare war against Prussia and Austria. Thousands of volunteers thronged from the provinces to join the army. The saw this as a war of the people against kings and aristocrats all over Europe. Among the patriots songs they sang was the Marseillaise, composed by the poet Roget de L'lsle. It was sung for the first time by volunteers from Marseillaise as they marched into Paris and so got it's name. The Marseillaise is now the national anthem of Frence.

The revolutionary wars brought losses and economic difficulties to the people. While the men were away fighting at the front, women were left to cope with tasks of earning a living and looking after their families. Large section of the population were convinced that the revolution had to be carried further, as the Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer section of society. Political clubs became an important ralling point for people who wished to discuss government policies and plan their own forms of action.

The most successful of these clubs was that of the Jacob in Paris. Women too, who had been active throughout this period, formed their own clubs. Section 4 of this chapter will tell you more about their their activities and demands.

The members of the Jacobin club belonged mainly to the less prosperous section of society. They include small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch-wage workers. Their leader was Maximum Robespierre. A large group among the jacobins decided to start wearing long striped trousers similar to those worn by dock workers. This was to set themselves apart from the fashionable section of society, especially nobels, who wore knee breeches.