War and Revolution

Why go to War?

Declaration of Pillnitz w The Declaration was issued by the Austrians in August 1791 w They saw the Revolution as a disease which needed to be stopped. w Stated that the Great powers of Europe should join together and stop it. w Wasn’t a Declaration of War, just a statement of intent. w However France took it as a sign of Declaration of War.

Relationship of Revolution and War France believed that if they went to war it would take pressure out of France and also transport the Revolution. w The great powers of Europe saw the Revolution working to their advantage, as it reduced French power and influence. w After the Flight to Varennes the Austrians felt they had to support Louis. So they issued the Declaration of Pillnitz

Revolutionary Tribunals w The Revolutionary Tribunals were set up on March 10th w Made to preserve the Revolution by trying counter- revolutionary suspects w 1-6 months they tried to save the revolution as it was collapsing.

Organisation- leveé en masse w Was introduced in August 1792 by Bertrand Barére w The idea of this is that every French man was a soldier and a defender of the nation w It was introduced because more soldiers were needed w Barére wanted to mobilise France entirely for War. w It conscripted nearly 1/2 million unmarried men aged w All troops were fed, armed and trained

Conscription w Committee of public safety organised the war w Government ordered a levy of troops in Feb 1793 w Marseilles had 3500 men conscripted w Bordeaux had 400 men conscripted w A surge of patriotism brought volunteers from all over France w Young men married to avoid conscription w The traditional recruiting areas were north and east of France but conscription brought men from the south and west. w On the 11th of July a decree called every French men to fight it was called ‘La patrie en danger’

Artillery w Factories were set up to make arms and ammunition w Church bells were melted down for cannons w Religious metals were melted down for coinage

Representatives-on-mission w Representatives-on-mission were political representatives from the Convention. w They were sent to provinces w They were introduced because of resistance to conscription and suspicion of generals. w They had almost unlimited powers over the armies. w The deputies of the Convention were mainly Montagnards, whose job was to speed up Conscription and keep an eye on the generals. w They could also arrest generals w Military defeat, or failure to follow up a victory was now a political crime: 17 generals were executed in 1793 and 67 in 1794.

Military failures w 1st Sep 1792 the fall of fortress at Verdun which was a large military base w March 1793 Dumouriez was defeated by Austrians at Neerwinden w Summer 1793 the war against allies was still going badly and Austrians pushed into France w French lost Belgium and the left bank of the Rhine w Advance on Austrian Netherlands where troops panicked and retreated killing their commanders

Military successes w June 26th Austrians were defeated at Fleures and Belgium was recaptured w September 20th Brunswick army was defeated and the Prussians were forced to withdraw at Valmy w End of Sep Spanish armies were driven out of Roussillon and Piedmontese out of Savoy. The British army were defeated at Handschoote w End of Nov Austrians were expelled from French land