The formation of the Paris Jacobins

About this book

This study is an analysis of the development of the Paris Jacobin Club from its origins in 1789 through the *coup d'état* of May 30-June 2, 1793. In each of the three principal sections of the thesis, the focus is on the dynamic rather than the static quality of the Society; on the interrelationship between the changing political environment and the changes in the Club's membership, leadership, strategy and tactics. Section I of the thesis presents an account of the political, social, economic and intellectual forces which led to the outbreak of the Revolution of 1789 and contributed to the formation of the Paris Club. Section II describes the changes in the Jacobins' membership and leadership, the role of Societal officers and committees, the use of "purges," and the development of factions and factional disputes. Section III analyzes the development of the Jacobins’ ideology, their long-term goals for the Revolution and the short-term solutions they formulated for problems. Section IV has two parts. The first describes the extent of the Paris Jacobins’ influence in a variety of revolutionary institutions: the assemblies, the Commune, the sections and electoral assemblies. The second part of Section IV deals with the Jacobins’ use of propaganda in art, theatre, oratory, journalism and revolutionary festivals. The conclusion of the thesis projects the analysis of the Jacobins‘ development beyond the confines of the study to hypothesize why the Jacobins failed to maintain power after 1793-94.