The Radical Club And The French Revolution

France in 1793, was in a chaotic state. The masses of people that went against the aristocrats had enough of the old policies. The Estate voiced their laws and policies during the early days of ‘Republicanism’. Thus the Third Estate embodied the enlightened principles of “equality, liberty, and fraternity”. The Third Estate formed a National Convention and prevailed with radical ideologies. The Third Estate wanted these laws so desperately that they relied on the corrupt “Committee of Public Safety”, to evoke terror towards the opposing forces in France in order to establish the new laws and policies. France was suffocating. The country didn’t have enough funds or food to sustain the population. So the elites stayed wealthy and fed; only

The most radical club; was an all women club called the Society of Revolutionary Republic Women. The radical intent by this group is shown in the petition they drew up in May 19, 1793, “the country is in the most imminent danger; if you want to save it, the most energetic measures must be taken. . . .”. This group wanted change. These women did not take their conspirators lightly and everyone who opposes the Republic should face a tribunal. They demanded justice, a tribunal. Trial would not suffice, that all traitors should be flogged to death. The group wanted profiteers to be disposed, “Exterminate all these scoundrels”. The Republicans would only be satisfied by the execution of oppressors. The principle of “Liberty” was still in the hearts of the French and this would never fade away. As a result of all this turbulence that the women groups caused, the decree to suppress all women clubs commenced. The women would not stop and became mere militants. Men were worried that this would cause havoc. A decree formed, “No person of either sex may constrain any citizen or citizeness to dress in a particular manner”. This decree was announced because the Convention wanted to keep the status quo for the public. The Convention also decreed that no women should participate in political clubs and all women clubs are taboo. The Convention were still agrarian when it came to women, they needed to show strength and

Also that they would be allowed to execute people who didn’t follow the decrees the republic declared. Robespierre the president of the Committee of Public Safety, allowed the people to delegate. The Republic mass worried about the lords plotting to starve the people. The delegates argued that these laws are prosperous but don’t have the power behind it. That even with the army and the new laws that these crimes and domestic criminals will pursue, the only way was a tribunal force. A delegate named Billaud-Varenne said, “If revolutions drag on, it is because only half measures are taken.”. Republicans didn’t want to let things go, they wanted to act. The people wanted guns and wanted “Liberty”. The Republicans granted the “Law of Suspects”, this accepted the advent of tribunals used on conspirators and those who are guilty of treason. People who were suspected, had to show traits of feudalism or tyrannical behaviours. Also those who weren’t patriotic enough or even formal nobles that don’t show enthusiasm. Almost anyone the Committee deemed to be a traitor was sent to the tribunal. The Republic forced their laws through morbid fashion. Finally, the Republic dealt the “Maximum Law”. This law would perish all the problems that republicans about sustainability. That all the basic commodities would have a maximum price. The price cap would give the people the chance to afford the