Reaction to change internally and externally: the political clubs; the…

The idea

Between 1789 and 1792, internal and external reactions fractured the revolution. Internally, political clubs like the Jacobins and Cordeliers mobilised the masses. Louis XVI’s Flight to Varennes in June 1791 shattered trust, proving his opposition to the constitution. This sparked republican demands, culminating in the Champs de Mars massacre in July 1791, where the National Guard fired on protesters, fatally dividing the revolutionary consensus. Externally, European monarchs reacted with alarm. The origins of the 1792 war lay in Girondin desires to export revolution and the King’s hope for a French defeat. The war's disastrous early impact radicalised politics, heightening paranoia and sealing the fate of the constitutional monarchy.

What earns the marks

• Analyse the role of political clubs, specifically the Jacobins and Cordeliers, in radicalising the Parisian populace and driving political debate.
• Evaluate the significance of the Flight to Varennes (June 1791) in destroying the viability of a constitutional monarchy and eroding trust in Louis XVI.
• Assess the Champs de Mars massacre (July 1791) as a turning point that fractured the alliance between moderate constitutionalists and radical republicans.
• Explain the origins of the Revolutionary War, including the Brissotin (Girondin) faction's push for conflict and the external threat posed by the Declaration of Pillnitz.
• Examine the impact of early military defeats in 1792 on internal French politics, specifically how it fuelled fear of counter-revolution and radicalised the masses.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the Jacobins and the Cordeliers.

  Put it right: The Cordeliers were more radical earlier on and open to passive citizens, unlike the initially moderate and middle-class Jacobins.

• Assuming the King fled to escape France entirely.

  Put it right: He intended to reach the loyalist stronghold of Montmédy near the border to negotiate from a position of strength.

• Claiming the war was purely defensive.

  Put it right: The Girondins actively pushed for war to flush out traitors and unite the nation, while the King supported it hoping France would lose.

Exam tips

• Link the Flight to Varennes directly to the Champs de Mars demonstration to show a clear chain of cause and effect in the radicalisation process.
• When discussing the origins of war, contrast the motives of the Girondins, who wanted to secure the revolution, with those of the King, who hoped for a French defeat.
• Use the growth of the political clubs as concrete evidence of the increasing politicisation of the Parisian working classes.