sign in sign up
<<
Home , Declaration of Pillnitz, Trial of Louis XVI

TH UPDATED: March 5 , 2021

CRISIS: BACKGROUND GUIDE TRITONMUN XXII (VIRTUAL) – MAY 1ST, 2021

MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

1

BACKGROUND GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Head Chair Letter…………………………………………………………………………… 2

Position Paper Guidelines…………………………………………………………………... 4

Topic: The Terror – French Revolution …………………………………………………… 5

Key Terms..……………………………………………………………………………… 5

Background..…………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Questions to Consider…………………………………………………………………… 12

Suggested Sites………………………………………………………………………….. 12

2

HEAD CHAIR LETTER

Revolutionaries!

Welcome to our French Revolution: Committee of Public Safety 1793 crisis committee! My name is Samantha Ivezich and I am currently a second year studying Human Biology and Philosophy here at UCSD. I’ve been involved with Model United Nations since high school, continuing my interest in the organization now in college. This year, I am serving as the Vice President External for Model UN @ UCSD. Aside from chairing, I also travel and compete with our team. Outside of MUN, I am involved with our collegiate esports organization, Triton Gaming, and work in a pathology and histology lab. If you have any interests or questions about any of these “fields,” feel free to ask!

Our committee begins at the , a period in the French Revolution marked by violence, political turmoil, and an almost complete departure from the justice system. As you’ll read, the Committee of Public Safety (an interesting naming choice) rises to almost totalitarian power under , making wartime decisions for the “good” of and the new republic. With almost unlimited power, there are many different directions this committee can take.

The first piece of advice I would give is to do your research, but not completely ground yourself in how things actually happened. Research background, ideologies, and motivations for the time, understanding what would and wouldn’t be possible for the time and committee, and what’s generally going on on the global stage. That being said, this committee starts in 1793 and there is obviously a lot of history that happened between then and the end of revolution. Don’t be constrained to this history! Be creative, incorporate your personal crisis arc, and have fun with it. Next, focus on the goals of the committee, but don’t forget to develop your own personal story arc as well. What does your character want? How can you further these goals on an individual level? It is important to find a balance between staying in the flow of committee while also sending notes to the backroom.

3

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about your character, the committee, Triton MUN, or MUN in general! I may not respond super fast, but I will give it my best effort! I am super excited to chair this committee (historical crises are my favorite!) and I hope that you all have a great experience as well!

Très Cordialement,

Samantha Ivezich

Head Chair

4

POSITION PAPER GUIDELINES

TRITONMUN POSITION PAPER GUIDELINES

• Position Papers are due at 11:59 PM on April 23rd, 2021. o Requests for extensions must be sent by the advisor to TritonMUN by April 16th. • Position Papers can be submitted by one of two ways: 1. The Google Form linked here, https://forms.gle/4hKfSaofByFDV2qh8 (Advisors will be emailed a Google Form link that can be used by advisors) 2. Email to: [email protected] • Please Note: This email is strictly for submissions of position papers. You will not receive a reply from this email. For any concerns that require a response, please email [email protected]. • At the top of each paper, include your country/person, name, committee, and topic. • In place of a position paper and in order to facilitate an engaging crisis committee, delegates should submit their first 3 personal crisis notes, up to 2 pages. • Crisis notes should be single-spaced in Times New Roman 12 pt. font. • At the top of each paper, include your character, name, committee and topic. • Please refer to the delegate resources tab on the website for information on how to write a personal crisis note.

5

THE TERROR: FRENCH REVOLUTION

KEY TERMS

• First Estate

• Second Estate

• Third Estate

• Ancien Régime

• King Louis XVI

• National Constituent Assembly

•

• Committee of Public Safety

• Maximilien Robespierre

•

•

6

SETTING THE SCENE IN LATE 18TH CENTURY FRANCE

In order to understand how France arrived at the point of the Reign of Terror, it is crucial to examine the factors that led to such deeply-rooted political turmoil and civilian unrest. Starting at the tail end of the 18th century, France was out of money from aiding in the American Revolution. Suffering from widespread food shortages as a result of a two decade long drought and poor harvest streak, food prices, especially that of bread, were through the roof. However, while most of the country starved, those with lavish wealth still continued to live exorbitant lifestyles, especially the royal family, who was funded by said starving common people.1 Additionally, a large population boom inherently doubled the number of citizens in France in under 100 years, making France the most populated country in Europe with 26 million people in 1789. Already struggling to feed its citizens, increased population density certainly does not help matters for France. 2 Feudalism was also at the time waning, but still in some ways prevalent in France, peasants beginning to own their own land and obtain higher degrees of education and better standards of living.3 Speaking further on education, the Enlightenment and its new ideas about religion and government began to spread across Western Europe, becoming accessible to even the common folk. The basic premise of a lot of Enlightenment thinking relates to innate rights and respect for all human persons, emphasizing that the role of government should be to protect said rights of its citizens. (In a nutshell, this is where the idea “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” comes from, not solely from .)4 It is thus not hard to see how these ideas conflicted with overextending and restrictive monarchical power as well as Feudalism, leading to an impasse between the French aristocracy and monarchy, and those they ruled who adopted Enlightenment thinking. To sum it up, at this point in history we have hungry, educated peasants who are beginning to subscribe to the idea that they themselves have rights and value (extremely contrary to what the Feudal system propagates), and that maybe rule by divine right” isn’t all that legitimate. This creates our “perfect storm” for a revolution to set foot.

1 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution. Retrieved February 6, 2021, from https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution 2 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution 3 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 4 Llewellyn, J., & Thompson, S. (2020, September 30). The Enlightenment. Retrieved February 6, 2021, from https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/enlightenment/

7

THE BEGINNINGS OF REVOLUTION (1786-1789)

Clearly, it is not hard to see that the current state of France at this point was unsustainable and something had to be done to pull the country out of bankruptcy. In response, the French government, known as the Ancien Régime at this point, began to levy direct and heavy taxation on the common people, who were known and classified as the “Third Estate” (The Second Estate consisted of nobility and the First Estate consisted of clergy).5 6 However, even as the increased taxation brought in more revenue for the state, the spending of the government and monarchy still eclipsed any gains or progress. Further, even in seeing the system of taxation continuing to fail, meaningful reform or relief was not provided by the government, exacerbating the problem and inciting unrest among the Third Estate. Finally, in 1786, Charles Alexandre de Calonne, the controller general under King Louis XVI, proposed a tax reform plan in which the nobility would no longer be exempt as they had previously, hoping to solve the debt problem.7 As similar solutions were being drawn up all over Europe, the aristocracy panicked, unwilling to lose their privilege and hierarchy.8 Thus, the French government received backlash on both fronts: that of the commoner wanting reform and that of the nobility wanting to maintain status. To then attempt to gain support for the reform plan, King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General, which had not met since 1614. The Estates-General was a body consisting of representatives from all three estates: clergy, nobility, and common folk. Further, the meeting was then set to occur May 5, 1789.9 Now in theory, this sounds a legitimate and practical solution to the problem of peasants feeling underrepresented and lacking government rights. However, at this point in time, the Third Estate made up roughly 98% of the population in France, but could still be outvoted by the other two estates in the assembly. This blatant inequality of representation led Third Estate representatives to mobilize, forgetting the initial goal of tax reform and switching their focus towards constitutional reform. Outside of the main proceedings, the Third Estate met separately

5 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Estates-General. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Estates-General 6 Llewellyn, J., & Thompson, S. (2020, September 30). Taxation as a Cause of Revolution. Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/taxation/#Excessive_inefficient_unfair 7 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution. 8 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 9 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution.

8 and out of frustration simply declared themselves the new “National Assembly.” At this meeting, members made an agreement not to disperse until a new constitution had been drafted which included equitable representation, or in other words, representation determined by proportion, not by status. As the agreement took place in an indoor tennis court, they logically named their pledge the “.”10 This new National Assembly gained support from members of the clergy, causing them to outnumber those who opposed. Thus, the King, nobility, and remaining clergy were forced to concede to this new representative body.11 On July 9th, the assembly was officially deemed the National Constituent Assembly. Unsurprisingly, the King and other members of the nobility were not especially pleased with this outcome. Rumors of a military coup to be ordered by King Louis XVI created a panic among citizens, who did not wish to lose their representation and fall victim once again to the elite. This led to the of July 1789, a period of insurrection among citizens against the nobles, causing the looting and burning of property as a revolt against centuries of exploitation.12 One of the most famous acts of rebellion was the siege of the Bastille, a state prison in which many political prisoners were held for “crimes” committed against the monarchy. A symbol of royal tyranny, rioters stormed the fortress, seizing massive amounts of gunpowder and cannons as well as freeing 7 prisoners.13 14 Many regard this event on July 14th, 1789 as the start of the French Revolution.

10 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution. 11 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 12 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution. 13 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 14 History.com Editors. (2009, November 24). French Storm the Bastille. Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille

9

ABOLITION OF THE MONARCHY (1789-1792)

Responding to the Great Fear, the new National Constituent Assembly knew it must quell the peasants in some fashion, leading the body to officially abolish the feudal system. The assembly then introduced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen on August 26th, which contained verbiage bestowing rights to “liberty, equality, property, and freedom to resist oppression” to all citizens of France and replaced the Ancien Régime. The King, refusing to pass such “radical” legislation, was met by a mob at his palace in Versailles. After almost being killed right then and there by citizens (especially upon rioters seeing the royal family’s lavish lifestyle while most of the country still lived in poverty), King Louis XVI was brought by the mob back to Paris so that he could be “more accountable”.15 The National Constituent Assembly functioned for a few years, creating new systems of administration, representation and justice. The body also nationalized land owned by the Roman Catholic Church in order to pay off debt, selling it to commoners and members of the bourgeoisie. Further, they proposed the creation of a monarchical-based government in which the legislative and executive powers would be shared between a representative assembly and the king.16 This idea stemmed from more moderate voices within the committee, many radicals disagreeing with keeping monarchical power and instead favoring a republic. These radicals included Maximilien de Robespierre.17 Although still included in this new form of government, like many of the nobility who feared losing their wealth (or their life), King Louis XVI attempted to flee the country on June 20th, 1791, but was ultimately brought back to Paris. In 1792, war was declared against (part of the Holy Roman Empire at the time), supported on both sides by the King, who believed it may strengthen his authority, and by revolutionaries, who wanted to spread the principles of their new government and ideology.18 Later that year, also joined the war. Further, it is important to note that in August 1791, the Declaration of was issued by both Austria (The Holy Roman Empire) and Prussia, which urged other European nations to unite to reinstate the monarchy in France.19 This is important later.

15 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 16 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 17 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution. 18 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 19 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, February 15). . Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Pillnitz

10

All was relatively well until citizens caught wind that France had potentially been betrayed by the monarchy in the war. In fact, , the wife of King Louis XVI, had communicated with her brother, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, encouraging him to join the invasion of France as an act of counter-revolution.20 Again, she shared the same sentiment as the king that a war would once again strengthen the power of the royal family and weaken the plight of the revolutionaries. While Leopold died before the war was actually declared, his participation in the Declaration of Pillnitz and anti- sentiments fueled the chain of events leading to war.21 Thus, the royal family was imprisoned in August of 1792 and the revolutionaries rose once again, killing nobles and clergy being held in prisons. On September 20, 1792, a new assembly, the National Convention, was created. On September 21st, the monarchy was dissolved and on September 22nd, a republic was officially established.22

THE START OF THE REIGN OF TERROR (1793)

The National Convention consisted of 749 “deputies” which included men from a variety of trade professions. There existed two factions of revolutionaries: the Jacobins (also known as the Montagnards) and the Girondins. The Jacobins were regarded as more radical and sought to put more power in the hands of the poor whereas the Girondins were more moderate and sought to reduce the power of the state, favoring a bourgeois republic.23 The Jacobins held the majority within the convention, moving to hold a trial of Louis XVI in which he was found guilty of treason and sentenced to execution. He was executed on January 21, 1973.24

The war in France, however, was still drawing on, prompting the need for quick, decisive action. This in tandem with growing inner political turmoil and conflict, especially within the two factions, led to the creation of the Committee of Public Safety.25 The committee had power over the military, judicial, and legislative branches and while a republican French Constitution

20 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 21 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Leopold II. Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leopold-II-Holy-Roman-emperor 22 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 23 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). National convention. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Convention 24 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. 25 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). National convention.

11

had been ratified on June 24th 1973, it was suspended indefinitely as France would be “revolutionary until the peace.”26 The committee consisted of 12 officials elected by the convention who would serve for a period of one month and could be reelected. This was to prevent one individual or group from becoming too powerful or straying too far from the interests of the people. While the committee was supposed to be overseen and “checked” by the National Convention, it ended up being that the Committee of Public Safety held the reigns, largely controlling the convention and inherently establishing a dictatorship. For the first months (April-July 1793) the committee was run by George Danton, who sought to end the internal conflicts and reconcile, but failed to see victory on the military front. In July of 1793, they were replaced by more radical revolutionaries, led by Maximilien Robespierre.27 Seeking to end disloyalty to the revolution in France and quite literally rule with terror, the actions of the committee under Robespierre start the period known as the Reign of Terror.28

THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY

It is September 1793. France is in a complete state of civil and militarial distress and it is the job of your committee, the Committee of Public Safety, to fix it. You must ensure that the progress made by the revolutionaries before you is not in vain and that the corruption of the old monarchy and feudal system is dispelled once and for all. The committee has no tolerance for sympathizers of the royal family and loyalists, seeking to reprimand every individual guilty of such treason against the new French republic. With nearly limitless power, rule with an iron fist is surely the path to establishing and maintaining true loyalty to France. If someone is shown to be an enemy of the republic, rest assured an example will be made out of them.

26 McLean, J. (n.d.). Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety. Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/robespierre-and-the-committee-of-public-safety 27 Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Committee of public safety. Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Committee-of-Public-Safety 28 History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution.

12

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. Clusters of the old, corrupt nobility are scattered throughout France, fleeing to avoid being brought to trial. How will you keep loyalists to the monarchy at bay and bring them to justice? What tactics can be employed? 2. How will you deal with the encroaching threat of other European nations? How will you deal with their counterrevolutionary sentiments? 3. What do we do with the opposing political party and their support base? 4. How will your legal structure during wartime function? Who will you hold trials for? Who will inquisit upon individual loyalty to France? Where will power be consolidated? Why? 5. Who is truly loyal to France? Who is not? Are there individuals in the government wishing to overthrow your republic?

SUGGESTED SITES 1. General history of the Revolution: https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution

Contains hyperlinks which describe events/people/ideas more in-depth

2. The Enlightenment: https://www.britannica.com/event/Enlightenment-European-history

3. The Enlightenment in France: https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/enlightenment/

4. Committee of Public Safety: https://www.geriwalton.com/the-original-committee-of- public-safety/

5. Committee of Public Safety: https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/committee-of- public-safety/#A_de_facto_executive

6. Crash Course French Rev. Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fJl_ZX91l0

13

SOURCES

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Committee of public safety. Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Committee-of-Public-Safety

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Estates-General. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Estates-General

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). French Revolution. Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Leopold II. Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leopold-II-Holy-Roman-emperor

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). National convention. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Convention

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, February 15). Declaration of Pillnitz. Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Pillnitz

History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). French revolution. Retrieved February 6, 2021, from https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution

History.com Editors. (2009, November 24). French Revolutionaries Storm the Bastille. Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french- revolutionaries-storm-bastille

Llewellyn, J., & Thompson, S. (2020, September 30). Taxation as a Cause of Revolution. Retrieved February 8, 2021, from https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/taxation/#Excessive_inefficient_unfair

14

Llewellyn, J., & Thompson, S. (2020, September 30). The Enlightenment. Retrieved February 6, 2021, from https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/enlightenment/

McLean, J. (n.d.). Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety. Retrieved February 8, 2021, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/robespierre-and-the- committee-of-public-safety/