The massacre exposed the widely differing ways in which post-Revolutionary Parisians construed the word'patriotism', and why the great Revolutionary goal of political unanimity was so elusive.On 17 July 1791 the revolutionary National Guard of Paris opened fire on a crowd of protesters: citizens believing themselves patriots trying to save France from the reinstatement of a traitor king. To the National Guard and theirpolitical superiors the protesters were the dregs of the people, brigands paid by counter-revolutionary aristocrats. Politicians and journalists declared the National Guard the patriots, and their action a heroic defence of the fledgling Constitution. Under the Jacobin Republic of 1793, however, this'massacre'was regarded as a high crime, a moment of truth in which a corrupt elite exposed its treasonable designs. This detailed study of the events of July 1791 and their antecedents seeks to understand how Parisians of different classes understood'patriotism', and how it was that their different answers drove them to confront each other on the Champ de Mars. David Andress is Professor of Modern History at the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies, University of Portsmouth.

Andress, David, 1969-

Royal Historical Society studies in history, Suffolk, UK, Rochester, NY, 2000

Royal Historical Society studies in history, Rochester, N.Y, 2001

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

September 5, 2000

On 17 July 1791 the revolutionary National Guard of Paris opened fire on a crowd of protesters, citizens who saw themselves as patriots, trying to save France from a traitor king. To the National Guard and their political superiors, however, the protesters were the dregs of the people, brigands paid by counter-revolutionary aristocrats. Politicians and journalists rallied to an account of this event in which the National Guard were the patriots, and their action a heroic defence of the fledgling Constitution.Under the Jacobin Republic of 1793, however, this 'massacre' would be regarded as a high crime, a moment of clarity in which the treasonous designs of a corrupt elite were exposed. But political clarity is the last attribute that emerges from a detailed study of the events of July 1791 and their antecedents.Paris in early 1791 was feverish with political involvement. Ordinary people expressed violent opinions on the street corners, journalists published wild rumours one day and denounced scaremongering the next, political clubs grew like mushrooms and advocated the most radical solutions to political deadlock and crisis. In such an atmosphere, what did it mean to be 'one of the people'? Where were boundaries to be drawn around the national community? How could one identify threatening outsiders? What should be done about them?This book explores how Parisians of all classes sought to answer such questions, and why it was that the answers they found drove 'patriots' to confront each other on the Champ de Mars.

Paris In Early 1791 Was Feverish With Political Involvement. Ordinary People Expressed Violent Opinions On The Street Corners, Journalists Published Wild Rumours One Day And Denounced Scaremongering The Next, Political Clubs Grew Like Mushrooms And Advocated The Most Radical Solutions To Political Deadlock And Crisis. In Such An Atmosphere, What Did It Mean To Be 'one Of The People'? Where Were Boundaries To Be Drawn Around The National Community? How Could One Identify Threatening Outsiders? What Should Be Done About Them? This Book Explores How Parisians Of All Classes Sought To Answer Such Questions, And Why It Was That The Answers They Found Drove 'patriots' To Confront Each Other On The Champ De Mars.--jacket. The People Of Paris And Their Historians -- Aristocrats, Priests And Brigands: January-february 1791 -- Guards, Spies, And Commissaires: Policing The Capital -- Plots, Pamphlets And Crowds: February-april 1791 -- The Saint-cloud Affair And The Wages Movement -- Before And After Varennes: The Rise In Popular Hostility -- The Constitution In The Balance: Events After The King's Return -- 17 July 1791: Massacre And Consternation -- After The Bloody Field: Commentaries, Narratives And Dissent. David Andress. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-234) And Index.

On 17 July 1791 the revolutionary National Guard of Paris opened fire on a crowd of protesters: citizens believing themselves patriots trying to save France from the reinstatement of a traitor king. To the National Guard and their political superiors the protesters were the dregs of the people, brigands paid by counter-revolutionary aristocrats. Politicians and journalists declared the National Guard the patriots, and their action a heroic defence of the fledgling Constitution. Under the Jacobin Republic of 1793, however, this "massacre" was regarded as a high crime, a moment of truth in which a corrupt elite exposed its treasonable designs. This detailed study of the events of July 1791 and their antecedents seeks to understand how Parisians of different classes understood "patriotism", and how it was that their different answers drove them to confront each other on the Champ de Mars. David Andress is Professor of Modern History at the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies, University of Portsmouth.

x, 239 p. ; 25 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. 225-234) and index

2023-06-28