Explain why the September Massacres broke out in Paris in 1792. (12 marks)

Authors Avatar

Explain why the September Massacres broke out in 1792. (12 marks)

The September Massacres broke out in 1792, largely as a response to recent military defeats against Prussia. As Prussia had entered French soil, the people of the revolution were worried that Paris would be the next target, and if the Prussians were able to take over Paris, they would indeed destroy the revolution. The 5 day massacre, which started on the 2nd September and carried on for 5 days, started due to rumours about prisoners in the Parisian Prisons plotting to escape to help the Prussians take over France, and thus destroy the revolution.

Join now!

The war with the Prussians had created a panic amongst the revolutionaries in Paris, as the Prussian troops had managed to invade Verdun – the last fortress before the fortress in Paris. Many feared a huge defeat if the Prussians were successful in their plight to over turn the revolution. Many patriots and troops were called in by Marat, a powerful figure in the Commune. The commune feared the Prussians and called in for all patriots to take up arms even supposedly paying many people to take part in the killings of those involved in the contempt of the ...

This is a preview of the whole essay