Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793

• The insurrection began on 31 May 1793 in Paris.
• Protesters demanded the release of the Girondin deputies.
• The National Convention was besieged by insurgents.
• The Jacobins gained control over the revolutionary government.
• On 2 June 1793, the Girondin deputies were arrested.

The Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793 was a critical event during the French Revolution. It marked a significant moment in the conflict between the more radical Montagnards and the moderate Girondins within the National Convention. The insurrection was driven by widespread discontent due to economic hardships, internal political strife, and external threats.

Throughout the spring of 1793, Paris faced severe food shortages and inflation. The economic distress fueled popular unrest, especially among the sans-culottes (radical working-class Parisians). They demanded more effective measures to address their grievances, including price controls on essential goods and stronger action against counter-revolutionaries. The Montagnards, led by figures such as Maximilien Robespierre and Georges Danton, aligned with these popular demands, whereas the Girondins took a more conservative stance, advocating for less interventionist policies.

On 31 May 1793, the turmoil reached a tipping point. The National Guard, under the influence of the Montagnards and supported by the sans-culottes, started to mobilize. Large crowds began gathering and protesting in the streets of Paris. They called for the arrest of leading Girondins, whom they accused of betraying the Revolution. The Paris Commune, a powerful local government body, also played a crucial role in orchestrating these uprisings, aligning itself with the Montagnard faction.

The situation escalated on 2 June 1793. The National Convention was surrounded by an armed crowd, including members of the National Guard. Faced with the serious threat of violence, the deputies (including some who were initially hesitant) were compelled to act. Ultimately, the Convention voted to arrest 29 leading Girondin deputies, including prominent figures like Jacques-Pierre Brissot and Jean-Marie Roland.

The arrest and subsequent exclusion of the Girondins from the Convention fundamentally altered the power dynamics within the revolutionary government. It enabled the Montagnards to dominate the Convention and led to the establishment of the Reign of Terror, a period characterized by radical measures and extensive use of the guillotine against perceived enemies of the Revolution.

The Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793 underscored the deep divisions within the revolutionary movement. It highlighted how economic distress and popular agitation could be harnessed to achieve political ends, as seen in the ascendency of the Montagnards following the insurrection. This event had profound implications for the trajectory of the French Revolution, often viewed as a prelude to the more radical and tumultuous phases that followed.

• The Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793 marked a crucial turning point in the French Revolution, as the radical Jacobins sought to overthrow the Girondin faction, which they viewed as insufficiently revolutionary.
• During the insurrection, approximately 80,000 armed sans-culottes (working-class militants) stormed the National Convention, demanding the arrest of Girondin leaders, showcasing the power of popular mobilization.
• This event resulted in the expulsion of the Girondins from the Convention and the consolidation of power for the Jacobins, leading to an escalation of the radical phase of the Revolution.
• Interestingly, the insurrection was fueled not only by political tensions but also by economic grievances, including rising food prices and scarcity, which greatly affected the lower classes in Paris.
• The insurrection ultimately led to the establishment of the 'Terror' (a period of political repression), demonstrating the intense atmosphere of fear and urgency that permeated revolutionary politics during this time.