‘Economic weakness was the main cause of political instability in France between 1790 and 1795’.
Level
AS LEVEL
Year Examined
2021
Topic
France, 1774–1814
👑Complete Model Essay
‘Economic weakness was the main cause of political instability in France between 1790 and 1795’.
Economic Weakness and Political Instability in France (1790-1795)
The tumultuous years between 1790 and 1795 witnessed significant political instability in France. While economic weakness undeniably played a crucial role, arguing it was the main cause requires a nuanced analysis considering the numerous political upheavals that characterized this period.
Economic Hardship and Political Unrest
France's economic woes undoubtedly fueled political instability. The period saw declining industrial and agricultural output, crippling foreign trade, and soaring prices. The government, grappling with immense debt inherited from the pre-revolutionary regime, resorted to issuing assignats. Initially conceived as bonds backed by confiscated church lands, these evolved into a paper currency. However, uncontrolled printing led to hyperinflation. Between 1791 and 1793, food prices skyrocketed by 90%, while wages lagged behind at an 80% increase.
This economic crisis had dire social consequences. Poor harvests exacerbated food shortages, transforming inflation into rampant hunger. Assignats, meant to alleviate the economic burden, became symbols of hardship and government mismanagement. Public anger erupted in food riots and demonstrations, highlighting the precarious link between economic hardship and political unrest. The sans-culottes' storming of the National Convention in September 1793, demanding bread, exemplifies this connection.
The government's response, while aimed at stabilizing the situation, often proved counterproductive. The Committee of Public Safety's (CPS) Law of the Maximum, intended to control prices and wages, backfired. Producers, facing artificially low prices, opted to hoard goods or reduce production, exacerbating shortages. The CPS's subsequent deployment of troops to seize crops, while temporarily easing Parisian shortages, worsened the situation elsewhere, further eroding trust in the government and fueling resentment. This ultimately contributed to the downfall of Robespierre and his allies.
Political Turmoil and Ideological Conflicts
However, reducing the period's instability solely to economic factors would be a simplification. Louis XVI's ambivalent stance towards political reforms, culminating in his execution in 1793, deeply polarized French society, undermining the nascent constitutional monarchy. The constant threat of war and foreign invasion from 1792 onwards created a climate of fear and suspicion, fueling radicalism. Events like the September Massacres of 1792 and the subsequent Reign of Terror, while influenced by economic anxieties, were fundamentally driven by political anxieties and ideological struggles.
The Thermidorian Reaction of 1794, ending the Jacobin rule, failed to restore stability. The ensuing White Terror against suspected Jacobins underscored the deep-seated political divides and the enduring appeal of radicalism, despite the economic chaos it had wrought. Violence, often exceeding the bounds of legitimate political discourse, became a recurring theme, highlighting the limitations of viewing economic hardship as the sole catalyst for instability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while economic weakness significantly contributed to political instability in France between 1790 and 1795, it was not the sole cause. The period's political turmoil stemmed from a complex interplay of factors: the legacy of Louis XVI's reign, the ever-present threat of war, the rise of radical ideologies, and the struggle for power among different factions. While economic hardship fueled popular discontent, political events and decisions often exacerbated existing tensions. Therefore, attributing political instability solely to economic weakness provides an incomplete understanding of this complex and tumultuous period in French history.
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Introduction
Briefly introduce the French Revolution and the period of 1790-1795. State your stance on the essay question.
Economic Weakness as the Main Cause of Instability
Economic Decline: Discuss the falling industrial and agricultural output, declining foreign trade, and rising prices. Link these to the government's financial struggles and the issuance of assignats.
Assignats and Inflation: Explain how the assignats, intended to address debt, led to hyperinflation due to overprinting and lack of control. Highlight the impact on food prices and wages, leading to unrest.
Food Shortages and Social Unrest: Describe the food shortages caused by poor harvests and exacerbated by inflation. Mention specific examples like the sans-culottes' invasion of the National Convention.
Government Policies and Backlash: Analyze the Law of the Maximum and its unintended consequences: hoarding, shortages, and resentment against the government.
Challenges to the View: Political and Ideological Factors
Louis XVI and Constitutional Monarchy: Discuss Louis XVI's resistance to change and his execution's polarizing effect on French politics.
War and Counter-Revolution: Highlight the impact of war and internal uprisings on creating a volatile political climate. Mention the September Massacres as an example.
Radicalization and the Terror: Explain how the threat of war and counter-revolution led to the rise of the Jacobins and the Reign of Terror. Analyze its impact on political instability.
Continuing Instability After Robespierre: Discuss the Thermidorian Reaction and the ongoing instability. Mention the White Terror and the persistence of Jacobin support.
Conclusion
Reiterate your stance on the question, acknowledging the significance of both economic and political factors. Offer a nuanced conclusion about the interplay of these forces in driving instability during this period.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
**Economic weakness was the main cause of political instability in France between 1790 and 1795**. How far do you agree with this view?
The following are some possible arguments in support of the viewpoint:
⭐Industrial and agricultural output fell, foreign trade declined, and prices rose during this time, all of which had a negative impact on government finances.
⭐They issued assignats, a type of bond based on the value of seized clerical property that evolved into a paper currency, to deal with the issue of national debt and reduce taxation.
⭐However, due to the government’s lack of control over the amount to be printed, their value grew beyond the confiscated property’s limits, causing inflation.
⭐Inflation increased between 1791 and 1793, with food prices increasing by 90% but wages only increasing by 80%.
⭐Poor harvests caused food shortages, which exacerbated inflation, and the assignats became a cause of food riots and public disorder as a result.
⭐In September 1793, for example, the sans culottes invaded the National Convention, demanding food.
⭐The Committee of Public Safety (CPS) enacted the Law of the Maximum, which established price and wage controls because they saw hunger and poverty as threats to their position.
⭐The law, however, increased instability by causing producers to either limit food production or hoard their food stocks in response to the new prices set by law.
⭐This created shortages and famines, leading the CPS to send troops to arrest farmers and seize crops.
⭐As a result, resentment grew as the seizures only alleviated food shortages in Paris while exacerbating shortages in other parts of the country.
⭐All of this undermined the government’s authority and contributed to Robespierre’s and his allies' downfall.
⭐In December 1794, the Thermidorean government increased inflation even more by abolishing the Maximum and issuing assignats.
⭐It was replaced by the Directory in November 1795.
The view can be challenged. The notion of constitutional monarchy was eroded by Louis XVI’s often hostile attitude toward political change, leading to his execution in January 1793, which further polarised politics. From 1792, the impact of war and the threat of foreign invasion, combined with counter-revolutionary uprisings, had created a tense political climate. As a result, events like the September Massacres of 1792 and the reign of Terror under the Jacobins occurred. The latter further radicalised French politics and created instability. The Thermidorian Reaction, which took place in 1794, put an end to Jacobin rule but not to political instability. The Jacobins still had support, and disorder broke out in April and May 1795. This led to the ‘White Terror’ against these supporters. Thus, violence rather than any notion of legitimate popular sovereignty was the determinant in politics. Accept any other valid responses.