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| d. The National Convention: The Revolution's Most Radical Phase |
| 1792, Sept. 21–1795, Aug. 22 |
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| THE NATIONAL CONVENTION, longest lived of the revolutionary assemblies. It was elected by male suffrage and composed entirely of republicans (749 members, of whom 486 were new men). Parties: The Plain had a majority but was dominated by the Girondists and then by the Mountain. The Girondists now formed the Right, and the Mountain, under Robespierre, Danton, and others, formed the Left. | 1 |
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| Sept. 21 |
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| Monarchy abolished. | 2 |
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| Sept. 22 |
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| Republic proclaimed. (First day of Year I of Republican calendar.) On Sept. 25 the Republic was declared “one and indivisible.” | 3 |
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| Oct. 2 |
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| Committee of General Security was formed, with undefined police powers. | 4 |
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| Nov. 6 |
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| Allies in retreat following a French victory by Gen. Dumouriez at Jemappes. | 5 |
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| Nov. 19 |
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| The Decree of Fraternity offered French assistance to people who wished to overthrow their governments. Other countries, including England, feared risings. Irish nationalists sought French aid as a result of this declaration. | 6 |
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| Dec. 4 |
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| Convention declared the death penalty for anyone advocating monarchy. | 7 |
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| Dec. 8 |
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| Convention repealed suspension on free trade in grain but outlawed grain exports. Nov. and Dec. also saw instances of price fixing and demonstrations among peasants in the Beauce region. | 8 |
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| Dec. 10 |
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| Louis XVI tried before the Convention. Girondists suggested a referendum to the people (Dec. 27), but on Jan. 14, 1793, the Convention decided there would be no referendum and found Louis guilty. Louis sentenced to death by a slim majority (Jan. 20) and executed on Jan. 21. | 9 |
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| Dec. 16 |
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| The death penalty to be administered for threatening the unity and integrity of the Republic. | 10 |
| As a result of a struggle between the Girondists and the Mountain, all power in the Convention centered in three institutions: (1) the Committee of General Security; (2) the Paris Commune, reorganized on basis of male suffrage and acting through its committee led by Chaumette and Hébert; and (3) the Committee of Public Safety. The latter was composed of 9 (later 12) members (including Robespierre, Danton, and St. Just) with dictatorial power. | 11 |
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