Francois-Noel Babeuf Essay

Francois-Noel Babeuf denounced a failed uprising in May 1796 with the aim of replacing it with egalitarian and early socialist Jacobin principles. When news that he was openly supporting insurrection and the overthrow of the constitution reached the current regime, he took advantage of the economic situation at the moment to mobilize small groups who formed the Jacobin club. The paper will examine the role that class conflict played in the great revolt. Economic policies, environmental factors, and the importance of this conspiracy will all be used as types of evidence in this case. The earliest revolution struggles culminated from the lower class of people that was the peasants that were popularly known as the peasant uprising in early 1886. They blamed the feud laws where they believed that there was need of repeal to existing ideas and reorganization of states. The middle class that was made of workers in the town and peasants agitated for instant revision and improvements of economic conditions. The two groups met where they exchanged ideas prompting them to help each other, and the result at the end was revolution.

The ruling classes viewed masses as loads of burdens as the laws at that time claimed that aristocracy and clergy had a massive say in decisions regarding the share of wealth. Masses started questioning foundations and relevance of this cruel law that saw country resources and wealth being under control among few individuals that is ruling class that comprised of aristocracy and clergy. These events made middle class and peasants start agitating for trust in human nature and end of corruption since the public entities had begun cutting down humanity to servitude. There was the mass call for equality of all people irrespective of birth. At that time before the revolution, laws were applied selectively. Those that were born in high-class families that were composed of ruling class sons could get away with law breaking which made it a bitter thing among the majority that caused people to rise against the current regime at that time.

Middle and peasants felt that the country needed more inclusive leadership where drafting and application of laws were done through people representatives rather than the ruling class. They thought that the ruling class lacked touch with problems facing the poor urban class of people since they were after fulfilling their selfish interest. Laws made by the ruling class favored them in such a way they recognized all the public resources under their control. They could take any federal funds and take full ownership of them. People did not see any importance of feud taxes and services to the state since they benefited few individuals in ruling class at the expense of taxpayers who were mainly inferior class of people. Moreover, due to existing economic conditions, these taxes made life unbearable as it was tough to raise them. Failure to pay this was met with hostility from the regime that could use state machinery to enforce their decisions. This made the peasants and middle working class in town to continue being poor due to exploitation while ruling class continues to amass wealth through unpopular methods. Through the combination of these claims that were connected to French thoughts and philosophers arguments, there was the feeling of regime downfall in the majority thoughts.

The period slightly before 1789 the country had already reached the stage of insurrectionary. The rise of Louis XVI to the helm of power marked the sign of busting of bitter revolts among the people who felt that this system of governance was not concerned about them instead it was after protecting its interest. However, following the famine that had strike there was some intense quietness before it’s come back sometimes later and at that time with renowned vigor. One of the principal causes of this uprisings was lack of bread where the poor class felt that regime at that time did not do anything to come up with solutions to this problem. One of the proofs that made them think that the government was not after their interest is that they did not even cut off feud taxes, but they continued to demand them as usual where the consequences of failure were well known.

These problems were the main castigators of this revolution, so Babeuf took advantage of the already distressed people. The economic hardship continued to bite hard a factor that made Babeuf influence to increase, and many people poured into his camp in large numbers. Middle-class people and peasants were eager to listen to anybody who could give any clamor of hope on how to end up the cruel regime and liberate themselves from the misery. He was able to apply various tactics in influencing and in sighting the people to move out in large numbers to stage a regime against an unpopular system. For instance, he congratulated the writer of the book titled “September massacres” where termed it as deserving for the well-being of the country. He insisted that people had to be selfless for the sake of their country and be ready to pay the ultimate price in liberating their country. He labeled the regime at that time as non-accountable and composed of “mountebanks, bloodsuckers, tyrants, Hangmen, murderers and rogues”. Although it seems as Babeuf affair, most of the people among the peasants and workers in town were already fed up and were desperate to take any course of action to ensure its downfall.

Fall of conspiracy

Babeuf song reached its height of climax and based on its famous tune it was everywhere and some of the troops in the army were ready to rise against the regime. For instance, French revolutionary militia that was based in the camp of Grenelle, was as much willing to liberate the people from unresponsive government. In combination with ex-captain of the army Georges Grisel, Jacobins and socialites combined were ready to ignite a rebellion. However, the government responded swiftly to the planned uprising and many arrests were made where Babeuf was arrested on 10th of May. His trial began before high court justice that was situated in Vendome. Socialist Babeuf was blamed for the uprising but more also heaped blame on the people. He was later hanged the following day after his trial and considered guilty.

Conclusion

It is evident that the great French revolution was due to class struggle between citizens and oppressive regime. Moreover, it was made worse by ascendant bourgeoisie within the revolutionary movement between 1789 and 1796. Though Babeuf was found guilty and guillotined, the government received the message it was unpopular among the people they exercised their mandate.

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