Jacobinism

Jacobinism refers to a political movement that dominated France during the French Revolution. It is most famously associated with the period between 1792 and 1794, known as the Reign of Terror. The movement was named after the political club, the Society of the Friends of the Constitution, which met in a former Jacobin convent in Paris.

The Jacobins were initially a moderate faction advocating for a constitutional monarchy. However, as the Revolution progressed and faced internal and external threats, the Jacobins became increasingly radical. They championed a centralized republic, universal male suffrage, and the abolition of feudalism. Key figures within the Jacobin movement included Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, and Jean-Paul Marat.

The Jacobin government, through the Committee of Public Safety, implemented a series of harsh measures to consolidate power and defend the Revolution. This led to widespread executions of perceived enemies of the Revolution, often without fair trial. While the Jacobins claimed these actions were necessary to save the Republic, their radical policies and methods ultimately led to their downfall.

The Reign of Terror ended with the Thermidorian Reaction in July 1794, which saw the overthrow and execution of Robespierre and other leading Jacobins. The term "Jacobinism" has since been used more broadly to describe any political faction advocating for radical, centralized, and often authoritarian policies, sometimes with revolutionary or egalitarian aims. It often carries negative connotations due to its association with violence and repression.