September Massacres (2 sept. 1792 – 6 sept. 1792)

Description:

— Cause: Obsession with a prison conspiracy, desire for revenge, fear of advancing Prussians, ambiguity over who was in control

— series of killings of prisoners

— estimate: 1,100–1,600 people murdered.

— Charlotte Corday held Jean-Paul Marat responsible

— Some said it was Georges Danton. Danton appears to have done nothing to stop them.

— Committed by Sans-culottes + others

— great majority (72%) of those killed were non-political prisoners

— There was a fear that foreign and royalist armies would attack Paris and that the (Swiss) inmates of the city's prisons would be freed and join them.

— Danton speech:

"We ask that any one refusing to give personal service or to furnish arms shall be punished with death". "The bell we are about to ring is not an alarm signal; it sounds the charge on the enemies of our country". After applause he continued, "To conquer them we must dare, dare again, always dare, and France is saved!”.

— His speech acted as a call for direct action among the citizens, as well as a strike against the external enemy. Many believe this speech was responsible for inciting the September Massacres.

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