Sansculottes

As a sans-culottes (also German sans-culottes, from the French without breeches, Culotte ) were in the time of the French Revolution ( 1789-1799 ) refers to the Paris workers and petty bourgeoisie, in contrast to the worn by nobles and clergy Knickerbockers (so-called Culottes ) wore long pants, as they were eligible to work. Sans-culottes are therefore people who live by physical labor. They were mostly small master craftsmen, journeymen, merchants and restaurateurs. The sans-culottes were politically influential, because they supported the Jacobins, though they pursued different political goals.

Political significance

Sans-culotte was first a caricature, but quickly became the common name for the revolt early proletarian, who intervened in the revolution happening. Often recognized the sans-culottes and on the ' Phrygian cap ' ( a Phrygian cap ) and the mutual salutation with Citoyen - " citizen" instead of as before with Monsieur - "Lord."

During the years of revolution, the sans-culottes quickly established as a fixed size. They consisted mainly of petty bourgeois and workers and represented the actual rule of the people.

Politically, they were organized into the sections of Paris and the City Council of the City of Paris. From here, popular uprisings were organized and over again.

In the period of reign of terror, commonly known as the Reign of Terror, the sans-culottes supported the Jacobins, because they saw realized here their demands for social justice. The Jacobins had high food prices set to secure the supply of the army and the population during the war. So that the living was also secured for the sans-culottes. Also, saw the constitution of 1793, which was never implemented, state support for the poor and one government school system before that concerned elementary interests of these sub-layers.

On the other hand, the political activity was limited in the sections during the reign of terror, which the Jacobins lost support. As to the high prices still high wages were introduced in the summer of 1794, the paths of Jacobins and sans-culottes parted. In the fall of Robespierre on 9 Thermidor few sections sent their fighters to save the Jacobin rule. So it was the end of the Reign of Terror, at the same time lost but also the sans-culottes their political influence.

In the uprisings of Germinal and Prairial 1795, the sans-culottes called again for bread and the Constitution of 1793.

After the sans-culottes, the Sansculottiden were named, the supplement daily in the Republican calendar.