Cambon：The Financial Leader during the Campaign of Terror in the French Revolution by Kobayashi, Yoshiaki, “Doushisha-Shougaku” 31-1, 1979
Past Opinions
It is commonsense that Robespièrre is a dictator. And French revolution was made by bourgeoisie, but only during this period, the revolution exceeded the aspect of bourgeoisie revolution.
New opinions
Cambon controlled financial politics, not Robespièrre. So Robespièrre couldn’t be a dictator, because finance is a very important part of politics. And it was also bourgeoisie who ruled the politics even during the terrorism. French revolution didn’t exceed the limit of bourgeoisie revolution.
Cambon vs Bourgeoisie
Cambon struggled against two directions. One of them is Robespièrre, and the other was upper-bourgeoisie. He abolished stock companies. He didn’t like the circulation of Assignat and stock. When people exchanged stock certificate and Assignat, people had to pay much Assignat .Cambon thought this situation leads to the downfall of the worth of Assignat.
Financial Committee and Public Safety Commission
Cambon belonged to the financial committee, and Robespierre entered the public safety commission. Since that time this committee began to control government and other committees. But financial committee and security committee were independent from public safety commission. It means public safety commission couldn’t use money as it like. In 1793, the public safety commission accepted only 50,000,000 livres, but whole expenses were 1,974,660,000 livres.
Cambon’s and Robespièrre’s idea about bourgeoisie
Robespièrre thought shareholders were all anti-revolutionists. However,Cambon hated only upper-bourgeoisie and their stock circulation. Rather, he wanted to make use of them and tried to import daily necessities.
Cambon and Robespièrre
Robespièrre was the representative of lower-bourgeoisie. And he was belonging to montagne group. He wanted to destroy all bourgeoisies. But Cambon was opposed to such position. He is from middle-bourgeoisie and belonged to the intermediate group. Certainly he struggled against extreme investment by upper-bourgeoisie, but he didn’t deny the existence of bourgeoisie itself.
Until Thermidor (July 27th, 1794)
In a way, Themidor accident was the battle between Cambon and Robespièrre. On July 26, 1794, Robespièrre made a speech and criticized all of his enemies, including financial committee. He said, “Cambon and his party are anti-revolutionists.”
Cambon didn’t allow his criticism. He attacked Robespièrre back, saying,”Only one person paralyzes National Convention. He is Robespièrre!” By this statement, Robespièrre group became minor one and the situation lead to Thermidor accident.
After Themidor
Cambon wanted to fight against upper-bourgeoisie, but Robespièrre’s power disappeared. And upper bourgeoisie revived and tried to abolish all the policies during the terrorism. Radical people were excluded and they were begun to be attacked as Robespièrre’s partner. Cambon protected them. Because of that, Cambon was recognized as montagne group members and he had to escape.
After Cambon
The next person was Johannot, a great industrial manager. He reopened stock companies, and revived past pension system, Cambon’s job was all ruined. Economic world returned to the paradise of bank owners, traders, and industrial managers.
The meaning of Cambon
These are the historical fact of Cambon’s role. The author comments about the meaning of Cambon’s job. Cambon was from middle-bourgeoisie and he stopped upper-bourgeoisie. It is an excessively revolutionary accident.
But, at the same time, Cambon was the revolutionist from bourgeoisie and, he continued to control finance until Thermidor accident. And after Cambon, the financial committee became more right sides. So, even during the terrorism, French revolution didn’t exceed the aspect of bourgeoisie revolution.
Questions and Answers
by Kakeru Fujiwara
There were 3 points in this discussion.
1, Montagne group
2, assignat
3, the idea that French Revolution didn’t exceed the limit of bourgeoisie revolution is a new idea or not.
About 1.
What is Montagne group?
Montagne group is radical group and the prominent person is Robespierre and he wanted to execute bourgeoisie and give money to poor people. Robespierre’s group is Montagne group.
That group killed all bourgeoisie?
Yes, in the beginning of the revolution there was Jacobins club and Girondins group went out. The remaining group was Montagne group and it’s a very left side group.
About 2.
What is assignat?
In the beginning, assignat was national debt. But after dying the French Revolution, it was used as the meaning of money and currency.
About 3.
The idea that French Revolution didn’t exceed the limit of bourgeoisie revolution is new?
The author said that only in the terrorism, French Revolution exceeded aspect of bourgeoisie revolution.
I think the question perhaps means such kind of idea already established in 2007. You should explain that how the article was new in 1978 when this article was published.
I don’t think that this is a new idea. From my least knowledge about French Revolution, the main issue of the revolution was how to deal with the bourgeoisie and it was the biggest issue and Robespierre failed it. It was my understanding. Mr. Kobayashi’s idea is not new. I thought so.