Liberty, equality, and fraternity are three of the most famous words in revolutionary history. While they embody a romantic period of justice to many, those words stuck fear into the hearts of the surrounding European monarchs. With the schism of the United States from British rule, monarchs took action to quell not only the French uprising but the diffusion like ideas. The wars that resulted, and more importantly the sheer power and fury the people possessed, initiated and drove forward the Second Revolution. The Second Revolution would test liberty, equality, and fraternity in concept and in practice.
Alarmed monarchies, primarily and Austria and Prussia, led an aggressive campaign, demanding that all kings "restore order in France." One tactic used was the Declaration of Pillnitz, issued by Emperor Leopold II of Austria. The declaration stated France must be returned to a monarchy, but the rulers of Austria and Prussia would not do it alone. In addition, emigr"es, royalists who fled France during the Revolution, promised their return with all of Europe behind them. French radicals became convinced their revolutionary efforts would not be safe unless all European monarchies were abolished. As a result the Legislative Assembly launched wars against almost all of Europe. With a standing army of roughly 800,000 (the largest in Europe), France faired well against her royalist adversaries. By November of 1792, the armies of the French Republic occupied the entire Austrian Netherlands, abolishing feudalism wherever they went. Because of the bitter division between the Girondists and the Mountain, and that between the indecisive middle class, great decision-making power, concerning war efforts as well as other political ventures, fell upon the laboring poor of Paris, often know as Sans-Culottes.
The Sans-Culottes have been described by one author as being, "willing to spill [their] last drop[s] of blood for the Republic.
