François-Noël Babeuf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François-Noël Babeuf
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François-Noël "Gracchus" Babeuf, pictured with large hat
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| Born | 23 November 1760 Saint-Quentin, France
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| Died | 27 May 1797 (aged 36) |
| Cause of death | Execution by guillotine |
| Era | 18th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western Philosophy |
| School | Utopian socialism |
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Main interests
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Political philosophy |
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Influences
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François-Noël Babeuf (French: [fʁɑ̃swa nɔɛl babœf]; born November 23, 1760 – died May 27, 1797), also known as Gracchus Babeuf, was a French revolutionary and journalist. He lived during the exciting time of the French Revolution. Babeuf is known for his ideas about communism, which means everyone sharing things equally.
His newspaper, Le tribun du peuple (The Tribune of the People), was famous for speaking up for poor people. It also called for a revolt against the French government of the time, called the Directory. He strongly believed in democracy and wanted to get rid of private property, where individuals own land or businesses. Because of his strong views, the authorities saw him as a threat. Babeuf was later executed for his part in a plan called the Conspiracy of the Equals.
His nickname "Gracchus" came from the Gracchi brothers. They were ancient Roman leaders who fought for the rights of common people. Even though words like anarchist, communist, and socialist weren't common in Babeuf's time, people later used them to describe his ideas. Some even called him "The First Revolutionary Communist."
Babeuf had strong beliefs about how society should work. He wrote: "Society must be made to operate in such a way that it eradicates once and for all the desire of a man to become richer, or wiser, or more powerful than others." In a document called the Manifesto of the Equals, he also wrote: "The French Revolution was nothing but a precursor of another revolution, one that will be bigger, more solemn, and which will be the last."
Contents
Early Life and Influences
Babeuf was born in a small town near Saint-Quentin. His father, Claude Babeuf, had been a soldier. After returning to France, his family became very poor. The difficulties Babeuf faced growing up helped shape his strong political ideas.
His father taught him the basics of education. Before the Revolution, Babeuf worked as a servant. Later, he helped nobles and priests manage their land rights over peasants. He later said that the French Revolution helped him see the old feudal system as a "monster with a hundred heads."
Revolutionary Activities and Ideas
Babeuf was working as a land surveyor when the French Revolution began in 1789. His father had passed away, and Babeuf now had to support his wife, two children, mother, and siblings.
He wrote a lot, and his early ideas about socialism can be seen in his letters. In 1789, he helped create a document for voters in his area. It asked for an end to feudal rights, which were old laws that favored nobles. He also published a book about land records and a pamphlet against unfair taxes. Because of this, he was arrested but later released.
Speaking Out for Change
In October 1790, Babeuf started his own political newspaper called the Correspondant Picard. He used his paper to push for a system where richer people paid more taxes. He also spoke out against "census suffrage," which meant that only people with a certain amount of wealth could vote. His political activities led to another arrest in May 1790, but he was freed thanks to support from others.
In 1792, Babeuf was elected to a local council in the Somme region. He later moved to a different district. There, he was accused of changing a name on a land document. He said it was a mistake, but he fled to Paris. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but the sentence was later overturned.
The Tribun du Peuple
After being freed, Babeuf returned to Paris. In September 1794, he started a new newspaper, Journal de la Liberté de la Presse, which later became Le Tribun du Peuple. This was after the end of the Reign of Terror, a very violent period of the Revolution. Babeuf, now calling himself Gracchus Babeuf, defended some of the leaders who had been overthrown. He wanted to achieve true equality, not just equality in name.
He strongly criticized the new government and the economic problems caused by the Revolution. He also argued that women should be allowed to join political groups. Because of his strong views, he was arrested again in October 1794 and sent to prison. While in prison, he met other political prisoners who influenced him. He became even more convinced that a new revolution was needed to bring back the Constitution of 1793, which had been approved by the people but never put into action.
In February 1795, Babeuf was arrested once more. His newspaper, the Tribun du peuple, was publicly burned. However, the terrible economic conditions in France, with money losing its value, made many people listen to Babeuf's ideas.
The Conspiracy of the Equals
The French government, the Directory, tried to fix the economic problems. They planned to stop selling bread and meat at very low prices. This news caused great worry among the poor and working people in Paris. Many people were afraid they would starve.
This widespread hardship made Babeuf's strong criticisms of the government more popular. He gathered a small group of followers called the Societé des égaux (Society of Equals). They met at a place called the Panthéon. By November 1795, police reported that Babeuf was openly calling for an uprising and for the old Constitution of 1793 to be restored. The group was also influenced by Sylvain Maréchal, who wrote the Le Manifeste des Egaux (Manifesto of the Equals).
For a while, the government watched Babeuf but left him alone. However, the economic crisis made Babeuf's influence grow. After the Panthéon club was closed, Babeuf became even more active. He secretly published a paper called "Scout of the People, or Defender of Twenty-Five Million Oppressed."
His newspaper, Tribun, caused a huge stir when it praised the people responsible for the September Massacres (a violent event during the Revolution). It also said that another, even bigger "2 September" was needed to destroy the government, which he called "starvers, bloodsuckers, tyrants."
The suffering among all people continued. In March, the government tried a new type of money, but hopes were quickly dashed. Many poor workers began to support Babeuf's ideas. In April 1796, posters appeared in Paris titled "Analysis of Babeuf's Teaching." They started with the idea that "Nature has given to every man the right to the enjoyment of an equal share in all property." They ended with a call to bring back the Constitution of 1793.
Arrest and Execution
Babeuf's song, "Dying of Hunger, Dying of Cold," became popular and was sung in cafes. There were rumors that soldiers were ready to join an uprising against the government. The police gathered evidence of a plan, later called the "Conspiracy of Equals," for an armed revolt.
The government decided to act. On May 10, 1796, Babeuf was arrested. Many of his friends and partners were also caught by the police. Among them were Philippe Buonarroti and Jean-Baptiste Drouet, who was famous for arresting King Louis XVI years earlier. The government's crackdown was very successful.
Babeuf and his partners were to be tried in a new high court. The trial began on February 20, 1797. Even though many people were involved in the conspiracy, the government presented Babeuf as the main leader. On May 26, 1797, Babeuf and another man, Augustin Alexandre Darthé, were sentenced to death. Some others were sent away from France, and the rest were found not guilty.
Babeuf and Darthé were executed by guillotine the very next day, May 27, 1797. Babeuf's body was buried in a mass grave in the old cemetery of Vendôme.
See also
- Neo-Babouvism
- Pierre-Antoine Antonelle
- Society of the Friends of Truth
