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Characteristics Of The Sans-Culottes

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The sans-culottes fundamentally referred to the common people of France belonging to the third estate in the late 18th century. The term, which translates to “without breeches,” was an anti-aristocratic badge of pride: a man of the people wore full-length trousers rather than aristocratic breeches with stockings and gold-buckled shoes. These people were primarily united on the basis of fighting for egalitarianism, which is the belief in the equality of all people. The sans-culottes were more than just a group of enthusiastic, passionate people fighting ardently for their beliefs, they were essentially the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit.
The Sans-culottes had three main political aims in line with their vision of egalitarianism: firstly, they wanted to achieve …show more content…

In their pursuit for popular democracy, they demanded the right to exercise legislative power as representatives of the people, as well as the approval of laws by the people. This gave them the right to act as sovereign judges, to carry out popular executions of justice by executing the guilty deemed by the people. The sans-culottes also took it upon themselves to sanction laws, to establish control over censorship and to conduct purging against elected officers who were not in favour of popular democracy. This therefore reinforces the idea that the sans-culottes were willing to utilise all means to achieve their goals.
The sans-culottes were not hesitant in employing violence against those who stood in their way. The guillotine was popular because the sans-culottes saw it as an instrument for them to avenge the nation. There were many records which essentially portrayed the violent character of the sans-culottes, stating their tendencies to resort to violence and their eagerness for the spilling of blood, in which they had sought delight in the guillotines of the

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