JAC'OBINS, the members of a political club which exercised a very great influence during the French revolution. It was originally called time Club Breton, and was formed at Versailles. when the states-general assembled there in 1789. It then consisted exclu sively of members of the states-general, all more or less liberal or revolutionary, but of very different shades of opinion. On the removal of the court and national assembly to Paris, this club began to acquire importance. It now met in is hall of the former Jacobin convent in Paris, whence it received the name of the Jacobin club, which was first given to it by its enemies; the name which it adopted being that of the Society c!7` lii.lends of the Constitution. it now also admitted members who were not members of the national assembly, and held regular and public sittings. It exercised a great influ ence over the agitation, of which the chief seat and focus was in the capital, and this influence was extended over the whole country by affiliated societies. Its power increased until it became greater than that of the national assembly. It formed branch societies or clubs throughout France, of which there were soon not less than 1200. When the national assembly dissolved itself in Sept., 1791, the election of the legislative
assembly was mainly accomplished under the influence of the Jacobin club. Almost all the great events which followed in rapid succession were determined by the voice of the club, whose deliberations were regarded with more interest than -those of the legislative assembly. It reached the zenith of its power when the national convention met in Sept., 1792. The agitation for the death of the king, the storm which destroyed the Girondists, the excitement of the lowest classes against the bourgeoisie or middle classes, and the reign of terror over all France, were the work of the .Jacobins. But the overthrow of Robespierre on the 9th Thermidor, 1794, gave also the deathblow to the Jacobin club. The magic of its name was destroyed; and the Jacobins sought in vain to contend against a reaction which increased daily both in the convention and among the people. A law of Oct. 16 forbade the affiliation of clubs, and on Nov. 9, 1794, the Jacobin club was finally closed. Its place of meeting was soon after demolished.— The term Jacobins is often employed to designate persons of extreme revolutionary sentiments.