ABSTRACT
The historical significance of Babouvism in 1796 was its rejection of popular democratic institutions in favour of the temporary dictatorship of centralised elite, a concept that obviously invites comparisons with Leninist political theory. The Revolutionary state, which had been announced with the promise of bringing peace and equality to all Europe, was committing itself to looting its neighbours and forcing a military dictatorship on its own people. The Revolutionary conflict began on 20 April 1792 with a declaration of war on Austria. The adverse course of the war after September pushed the Revolution further to the left. The comment is especially relevant to the condition of the landless or land-poor strata of the peasantry. The most important piece of legislation to be passed in the dying days of the Directorial regime was the Jourdan Law of 5 September 1798.
