A committed republican who argued for the complete abolition of slavery.
Brissot
From a humble background, the son of a pastry cook from Chartres
Experienced grinding poverty in his younger years and lived hand to mouth as a writer
Worked as a pamphleteer, authoring liberal texts, many of which argued for the abolition of slavery
Moved to Paris and launched his newspaper, Le Patriote Français, which became one of the most successful within Paris
Girondins
A loosely organised faction surrounding Brissot, with three of his close associates coming from the Gironde region of France
Played an important role in countering the views of the more moderate deputies of the Legislative Assembly
Whereas Robespierre tended to work alone
Brissot surrounded himself with like-minded individuals
Brissot
An important advocate of republicanism
A leading member of the diplomatic committee of the Legislative Assembly
Drove the push for war against Austria in late 1791 and early 1792, seeing such a conflict as a revolutionary crusade necessary for the good of, not just the French people, but humanity at large
