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Why did moderate members leave the Jacobin Club in 1791?

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Eighteenth-century painted portrait of Maximilien de Robespierre wearing a brown striped coat, high collar, and white cravat, set against a plain background. — Maximilien Robespierre One of the leading figures of the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre.

In July 1791, moderate members left the Jacobin Club following a split over a petition that called for the removal of Louis XVI after his unsuccessful attempt to flee France.1

These deputies, led by figures such as Antoine Barnave, Adrien Duport, and Alexandre de Lameth, opposed the petition and feared the radicalization of the French Revolution. They believed that such radical steps would ultimately lead to the destruction of both the monarchy and private property. Upon leaving, these moderates formed the Club of the Feuillants, where they advocated for a constitutional monarchy and opposed the democratic movement gaining traction within the Jacobin ranks. Maximilien Robespierre was among the few deputies who chose to remain with the Jacobins, subsequently rising to a position of prominence within the club.21