From 1790 onwards, local patriotes combined to form local groups, or societies. Their main concern was the defence of the Revolution (bascially anti-royalists, pro-republican). They often followed the traditions of the Old Regime. They were forums for discussion fuelled by the growth of written press. They set up supervisory bodies which served as a policing role, but their field of action mainly extended to charity, the economy, etc. In the this county, they were numerous: 63.5% of the Municipal Districts had a Patriotic Society, even the smallest districts like Esclangon (70 inhabitants).

The Patriotic Society in Barras was one of the first to be created, in 1790. Thereafter, it was undoubtedly affiliated with the Jacobin Club like thousands of others in France. The local groups and societies gradually ran out of steam. They were banned, like the Jacobins in the village of Le Cludes by the Constitution of Year III during the period of French history known as the Thermidorian Reaction.