The Tyranny of Maximilien Robespierre Beginning in 1793, a one-year period called the Reign of Terror took place in the midst of the French Revolution. The political parties, the Jacobins and the Girondins, conspired in order to overthrow the French monarchy. This period is characterized by the harsh rulers who issued tens of thousands of official death sentences. These rulers were considered tyrants known for their oppressive and selfish rule. One of the most controversial rulers was Maximilien Robespierre, a leader of France’s National Convention who was known for his widespread use of the guillotine and radical political notions over France to guarantee that all French citizens were true supporters of the Revolution. His behavior terrorized …show more content…
From the beginning, Robespierre followed the ideology of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Andress 105). It was not uncommon for political leaders of the Revolution to follow the philosophies of the Enlightenment thinkers; therefore, his political notions were not so far-flung and radical for the time. Robespierre worked alongside the republic’s government and used this opportunity to influence decisions made regarding the public. He would speak of his need for the extreme measures that took as well as voice the fears of his people, including starvation, death, and the degradation of the nation (Andress 103). The government was also known to be violent from time to time, which influenced the ruler to use terrorism as a means of gaining power (Andress 105). Therefore, Robespierre might not have a true tyrant for his time because of his commitment the ideals of the French Republic …show more content…
Leading up to this speech, many French citizens believed that Robespierre was working to become the French dictator. Robespierre dismissed these opinions in his speech by not only denying them, but by killing those who thought so. (Andress 110-111). Though he held great power in the French National Committee, Robespierre never ruled France. Instead, there were people on the National Committee with him who helped contribute to the Reign of Terror (Linton). Robespierre discussed this in his speech by stating that the government was “despotic,” but it did not have a tyrant as a leader which would, in turn, protect the people (“Modern History Sourcebook”). He, however, executed his own people, contradicting his own statement. Robespierre also stated in the speech that terror was, in fact, a virtue and it was only appropriate to exemplify it. He, himself, acknowledges that he was truly an autocrat in France, which ultimately proves what Robespierre really was (“Modern History
He then tries to justify his actions exclaiming that although rights were important, there needs to be boundaries to prevent people from doing whatever they want (Doc 1). Robespierre had the right intentions but it could have been better thought out. The Enlightenment emphasizes how the government’s job should be to protect the rights of the people in the country. Instead, the Reign of Terror resulted in the devastating loss of
The Reign of Terror in France was not justified. This claim can be supported by looking at three areas: external threat, the internal threat, and the methods. The external threat was not enough to justify the Reign of Terror. One example of this is that “churches are soon closed by revolutionary government” which is wrong, because people should be able to choose what they believe in (Document A). Another example is that the “Government denies legal counsel to accused enemies of the revolution” (Document A).
The period inscribed incessant terror into the minds of innocent citizens. The entire country was destitute of trust and loyalty, Robespierre included. Robespierre, fixated with the newfound mindset to “smother the internal and external enemies of the Republic” ( Document G), ordered counter-revolutionists to be executed; a vile method to weed out the enemies. This method not only gave the order to exile with no substantial evidence of a crime, (Document E) went against the purpose of the Committee of Public Safety (Document E). This not only muffled the voices of the people and robbed the freedom they graciously fought the monarchy for, but also encrypted fear and distrust in the French government.
Since most of the Third Estate was starving while only three percent of the upper class enjoyed an overabundance of food, the French civilians decided to revolt against the monarchy. However, instead of using their act of disobedience to promote positive change, the leaders of the revolution instead invoked fear in the hearts of everyone in France to increase their own power. For example, Maximilien Robespierre was one of the great leaders of the revolution until he decided to abolish Catholicism and crown himself the leader of his own new religion. This period of time was known as the Reign of Terror because Robespierre sent 600,000 civilians to the guillotine and civilians forgot what they were fighting for out of fear for their lives. Because the French were done with all the death and greed that surrounded them, the French Revolution was widely unsuccessful and France regressed back to a monarchy.
The goal of the Reign of Terror according to Robespierre was that “In
The Reign of Terror did not support the ideals of the revolution. Unfortunately for French citizens, they were not able to elect tribunal members. The tribunal members, who have absolute power were “appointed by the National Convention” (Document E). French people were rejected in their own country, which is proven by the statement that “conspirators are, in its eyes, only strangers”(Document G). The original ideals were made to protect the people of France but instead they were killing
Was The Reign Of Terror Justified? The French Revolution was a very problematic time period. After the execution of Louis XVI, the Reign of Terror began during the years of 1793 - 1794 which was led by French politician, Maximilien Robespierre and lasted for 18 months. This topic is controversial when the question, “Was the Reign of Terror justified?” is asked.
Over the course of time, many leaders attempted to control their nation and increase their own power in order to dictate their citizens. Some examples of such leaders are, Louis XIV of France and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. During the age of absolutism, Louis XIV also known as, the “Sun King” became the ruler of France through the theory of divine right, which allowed him to rule his people as an absolute ruler. He controlled his people by implementing a centralized government and forcing the 3rd estate to pay unfair taxes. Joseph Stalin, who was another ruler, who went down in history as one of the most ruthless dictators the world has ever known.
The Reign of Terror was led by Maximilien Robespierre, he violently suppressed counter-revolutionary forces within and outside the country. Did the French government have good reason to conduct a violent campaign to uphold the ideals of the French Revolution? The Reign of Terror was justified because of three reasons: the revolutionary
How revolutionary was the French Revolution? Did the Revolution simply replace the old ruling elite with a new bourgeois one? What were the major effects on different groups of people, including nobles, priests, peasants, urban workers, slaves, and women? This essay will address the French Revolution and the degree to which it can be aptly described as “revolutionary.” How revolutionary was the French Revolution? Was the storming of the Bastille, the destruction of feudalism, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of a fundamental and radical and revolutionary nature, or, alternatively, simply a series of historical events that results in the supplanting of one authoritarian regime for another and at great cost in
His ideas were dominant over other philosophers' about how a government should be run during the beginning of the French Revolution. “Democratic and Aristocratic states are not in their own nature free. Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments; and even in these it is not always found. It is there only when there is no abuse of power. But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to use it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.”
However, the French revolution had led France to dictatorship and tens of years’ chaos after that. There was endless struggles between the left wing and the right wing during the French revolution. Although the left has published the Declaration of the rights of man, since the political environment was so unstable, that didn 't really changed the society into a republic. After “The Terror” which killed 40,000 people, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned as an Emperor, a dictator of France. Then, after Napoleon died, monarchy and republic appeared alternately.
This enormous massacre of people went against Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, all of which the national assembly declared were every man 's right. Much of the killing can be blamed on Robespierre and King Louis XVI. Although it was mostly a failure, some achievements can be seen through the Revolution. The French Revolution helped the French people become a more equal and socialist state. This showed Europe that the French were capable of revolting and they were not afraid to stand up for what they believed.
Following the Reign of Terror, France was ruled by a corrupt five-man governing body called the Directory, which was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte through a coup d’état. Napoleon, a military general, rose to power through a series of military conquests and eventually became the First Consul of the French Republic. The French people viewed Napoleon favorably, as his military and political genius would likely lead to the creation of a prosperous and united France. Moreover, they believed that he would uphold the ideas they had fought for during the French Revolution: liberty, equality, and fraternity. While Napoleon stabilized and united French society by supporting the liberty of his people and ensuring equality of opportunity in education
The French Revolution was undoubtedly influenced by the political theorists of the Enlightenment. The ideas of two French political theorists in particular are easily seen throughout the French Revolution, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Baron Montesquieu. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s thoughts and texts, such as the Social Contract, instilled the entitlement of basic human rights to all men. Rousseau’s concepts on rights combined with Baron Montesquieu’s ideas on government provided the backbone of a radical movement in the French Revolution known as the Terror. When one delves into the beginnings of the French Revolution, the motives and actions of the National Assembly, and the Terror of the French Revolution, one can obviously see the influence of two Enlightenment political theorists, Rousseau and Montesquieu.