Maximilien_Robespierre

=Maximilien Robespierre= Nicole W. and Jacqui L.

Robespierre Before the Revolution
Maximilien Robespierre was a member of the Jacobin group in the third estate of France. The Jacobins were the higher rank of the lower class, consisting of intellectuals, lawyers, and doctors. This Revolutionary political club wanted to abolish the monarch and push for the most radical changes during the Revolution. Robespierre was a lawyer who often defended the poor, and was elected Estates General Deputy. As he entered the world of politics, Robespierre became a very persuasive speaker and leader of the Jacobin Club.

In 1792, Robespierre became the head of the Mountains, a radical political party. “[Robespierre] saw where the avenues of persuasion lay, and had an instinct for how parliaments might be led and controlled” (Carson). The Mountain party wanted a republic with universal male suffrage. In October 1793, the National Convention declared, “the government of France is revolutionary.” As leader of the Convention, Robespierre voted for the beheading of King Louis XVI. The National Convention would eventually replace the Legislative Assembly as ruling government of France. The Convention’s first task was to create a new, more radical constitution. The right to vote would no longer be constrained to active civilians. The poor and middle class were better represented under the rule of the National Convention.

The Committee of Public Safety was made up of 12 members and was created to protect the National Convention and France. "The committee was among the most creative executive bodies ever seen - and rapidly put into effect policies which stabilized the French economy and began the formation of the very successful French army." ("Modern History Sourcebook:Maximilien Robespierre:Justification of the Use of Terror"). Robespierre was appointed leader of the Committee, gaining close to complete control of the entire Revolution. The Committee of Public Safety battled to save the revolution as it prepared for all out war by conquering new lands and crushing peasant revolts.

Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror resulted from Robespierre's belief that Terror was a form of justice and was needed to influence the people. He believed in a "Republic of Virtue" and that a Revolution was needed and would come at difficult means. "It is virtue; I am speaking of the public virtue which effected so many prodigies in Greece and Rome and which ought to produce much more surprising ones in republican France; of that virtue which is nothing other than the love of country and of its laws." ("Modern History Sourcebook:Maximilien Robespierre:Justification of the Use of Terror"). Although, if the people had pure thoughts, then they would have nothing to fear. Robespierre justified his use of Terror by exterminating the enemies, those opposed to Revolution.


 * =SOCIAL BACKGROUND= || =POLITICAL BACKGROUND= || =ECONOMIC BACKGROUND= ||
 * * 1st and 2nd Estates: consisted of clergy and nobility
 * 3rd Estate: Rest of France
 * Divided into Jacobins, Bourgeoisie, and San-Culottes
 * Robespierre abolished the worship of God.
 * Robespierre instituted a new Jacobin calendar
 * Robespierre tried to exterminate any remains of the Ancien Regime (traditional customs of nobility) || * Robespierre believed in a "Republic of Virtue."
 * Pressed for Revolution
 * France was at war with other countries
 * Austria, Prussia, Spain, and Britain
 * National Convention was the third, more radical government in France during the Revolution
 * Committee of Public Safety was a 12-man group that ruled France during its radical phase[[image:robes3.jpg width="145" height="194" align="center"]] || * King Louis XVI taxed the third estate, refusing to tax the nobility
 * Louis XVI fought numerous wars and provided support to colonists during American Revolution
 * France was mounting national debt
 * Monarchy had inept leadership and military failure
 * Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was approved by the National Assembly, extending the rights of citizens
 * On the eve of Revolution, the value of the total foreign trade was just above 1,000,000,000 livres
 * Important exports: raw cotton, sugar, tobacco, coffee, tea, chocolate, and Negro slaves
 * Great economic profits increased the wealth of merchants and financiers ||



media type="custom" key="3114064"

media type="custom" key="3241540" SCRIPT: Good day, I am Maximilien Robespierre, also known as "The Incorruptible." During my time on earth, I was a part of the Jacobin group being a lawyer and defending the poor. I must say, I was the most radical man to ever walk the face of this earth.

During my childhood, I grew up poor. This had a major impact on what I set out to accomplish in life because I understood the viewpoint of the common wealth to push for a Revolution in France. Another big influence on me was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, along with ideas of the Enlightenment. Rousseau's Social Contract believed in the rights of citizens to control government. I wished to recreate France using the principles of the Enlightenment and for the common people to play a larger role in government.

From this, I hated the Ancien Regime and pushed for a Revolution. I believed in a "Republic of Virtue" through the use of terror. Therefore, the Reign of Terror prevailed. A Revolution was a necessity and it was my way or the highway. I hate to exterminate the enemies, of which were any opposed to the Revolution. I believed the end to be virtuous and if I could only accomplish it by use of terror, then so be it. Revolution was the only way to keep the country stable and reach better living standards. Terror was my form of justice, and through this basis of fear, 40,000 citizens were killed. ("Modern History Sourcebook: Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror").

In the end, I fell victim to my own machine. I gave a speech accusing the National Convention members of being counter revolutionary, which they were, and they conspired against me. My increasing power among the Jacobins caused nervousness and I made many enemies due to my extreme methods. I was blamed for the numerous murders during the Reign of Terror and for dictation. After my speech, I was beheaded by the people of the French Revolution. (Ellis and Esler 492).

To this day, I still remain the most radical man to walk the face of this earth.

[|Maximilien Robespierre Quiz] Maximilien Robespierre True or False Quiz (answers at bottom)

1) Robespierre was a part of the san-culottes in the third estate

2) Robespierre was against a “Republic of Virtue” 3) Members of the National Convention conspired against Robespierre and beheaded him. 4) Robespierre was a lawyer who refused to defend the poor.

5) The Committee of Public Safety was created to protect the monarchy.

6) During the Revolution, France was also at war with several countries.

7) Many of Robespierre’s thoughts and beliefs derived from the Enlightened thinker, Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

8) Robespierre tried to bring back the customs of the Ancien Regime into France.

9) The Jacobin party consisted of nobility and monarchy.

10) The poor and middle class were better represented under the rule of the National Convention.

Works Cited: Carson, S.L. __Maximilien Robespierre__. World Leaders Past & Present. New York: Chelsea House, 1988. Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor, and Anthony Esler. __World History: Connections To Today__. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1999. __The French Revolution__. Ed. Don Nardo. Turning Points in World History. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, n.d. Gershoy, Leo. __The Era of the French Revolution, 1789-1799__. Princeton: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1957. __Internet Modern History Sourcebook__. 22 Sept. 2001. 12 Feb. 2009 . Rude, George. __Robespierre__. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1967.

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Robespierre

Answer Key: False, False, True, False, False, True, True, False, False, True