Did Robespierre betray the revolution, or was he it's greatest protector?
Sydney Garilli
Block A
10/12/1802
News Editorial
Did Robespierre betray the revolution, or was he it's greatest protector?
During the late 18th century, the country of France when through a time of commoner revolt and a lot of change. The King was dethroned and executed and a new government. During this time, Maximilien Robespierre was a French lawyer and politician, and one of the most influential figures of the time. Robespierre began as a friend of the revolution, yet in the end, he betrayed it. He began as an advocate for the safety of the common people and the revolution, then he began leading the crazed people of the revolution, and later became the ruler that he earlier fought against.
In the early years of the revolution, Robespierre was an advocate for the people of the revolution. When the people want to go to war with Austria, Robespierre tried to steer the people of France away from that idea. He held a debate and fought for why France’s revolutionary army was not quite ready to go to battle. He believed a war would ruin the revolution and everything everyone had worked for. In the end, he lost the debate, but he always thought in the best interest of the revolution and it’s people.
As the revolution and the war went on, the people of France believed that the country would not be safe if there was still alleged criminal in jails while all of their protection is off fighting a war against Austria. This leads the people of France to violently murder hundreds of people taken from the jails by executing them right in the streets. Robespierre knew this what not the purpose of the revolution and decided to take charge of the revolution, be the leader they needed. This was an action not like Robespierre, but he believed it was the right thing to do for the revolution.
Towards the end of the revolution, Robespierre gives a speech saying that the revolution needs to make a change in the way they are fighting. He believes they need to have both terror and virtue, otherwise, it only leads to disaster. Other political figures, like Jacques Danton, think otherwise. They say France should end their reign of terror, it is ruining the purpose of the revolution. Many believe that France should make itself more of a normalization. Robespierre has become very irrational and radical and takes the difference of opinion as a direct threat to him and his followers. He takes the threat and it leads him to put Danton and his men to execution. He then believes many people are threatening him and he becomes very paranoid which leads to him sentencing more people to death. Robespierre became a radical, unfair leader that he tried to get rid of in the beginning.
In the end, Robespierre attempted suicide and failed. He spent his last hours laying on the table of the committee of public safety, in the same room he piled up all his terror to his limit. His death ended his reign of terror. At the beginning of the revolution, Robespierre was a quiet, intelligent man doing the best he could to help the common people of France. Yet by the end, he had become a paranoid ruler who held a vicious reign of terror towards anyone in his way. Robespierre began as a friend of the revolution, yet in the end, he betrayed it.
Block A
10/12/1802
News Editorial
Did Robespierre betray the revolution, or was he it's greatest protector?
During the late 18th century, the country of France when through a time of commoner revolt and a lot of change. The King was dethroned and executed and a new government. During this time, Maximilien Robespierre was a French lawyer and politician, and one of the most influential figures of the time. Robespierre began as a friend of the revolution, yet in the end, he betrayed it. He began as an advocate for the safety of the common people and the revolution, then he began leading the crazed people of the revolution, and later became the ruler that he earlier fought against.
In the early years of the revolution, Robespierre was an advocate for the people of the revolution. When the people want to go to war with Austria, Robespierre tried to steer the people of France away from that idea. He held a debate and fought for why France’s revolutionary army was not quite ready to go to battle. He believed a war would ruin the revolution and everything everyone had worked for. In the end, he lost the debate, but he always thought in the best interest of the revolution and it’s people.
As the revolution and the war went on, the people of France believed that the country would not be safe if there was still alleged criminal in jails while all of their protection is off fighting a war against Austria. This leads the people of France to violently murder hundreds of people taken from the jails by executing them right in the streets. Robespierre knew this what not the purpose of the revolution and decided to take charge of the revolution, be the leader they needed. This was an action not like Robespierre, but he believed it was the right thing to do for the revolution.
Towards the end of the revolution, Robespierre gives a speech saying that the revolution needs to make a change in the way they are fighting. He believes they need to have both terror and virtue, otherwise, it only leads to disaster. Other political figures, like Jacques Danton, think otherwise. They say France should end their reign of terror, it is ruining the purpose of the revolution. Many believe that France should make itself more of a normalization. Robespierre has become very irrational and radical and takes the difference of opinion as a direct threat to him and his followers. He takes the threat and it leads him to put Danton and his men to execution. He then believes many people are threatening him and he becomes very paranoid which leads to him sentencing more people to death. Robespierre became a radical, unfair leader that he tried to get rid of in the beginning.
In the end, Robespierre attempted suicide and failed. He spent his last hours laying on the table of the committee of public safety, in the same room he piled up all his terror to his limit. His death ended his reign of terror. At the beginning of the revolution, Robespierre was a quiet, intelligent man doing the best he could to help the common people of France. Yet by the end, he had become a paranoid ruler who held a vicious reign of terror towards anyone in his way. Robespierre began as a friend of the revolution, yet in the end, he betrayed it.