19 December 2010 Maximilien Robespierre

Mr. Fielder

English 9

19 December 2010

Maximilien Robespierre

He was a man of many successes. He was a French lawyer, statesman and a popular leader who eventually arose to greatness[sic]. Some say even supreme. He took much power as a leader in the national convention, the Jacobin club and the comity of public safety during the reign of terror that took place during the French revolution. This revolution showed high idealism and things as low selfishness. They say Maximilien Robespierre was one of the most brilliant inspirations within the French revolution with the exception of Napoleon that they have ever seen. Some called him “The Drinker of Blood” or “The SeaGreen Monster[sic]”for being revolutionary extremist of violence. “As an ambiguous figure he haunts the pages of modern revolutionary history today.” (Maximilien Robespierre) The importance of this paper is to figure out how Maximilien Robespierre in life became one of the greatest revolutionary successors in history using specific examples.

Born on May 6,1758 in a small town in northern France called Arras. He had a rough family life having to grow up so young and not being able to have a child hood, because Having 1 brother & 2 sisters with no father was not easy. His father abandoned Robespierre at the very young age of ten. He then took care of his family with no choice. He had many struggles trying to discover his position in life. Maximilien Robespierre was one of the few revolutionist who knew what it was like to grow up poor and the meanings and importances of family.

(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

As he was searching for his place in the world he developed a sense of social justice for the ordinary and poor common people. In 1789 he assumed a public role as an advocate for political change. After he started contributing his ideas to the people he became the 3^rd estate delegation of arras.“Most delegates desired peaceful, reformers as their representatives... but Robespierre understood that the lower class people in France needed more attention... and attacking on Bastille on July 14^th, 1789 by the common people of Paris lead by Maximilien Robespierre dramatically confirmed that he was an amazing leader in the French revolution.”(Maximilien Robespierre) He quickly associated himself with the Jacobin Club. This club was the most famous club in the history of French revolution.(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

Being a very important figure in the French revolution like he was came with much responsibility. When he would speak openly about universal suffrage, abolition of all privileges, an end to discrimination on others religions, and personal rights to those who fall in lower classes, people wouldn't listen. He found followers at the Jacobin Club. They called him “The Most Honest Man of The Revolution.” Throughout Robespierre's carrier he devoted himself to this club. They admired him and all his radical political views. He had a high sense of personal morality.(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

His old fashioned style seemed out of place according to everyone else. Yet his carefully written and traditionally formal speeches seemed so meaningful to the people with his utter sincerity & deep personal convention won him a wide range of followers. The club and him worked up to opposing King Louis in August of 1792 and got him guillotined. This was the overthrow of the monarchy and the fresh start of the very first French republic.(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

Joining the Jacobin's club was one of the most progressive things he ever did. This political association eventually created the committee of public safety. Robespierre became the president of the Jacobin's club in April 1790.(French Revolution) This was one of the best decisions the club has ever made. Making Robespierre as president made the club famous. He was the one who put all of there ideas and plans together and put them into action and made things happen. This enforced a great deal of followers and started the wild craziness yet to come along with the remarkable man of Maximilien Robespierre. (Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

The national convention held by Robespierre then created the committee of public safety. They made this committee to assume and enforce authority in April 1793. This committee was made of 12. The committee had created rebellious actions towards the republic where they combined force, violence, murder and terror on all people.(French Revolution) They executed and guillotined 40,000 people. 15% was the high class. 15% was middle class and 60% was the lower class common people. This was called the reign of terror. The committees drastic laws were provided with success.“By spring of 1794 the republic suppressed the rebellious behavior by Robespierre and gained the initiative to start a war... but Robespierre though it would folly and the committees vigilance would then lead to corruptivity[sic].”(Maximilien Robespierre)

Maximilien Robespierre would then say, “ The mainspring of popular government is virtue and terror in revolutionary times; virtue without which terror is disastrous, terror without virtue is helpless...” this then inspired the committee to keep going, too stay strong, never to back down and to keep their heads up.(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

Bad news hit the committee and Robespierre when opposition arose from a variety of sources. After they got what they wanted, and caused terror among a great deal of people, they wanted relaxation amongst everyone and wanted things to be subtle. Robespierre did not enjoy this idea. Robespierre thought that exemplifying more fear amongst the people would be the greater decision. Robespierre spoke vague at the convention and people apposed him and voted for his arrest. He was quickly released.(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

He and his colleges continued to do what they pleased. They gathered at the city hall they thus then planned another rising. This was a rising to make up for a previous occasion that had prevailed soon before on the Sans-Cluttes. They were captured and then declared outlaws that night. Maximilien Robespierre was guillotined the next day.(Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore De Robespierre)

Maximilien Robespierre was so caught up into killing people and causing terror onto to the country of France it got him murdered himself.

The importance of this paper was figure out how Maximilien Robespierre in life became one of the greatest revolutionary successors in history using specific examples. Maximilien Robespierre started out as a child with many difficulties and soon became a representative for the very poor lower class. This soon created his passion for government. He became a spokesman and a very tough critic. This then brought him to become a creator and leader of a very important group called the committee of public safety who brought so much terror on the people. This then created the true violence that tore apart all France. This then brought Maximilien Robespierre to be one of the greatest revolutionary successors in history.(Modern History Sourcebook: Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of terror)

Works Cited

“French Revolution.” Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: War. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Gale student resources in context. Web. 6 Dec, 2010

“Modern History Sourcebook: Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the use of Terror.” Modern History Source Book. August, 1997. Web. 4 Dec. 2010