Author Bio: Maximilien Robespierre was a lawyer and politician. He was one of the most known and influential figures of the French Revolution. He was a member of the Estates General, the Constituent Assembly and the Jacobins Club. Robespierre wished a republic would be established, the death penalty and slavery abolished and advocated for universal suffrage and equality. He was known as "the Incorruptible" but also known as a "bloodthirsty dictator" by his enemies and was also a member of the Public Committee for Safety during the Reign of Terror.
Context: This speech was given to the Convention on February 5, 1794. This was during the Reign of Terror that starred the guillotine. During the Terror, anyway suspected of being against the revolutionists were seen as enemies of France were sentenced to death. Robespierre uses this speech as justification for that type of barbarity.
Summary: Robespierre begins his speech by explaining what France and its people are trying to achieve: a prosperous republic of fully equally citizens who can respect their country without knowing horrors like they are experiencing now. He then explains the problems of France, the way everything good is substituted for something corrupt like morality for egoism, the rule of reason for the tyranny of custom and contempt of vice for contempt of misfortune. The people want to stop this terror and these vices and fulfill the duties of nature. He proclaims that only a republican or democratic type of government can achieve these great desires. Robespierre believes that the fundamental principle of a government of these types is virtue. He then goes on to say that in times of revolution, terror is necessary to inflict justice and restore order. He believes that to once again reach a virtuous government one must inflict terror to get rid of those who are disrupting order.
Key Quotation: "If the strength of popular government in peacetime is virtue, the strength of popular government in revolution is both virtue and terror; terror without virtue is disastrous, virtue without terror is powerless."
"Subdue the enemies of liberty through terror and you will right as founder of the Republic."
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ReplyDeleteThis document occurred during the reign of terror. which was a time of death and the time was based around trying to catch those who were against France and either kill or torture them. this post talks about what France must do to pull out of this revolution in tact. it later states that the terror is necessary to maintain the country during the hardship. I really enjoyed the complexity of this post it hit the topic head on and i enjoyed it. The only problem i noticed was that there is no date which should be added next time.
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