What is the first principle of democracy? ... I am speaking of the high virtue which produced so many miracles in Greece and Rome, and will produce even more astonishing miracles in republican France ... therefore, one may say that the people do not require any high virtue in order to love justice and equality: It suffices if they love themselves ... Terror is nothing but justice, prompt, sure, and unbending. It is a revelation of virtue.
Robespierre, speech to the National Convention, February 7, 1794.
Robespierre, speech to the National Convention, February 7, 1794.
THE REIGN OF TERROR
In the early days of the French Republic, many groups were fighting to have power and push for their views about how France should be ruled. Robespierre had strong ideals about how people should live their lives. He was against all forms of corruption and wanted to eliminate it from the French government and the republic. He believed that terror and violence were the way to get rid of corruption and the way to eliminate his political enemies. This led to the Reign of Terror, in which hundreds died at the guillotine. While some of the people guillotined were aristocrats, and some were anti revolutionaries, most of the people guillotined were executed for mere suspicion of hoarding food or other things. The government passed laws to allow them to use force to retain power. Robespierre used the Reign of Terror to force his ideals without opposition.
In 1793 and 1794, 300,000 people who were suspected to be enemies of the Revolution were arrested. More than 17,000 were executed, usually by guillotine. Robespierre eliminated many of his political opponents. The Reign of Terror lasted from September 1793 until July 1794, Robespierre's death.
In the early days of the French Republic, many groups were fighting to have power and push for their views about how France should be ruled. Robespierre had strong ideals about how people should live their lives. He was against all forms of corruption and wanted to eliminate it from the French government and the republic. He believed that terror and violence were the way to get rid of corruption and the way to eliminate his political enemies. This led to the Reign of Terror, in which hundreds died at the guillotine. While some of the people guillotined were aristocrats, and some were anti revolutionaries, most of the people guillotined were executed for mere suspicion of hoarding food or other things. The government passed laws to allow them to use force to retain power. Robespierre used the Reign of Terror to force his ideals without opposition.
In 1793 and 1794, 300,000 people who were suspected to be enemies of the Revolution were arrested. More than 17,000 were executed, usually by guillotine. Robespierre eliminated many of his political opponents. The Reign of Terror lasted from September 1793 until July 1794, Robespierre's death.