Robespiere essays

Robespiere essays In 1971, Europe began to foresee the end of a seemingly triumphant revolution in France. While the country restructured its government in a forceful but bloodless manner, the tyrant King Louis the XVI agreed to the demands of the masses. However, due to the fanatical aspirations of men such as Danton, Marat and Robespierre, it would be only a matter of months before this stage of social and political reform was transformed into a radical phase of barbaric force. In the quest for freedom and equality, the leaders of the Jacobins, followers of Robesprierre, turned the flourishing revolution into a dictatorship that threatened to destroy all that was achieved in the previous two years of insurrection. The revolution took a sharp turn on August 9th, 1792. The Municipal government was overthrown in Paris and a commune was established by the leaders of the radical forces. During this time there were continual food riots erupting in every area of the country and, with the threat of war against Austria and Prussia looming, it was vital that order was to be maintained. Although the constitution was already set in place and the citizens had their freedom and liberties, the public still questioned whether or not these laws would help create a new government and prevent the country from breaking apart. The people had come this far and were not prepared to watch their efforts lead to failure or the restoration of an absolute monarch. As a result, the radical forces were able to gain the support of the citizens in declaring that the constitution of 1791 was ineffective and useless since it did not suit the needs of all the population of France. Radicals insisted on domestic stability. Led by the Danton and Marat, the Paris Commune discarded the old constitution and called for a National Convention to begin work on a new, revised version. The National Convention, divided by the Ja ...