The Terror, By Maximilien Robespierre

Many historians have found it difficult to precisely define a reason as to what caused ‘The Terror,’ this is due to it being a culmination of terrible events leading to tyranny. ‘The Terror’ can be defined as the period within 1793 and 1794, when the Robespierre subjugated Jacobian group executed, without remorse, any opposing citizens to their regime. Through the critical analysis of Maximilien Robespierre’s speech ‘On the moral and political principles of domestic policy’ in conjunction with Revolutionary France written by Furet Francois and other secondary sources, this essay will argue the differing perspectives provided by historians to discover a definitive cause to ‘The Terror’ through a common relationship that it holds with the theme of virtue. The context of this period being, the Industrial …show more content…
“To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is barbarity ,” is a quote by Robespierre during his time in power within the Committee of General Security. Robespierre believed it was upon the population to act on the means of attainment of reign of the constitutional laws. His speech explores the influence of society upon the fundamental principle of the democratic or popular government. The failure by the population was not seen favourable by Robespierre and resulted in the adoption of the Committee of General Security managing the internal policy of the country. “…But when the people itself is corrupted, liberty is already lost,” reflects the attitude of the people within the context of the Industrial Revolution, when Terror was lawfully inaugurated as a policy on September 5th, 1793. The