Title: What was the significance of Maximilien Robespierre in the French Revolution? - eNotes.com
Headings: What was the significance of Maximilien Robespierre in the French Revolution?
European History
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What was the significance of Maximilien Robespierre in the French Revolution?
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Content: He started out representing the Third Estate, advocating for basic human rights for all - rich, poor, slave, free or otherwise. He also opposed the death penalty for many years. As France was plunged into the revolution, the King, Louis XIV, was unable to maintain control of the country. All kinds of violent things happened, including one event where 2,000 people were dragged out of prisons and killed by the mobs in order to "force" justice. The government, and Robespierre, decided that someone had to get control of the situation. The solution, they thought, was to take matters into their own hands. This led to violence on the part of the government. They executed Louis XIV and the Reign of Terror began. Many who opposed the revolution were executed, as well as many who probably posed no threat at all but were suspected or even very loosely associated with those who did. In all, there were approximately 16,500 people executed in France during this time.