Title: Causes of the Reign of Terror - PHDessay.com
Headings: Causes of the Reign of Terror
Causes of the Reign of Terror
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Content: On June 22, 1793, 80000 armed sans-culottes gathered and surrounded the National Convention halls and demanded the arrest of the Girondin party, resulting in the immediate arrest of 29 Girondin members. The Jacobins then had firm control of both the National Convention and France as a nation, left to deal with the violence and repression on the streets of France. Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety in 1793, causing a shift in power from Georges Danton to Maximilien Robespierre, Danton being an implausible public speaker and having a stronger physical presence while Robespierre less passionate about the public in general and their needs. He encouraged violence in France during the political deterioration and the fact that the attempt to set up a workable constitutional monarchy under King Louis XVI‘s reign failed made him passionate about politics. He wished to create a temporary dictatorship in order to save the Republic from falling completely. He believed that it was “One’s duty to punish traitors, to help the needy, respect the weak, defend the oppressed, do good to one’s neighbour and behave justly,” meaning he wanted to punish those who were against the government in any way and act justly- not something that he achieved. He believed that the “Terror is nothing but quick and hard justice,” granting that he wanted the terror to be something which was handled quickly and only for those who acted against their choices in any way. Robespierre was a large influence in the Reign of Terror and wanted the people who acted out to be punished for their actions. Many people believe that he was the reason why the Reign of Terror originally began. Many dispute that the Reign of Terror simply does not exist due to the fact that there was already violence occurring before this supposed period of time.