Another factor that suggests the importance of Robespierre is that he did not seek power or wealth for himself. He wanted the good for France. He delivered important speeches. He spoke of a “Republic of virtue” which led to the abandonment of the constitution and made “virtue” and excellent justification of the terror.
Moreover, Miximilian Robespierre joined the Committee of Public safety on 27 July 1793. he encouraged the Committee to take more radical steps. One of them was the law of Suspects in September 1793. It allowed for the formation of tribunals to try those who are against the Republic and punish convected with death. This government policy strongly influenced by Robespierre quickly became an instrument of the Terror.
Robespierre was also very important in the development of the Reign of Terror as he demanded the continuation of the terror after the Spring of 1794 when the revolts in the Vendee had been mostly put down. The basic cause of the uprising were the expansion of the war and the introduction of the conscription ( compulsory military service). People became very hostile to the government and that triggered huge massacre of new local officials, constitutional priests and national guards. As Robespierre believed that the Terror was the time of discovering and revealing the enemies within France he did everything he could to make sure the Convention would carry on with the Terror.
Other factors such as his support to show trials and the execution of the Herbertistes in March 1794 and the fact that he was elected President of the Convention on 4 June 1794 which gave him responsibility for developments support the statement that was responsible for the expansion of the Terror and could be seen as dictator at this time.
However, the are numerous factors showing that he did not carry the responsibility of the expansion of the Terror by himself. First of all, Robespierre was not really in power during the emergence of the instruments of the Terror such as Revolutionary Tribunal between March and May 1793. Consequently, he had no influence on this. Moreover, the Terror developed from February to March 1793 due to the need for greater centralisation and alertness at a time of war which had not been under the influence of Robespierre.
In addition to this, the dismissal of the Girondins was forced by the power of sans – cullotes. This may be seen as rising radicalism behind the Terror rather than the influence of Robespierre.
Furthermore, there were many other influential leaders such as Couthon and St Just who might have played equally big role in development of the Terror as Robespierre. Couthon played important role in the development of the Law of Prairial and St Just spread the movement of the execution of Louis and drafted the constitution of 1793.
All in all, the Reign of terror was undoubtedly influenced by Robespierre but it is important to know that there were many other factors that played very important role in the expansion of the terror such as other leaders and the timing of the war. In my opinion, Robespierre was important to the reign terror but he was not the only influence on its establishment as the terror continued after Robespierre's execution on 28 July 1794.
by
magdabrando (student)
