Robespierre fell when the Terror had outlived its usefulness- How far do you agree with this explanation of coup 9 Thermidor?

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Robespierre fell when the Terror had “outlived its usefulness”- How far do you agree with this explanation of coup 9 Thermidor?

Lester Griffiths U6LB

The Terror was a centralised form of government introduce to preserves the newly created republic of France from internal and external threats to its survival. Whilst having this form of government whilst the threat of invasion from Austria, the threat of counter-revolution, the economic problems facing France and Uprisings in the Vendee in 1793, once these problems had become less severe, and the future of the republic in France became more secure, many began to question the need for the brutal methods of government by terror, and many deputies believed it had “outlived its usefulness.” This led to a decline in support for government by Terror. However Maximilian Robespierre, who was the figurehead of the terror began to lose support among many following the introduction of the extremely unpopular Cult of Supreme Being in 1794, Unpopular policies such as the Maximum on Wages introduced in 1794 and his increasing reclusiveness from public and political life, leading to mistrust of Robespierre among many deputies in the National Convention. This decline in support for Robespierre and contributed to the events coup of 9 Thermidor.

However many certainly became disillusioned with the brutality of government by terror. The revolutionary tribunal and the committee of General Security had in combination sent any thousands to the guillotine, and many lives were lost during the Great Terror in Paris in 1794. Many people believed many of the victims of the Terror to be innocent of any wrongdoing or any plots against the republic. Austria who had previously threatened to invade France, had been pushed back by French forces and was not a threat to France for the time being. The value of the assignat was rising by 1793, stabilising France’s finances, Food supplies to major cities and towns had been stabilised by the work of the “armee revolutionare” by 1793 and uprisings in the provinces had been crushed. With all of these threats to the Republic having been dealt with for the time being many began to question the need for government by terror. Government by Terror provided a centralised system, which was very effective during times of great instability, but now the future of the Republic in France was more secure, many began to question the need for the brutal methods of the terror. Many were being sent to the guillotine, and events such as the Great Terror in Paris in 1794 led to many ordinary Parisians and indeed deputies becoming sickened with how extreme the terror had become. Many deputies of the plain now wanted to see an end to the terror, now France had become more stable, and to achieve this ultimately Robespierre, the figurehead of the terror had to be removed, leading to the formation of a plot by many moderate deputies in 1794 to remove Robespierre and government by terror in one swift swoop, in the Coup Of 9 Thermidor.

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However although many had become disillusioned with the brutal methods of the terror, there are explanations for the Coup of 9 Thermidor. Robespierre’s popularity among many groups in French society had begun to decline leading to agitation for him and his government of terror to be overthrown. In 1794 Robespierre forced the Cult of Supreme Being through the Committee of Public Safety. This was deeply resented by Catholics across France as they felt Robespierre was trying to introduce a new religion to France and completely oust Christianity. The Cult of Supreme Being was also deeply mistrusted by many deputies who ...

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