CR HowdoesRobespierrejustifytheReignofTerror?

INTRO

Objective:ExplainhowRobespierrejustifiedtheReignofTerror

Maximilien Robespierre (1758 1794) was the leader of the twelve man
Committee of Public Safety elected by the National Convention, and which
effectively governed France at the height of the radical phase of the revolution.
He had once been a fairly straightforward liberal thinker - reputedlyhesleptwith
a copy of Rousseau's Social Contract at his side. But hisownpurityofbeliefled
himtoimpatiencewithothers.

The committee was among the most creative executive bodies ever seen - and
rapidly put into effect policies which stabilized the French economy and began
the formation of the very successful French army. It also directed it energies
against counter-revolutionary uprisings, especially in the south and west of
France.IndoingsoitunleashedtheReignofTerror.

In this Terror and Virtue speech to the Convention, delivered on 5 February 1794, Robespierre offered a
justification of the Terror. By this date, uprisings had been by and large pacified and thethreatofinvasion
by the Austrians, British, and Prussians had receded, yet Robespierreemphasizedthatonlyacombination
of virtue (a commitment to republican ideals) and terror (coercion against those who failedtodemonstrate
such a commitment) could ensure the longterm salvation of the Republic. His speech was given after
revolutionary tribunal in Paris executed 238 men and 31 women. On February 5 there were 5,434
individualsintheprisonsinParisawaitingtrial.
Source:http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/robespierre-terror.asp, https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/413/

http://blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/moderneurope/robespierres-transformation-and-the-french-revolution/

1a.Pre-ReadingQuestions:Contextualization
WhowroteTerrorandVirtue?

WhenwasTerrorandVirtuew
ritten?(Year)

WherewasTerrorandVirtuew
ritten?

Whattype(primarysourceofsecondarysource)
ofdocumentisTerrorandVirtue?
Whatgenre(letter,memoir,treatise,journal,
edict,speech,etc.)ofdocumentisTerrorand
Virtue?Whatdoesthisrevealaboutthe
intendedimpactofthisdocument?

WhowastheaudienceforTerrorandVirtue?

Whatwastheperspectiveoftheauthor?
(Hint:Whatwasthemaininterestorgoalofthe
author?)

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1b.W
hydidRobespierrewritetheTerrorandVirtue?
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1c.W
hymightTerrorandVirtuebea
nimportanthistoricaldocumentduringthisperiodoftheFrench
Revolution?(Howmightthisdocumenthelphistoriansbetterunderstandthistimeperiod?)
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1d.ThetitleofthistreatiseisTerrorandVirtue.Whatpredictionscanyoumakeaboutthecontentofthe
speech?
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1e.ThespeechwasgivenafterrevolutionarytribunalinParisexecuted238menand31women.Whyisit
significantthathedeliveredthespeechaftertheseexecution?

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Directions:UsingthetextofRobespierrebelow,respondtothequestions.

TerrorandVirtueaspeechgiventotheConventionbyMaximilienRobespierre,Feb.5,1794
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To found and consolidate democracy, to achieve 1. What does the phrase to found and
the peaceable reign of the constitutional laws, we consolidatedemocracy(li.1-2)mean?
must end the war of liberty against tyranny and
pass safely across the storms of the revolution:
such is the aim oftherevolutionarysystemthatyou
haveenacted.Yourconduct,then,oughtalsotobe 2. Based on your prior knowledge, what are
regulated by thestormycircumstancesinwhichthe the stormy circumstances in which the
republic is placed; and the plan of your republicisplaced(li.6-8)?
administration must result from the spirit of the
revolutionary government combined with the
generalprinciplesofdemocracy

Now, what is the fundamental principle of the 3. How does Robespierre describe virtue?
democratic or popular governmentthat is, the Howdoesvirtueshapethecountry?
essential spring which makes it move? It is virtue; I
am speaking of the public virtue which effected so
many prodigies in Greece and Rome and which
ought to produce much more surprising ones in 4. In lines 23-25, Robespierre says, butthe
republican France; of that virtue which is nothing tempest roars, and the revolution imposes
otherthantheloveofcountryandofitslaws
on you another task. What is the other
The whole development of our theory would end task?
here if you had only to pilot the vessel of the
Republic through calm waters; but the tempest
roars, and the revolution imposes on you another
task.

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27
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We must smother the internalandexternalenemies

of the Republic or perish with it; now in this
situation, the first maxim of your policy ought tobe
to lead the people by reason and the peoples
enemiesbyterror.

If thespringofpopulargovernmentintimeofpeace
is virtue, the springs of popular government in
revolution are at once virtue and terror: virtue,
without which terror is fatal; terror, without which
virtue is powerless. Terror is nothing other than
justice, prompt, severe, inflexible; it is therefore
[part] of virtue; it is not so much a special principle
as it is a consequence of the general principle of
democracy applied to our countrys most urgent
needs
Source:MaximilienRobespierre,speechtotheNational
Convention,OntheMoralandPoliticalPrinciplesofDomestic
Policy,(excerpt),February5,1794

5. In lines 28-29, Robespierre says, We

must smother the internal and external
enemies of the Republic or perishwithit.
What does Robespierre mean by smother
the internal and external enemies? What
does he argue is the consequence for not
doingso?

6.In lines 30-32, Robespierre says, the first

maxim of your policy oughttobetoleadthe
people by reason and the peoples enemies
by terror. What is the difference between
leading the people by reason and leading
the enemies by terror? Why are there
differencesinthewaystheyareled?

7. According to Robespierre, why is it

justifiedtouseterror?

8.InwhatwaysdoesthisspeechsupportbasicEnlightenmentprinciples?

9.InwhatwaysdoesthisspeechunderminebasicEnlightenmentprinciples?

10.AretheideasexpressedinthisspeechcompatiblewiththeDeclarationoftheRightsofMan?

11. How does Robespierre justify the Reign of Terror? Why does he feel a need to make a speech
justifyingtheReignofTerror?

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