Who was Maximilien

Robespierre?
Who was Maximilien Robespierre
 Born on 6 May1758 in France.

 A lawyer and member of Jacobin Club.

 Rose to power during the Reign of Terror.

 Sought to establish a republic based on virtue

and equality.

 His uncompromising approach led to his

downfall.
 Georges Danton,
Story Characters: • a powerful orator

King Louis XVI, Camille Desmoulins

• faced opposition • a revolutionary writer

Marie Antoinette, Jean-Paul Marat,

• queen of France • a radical journalist
 King Louis XVI
One day King Louis XVI came to Paris, Robespierre
was appointed to deliver his welcome speech because of
his talent. Robespierre gave a speech to the best of his
abilities but the king didn’t pay any attention.
Robespierre started to hate the king because of this. One
day Robespierre read a book on Democracy by
Rousseau. This gave him the idea of democratic rule in
England. The people were already tired of King Louis
XVI which supported Robespierre's motive. So they
started a rebellion against the king. These rebels were
known as the Jacobin Club.
Why Robespierre Hate King?
 His perception of monarchy as a symbol of inequality.
But,
saw the king as a system of social hierarchy.

 Believed that removing the king brings revolution to

succeed and for the ideals of
liberty,
equality,
and fraternity to prevail.
Jacobin Club Members:
• a political club established during the French Revolution.

• members were primarily composed of radical

revolutionaries.

• Maximilien Robespierre, one of the prominent members

of this club.

• Club played a significant role in revolution, particularly

during the Reign of Terror.
 Two Attacks On The Castle:
October 5, 1789 August 10, 1792

 1st attack occurred on October 5,  2nd attack (Storming of the Tuileries

1789. Palace) occurred on August 10, 1792.
o
 A large mob of women marched for  It Leading to the imprisonment of King
demanding return of royal family to Louis.
Paris.
Oppressions On King And His
Family: Last Words Of
 Placed under house arrest in the Tuileries
King:
Palace in Paris.

 The royal family were isolated from the

I hope my blood will
outside world.
bring good fortune
 Later, the king was put on trial for treason. to the French

 Despite attempts at defense, he and his

family was sentenced to death by guillotine.
Punishment For Treason And Its Effects:

Punishment For Treason Negative Effects

 Execution by guillotine.  Psychological impact on the population.

 Execution, to deter counter revolutionary  Developed instilling fear and suppressing

activities. opposition.
 No excuse was accepted.  Contributed to a climate of terror.

 The death penalty was imposed directly.  Leading to divisions and Internal strife.
Region Of Terror 1793-1794
 Period of intense political repression and violence during
the Revolution.
 The rise of Committee, aimed to consolidate power and
defend the revolution against its enemies.
 It aimed to suppress counter-revolutionary activities and
solidify the revolution's gains,
but,
excessive violence led to fear and instability.
 This ended with the downfall of Robespierre and the
Committee.
Why Such Hard Punishment?
1. They believed that measures were necessary to deter

2. counter-revolutionary activities and maintain control.

1. The revolutionaries sought to establish a new

2. social order based on equality.

1. Harsh punishments served as a means of retribution

2. and ensuring the eradication of the aristocracy.
Amount Of People Killed In
The Reign Of Terror:
Estimated tens of thousands were executed.

The revolutionary tribunals and the guillotine were

used for these executions.

This contributed to a climate of fear and suspicion.

Mistake By Robespierre:
Excessive reliance on the use of terror as a means of achieving and maintaining
revolutionary goals.
It quickly spiraled out of control.

The indiscriminate arrests and executions, led to a loss of public support.

Robespierre's refusal to listening to dissenting voices contributed to his downfall.

Rebellion In 1793 Against Jacobin:
In 1793, a rebellion broke out against the Jacobin club
and its radical policies.

This was fueled by discontent over the club's increasing

control and its oppression.

This was fueled by discontent over the club's increasing

control and its oppression.

Many revolutionaries, also club members, criticized the

erosion of civil liberties
Punishments Despite Surrendering:
Surrendering did not guarantee the safety or lenient treatment.

The revolutionary tribunals proceeded with harsh punishments.

This approach further fueled fear and distrust within the population,
as people became reluctant to surrender.
Why Robespierre Was Called Dictator?

Maximilien Robespierre He played a The consolidation of

earned the label of dominant role in power and his
"dictator" due to his suppressed authoritarian
increasing control. opposition within the tendencies led to
national convention. comparisons with
dictators.
 False Blame On Camille:
 Camille Danton, also known as Camille Desmoulins.

 He was falsely blamed for instigating a revolt against the government.

 Robespierre and his allies sought to eliminate any potential threats to their power.

 They accused Desmoulins of being involved in a conspiracy, leading to his arrest

and subsequent trial.
July 1794 announcement:
An announcement was made during the
French revolution.

The announcement marked the downfall of

Maximilien Robespierre.

The announcement highlights the need for

a more moderate approach.
Arrest Of Robespierre And Attempt Of
Suicide:
In July 1794, Maximilien Robespierre attempted suicide.
He shot himself in the face but failed to deliver a fatal wound.
He was taken into custody and faced trial the next day.
Was Robespierre Right or Wrong?
Complex and subjective question.
Robespierre's ideals of liberty, equality were undeniably influential.
His methods, including the reign of terror, were marked by violence.
Robespierre's actions requires considering both:

The positive ideals he championed.

The negative impact of his tactics.
28 July, 1794 (The Death Day Of
Robespierre):
On July 28, 1794, Maximilien Robespierre was executed by guillotine.

His associates, including Louis Antoine, De Saint-Just and Georges Couthon.

His death shift towards a more moderate and stable government.

Conclusion:
• The French Revolution, was a period of immense social,
political upheaval.

• Robespierre's role left a lasting impact on history.

• While He sought to establish society with equality, his

methods undermined these goals.

• The Revolution, continues to be a subject of debate and

analysis.
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