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Robespierre Essay

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Robespierre Essay
Lilian Yoong Zi Ying J15017268
(1)
Robespierre played an important role during the French Revolution. He was a political leader who led the Reign of Terror where thousands of people were executed. Before that, aristocrats and clergies benefited while the people in 3rd Estate suffered. Robespierre wanted an “ideal” government that was ruled by people, not the king. Thus, he strived hard for democracy with the assistance of the Jacobins.
Robespierre’s believed that freedom of rights, justice and equality should be emphasized. However, there was challenges and invasions from other countries. Hence, a strong leadership and government authorities were necessary to defend these challenges. He also stated that the ideal government can only be achieved if there were “virtue” and “terror” (Linton; 2006). Both cannot be separated to strengthen and maintain the government during revolution. He mainly emphasized on public virtue, which was a commitment and participation of people towards the He believed that people should serve the public interest rather than satisfying own needs. Besides, he pointed out and justified that the other element, “terror”, was needed and its
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They both shared the same objectives, which they fought for equality for the majority against the aristocrats. They both had the ideals of democracy and the emphasis on rights of human beings. However, Robespierre’s action on democracy was more radical than Locke’s. He executed those who was against the government, or those he suspected without any judgement. He wanted people to obey his ideas and policies. People should as well, participated and sacrificed themselves for the republic, and those who did not would be guillotined. He was more like an absolute ruler, as compared to Locke which advocated governmental separation of powers in Second Treatise ("Locke Versus

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