December 7, 2012
World History
1st Period The guillotin was a fast falling blade that extinguished life instantly. It was improved by Dr. Joseph Guillotin so that criminals can be wronged for their doings. Robespierre did not actually use the guillotin, but advocated the use of it. Robespierre quoted “Liberty cannot be secured, “Robespierre cried”, unless criminals lose their heads(225).
“Maximilian Robespierre (1758—1794) did not have an easy childhood. Robespierre mother died when he was only 6 years old. Two years later, his father abandoned his family. The children's aunts and grandfather then raised them. Because of this, Robespierre assumed responsibilities at an early age. Eventually, he went to study law at the university of Paris. His performance was chosen to deliver a speech to Louis XVI on the occasion of the king's coronation. But young Robespierre was snubbed. After listening to the address in pouring rainstorm, the king and queen left without acknowledging Robespierre in any way. Years later, in 1789, Robespierre was elected to the estates- general”(225). He also became a chief architect of the Reign of Terror.
The Reign of Terror played a significant roll of the revolution. Which lasted from September 1793-July 1794 it provided hasty trials in which spectators greeted death sentences with cries of “Hail the republic or death to traitors”(225). About 300,000 ere arrested for resisting the revolution during the Reign of Terror. As many as 17,000 were executed many victims of this massacre were mistaken for others and falsely accused by their neighbors supporters of the revolutions were afraid for their lives. Robespierre believed that France could achieve a “republic virtue” only through the use of terror, which he defined as nothing more than prompt, inflexible justice. Robespierre was described as being physically unimposing and immaculate in attire and personal manners (Wikipedia/Maximilian Robespierre). He was a