Personally, i think he played an extremely important role in ushering in the modern world, creating what was perhaps the most radically left wing government in a major state until the soviet union. Robespierres transformation and the french revolution. Nowhere is this truth more evident than in the gathering of the cabalcompromised revolutionaries, schemers, embezzlers, corrupted politiciansthat came together to destroy robespierre on 9 thermidor. Peter mcphee is a professorial fellow at the university of melbourne. What was maximilian robespierres rationale for linking. Virtue and terror revolutions robespierre, maximilien on. In his speech, the justification of the use of terror which he presented to show more content so that leaves question as to how it was that robespierre transformed from a man who believed in a government for the people to nearly becoming a tyrant himself. Robespierres defense of the french revolution remains one of the. No one was safe, and people hastened to testify by words and deeds that they were loyal, enthusiastic supporters.
The political philosophy of terror rcl rough draft dbt. Just sort of taking a survey of opinions of maximilien robespierre. English translation excerpt of the text transcript of maximilien robespierres political morality speech, also called virtue of terror, delivered before the national convention in paris, france february 5, 1794. Maximilien robespierre 1758 1794 was the leader of the twelveman committee of public safety elected by the national convention, and which effectively governed france at the height of the radical phase of the revolution. Mcphee reevaluates the ideology and reality of the terror, what robespierre intended, and whether it represented an abandonment or a reversal of his early liberalism and sense of justice. The reign of terror, or commonly the terror french. Robespierre, maximilien, zizek, slavoj, ducange, jean, howe, john. Speech to the convention, february 5, 1794 click here for original french. What does robespierre mean when he argues that terror. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Some time ago we set forth the principles of our foreign policy.
His books include living in the end times, first as tragedy, then as farce. Me reading virtue and terror with explanation and commentary. Robespierre insisted that the committee of public safety keep a tight grip on society due to the threat of invasion from foreign armies and the threat of revolts in the provinces. You might remember that last week, i sketched out the great crisis that republicans faced in the middle of 1793, a crisis that it was at the same time, military, political, economic and social, and described the way in which, by the end of 1793, the emergency measures that had been put in place had reaped quite extraordinary gains. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre goodreads.
Slavoj zizek is a slovenian philosopher and cultural critic. Books by maximilien robespierre maximilien robespierre average rating 4. English translation excerpt of the text transcript of maximilien robespierre s political morality speech, also called virtue of terror, delivered before the national convention in paris, france february 5, 1794. Hello select your address best sellers customer service new releases whole foods find a gift customer service new releases whole foods find a gift. The writings of robespierre by maximilien robespierre nook. In this dazzling new series, philosopher and cultural critic slavoj zizek interrogates key writings on revolution. Robespierre definition and meaning collins english. Robespierre argued that society has the right and duty to define what is morally right and wrong for its members. On 18 floreal may 7th 1794 maximilien robespierre addressed the national convention, summarised the course of the revolution and explained the relationship between virtue and terror. Zizek has recently tried to pull a sleight of hand by stressing that violence means other stuff too. Doing what is right is considered virtuous, and entitles a person to the protection of society. This period started from the execution of louis xvi in january 1793 to late july 1794. Robespierre s defence of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written. Learn robespierre with free interactive flashcards.
Top 30 quotes of maximilien robespierre famous quotes and. Maximilien robespierre 1758 1794 was the leader of the twelveman committee of public safety elected by the national convention, and which effectively. On the moral and political principles of domestic policy maximilien robespierre 17581794 was the leader of the twelveman committee of public safety elected by the national convention, and which effectively governed france at the height of the radical phase of the revolution. A controversial figure in the history of the french revolution, maximilien robespierre was the head of the radical jacobin club. The french revolution changed the history of europe irrevocably, and caused much destruction throughout france. After the national constituent assembly drafted the national constitution in 1791, the legislative assemblys inability to establish a functioning constitutional monarchy divided france socially and politically. He was born in the artois capital arras on 6 may 1758, to a lawyer father and a mother who was the daughter of a brewer. The reign of terror, led by robespierre, was a period of the french revolution during which many people were ruthlessly executed by the new government. Robespierre, who claims to acknowledge fear, cause in reality.
His use of language suggested that those who refused to support his radical doctrine werent true patriots. Maximilien robespierre is one of the bestknown and most influential figures of the french revolution. The dichotomy drawn between innocence and guilt related to fear or lack thereof, reveals a desire to hold on consciences. Terror and virtue internet history sourcebooks fordham university.
Jan 17, 2007 robespierre, during the struggle against the gironde, had once famously stated that, virtue was always in a minority upon earth. What does robespierre mean when he argues that terror flows. Mar 29, 2011 how does robespierre justify the use of terror. He had once been a fairly straightforward liberal thinker reputedly he slept with a copy of rousseaus social. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, paperback barnes. Dec 12, 2011 after the national constituent assembly drafted the national constitution in 1791, the legislative assemblys inability to establish a functioning constitutional monarchy divided france socially and politically. Under the guise of purging the country of internal enemies, robespierre headed the executions of thousands of men. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, paperback. In 1794, french revolutionary maximilien robespierre produced the worlds first defense of state terror claiming that the road to virtue lay through political violence. This film combines drama, archive and documentary interviews to examine robespierres year in charge of the committee of public safety the powerful state machine at the heart of revolutionary france. The declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen approved by the national assembly of france, august 26, 1789. Even after the american revolution the celebrated jefferson barely made it into office as president between two. Apr 20, 2006 two centuries after the french revolution, maximilien robespierre is still regarded as its towering figure.
In the russian revolution, lenin was followed by a plodding stalin rather than a dazzling trotsky. What did maximillien robespierre mean by yahoo answers. Feb 11, 2012 t he problem for robespierre s biographer was best stated by the 19thcentury historian john wilson croker. He was instrumental in the period of the revolution commonly known as the reign of terror, which ended with his arrest and execution in 1794. Terror and virtue internet history sourcebooks project.
The french are the first people of the world who have established real democracy, by calling all men to. Robespierres defence of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written. His natural talents were mediocre and intellectually robespierre was inferior to the leaders of the revolution, such as, danton or mirabeau. For some historians and biographers, maximilien robespierre 175894 was a great revolutionary martyr who succeeded in leading the french republic to safety in. Robespierre wielded his power over life and death as arbitrarily as hitler, stalin, and mao did. Perceived by some as the champion, indeed the incarnation, of the revolutions purest and noblest ideals, among others he will always be remembered as the reasoned advocate of the terror, the defender of mass killing during the revolutions darkest and most tragic phase. It is a perverse but almost inescapable phenomenon in the history of violent revolutions that after the first heroic days a colorless bureaucrat will inherit the mantle of leadership. As a member of the constituent assembly and the jacobin club, he campaigned for universal manhood suffrage and the. Several historians note that as many as 40,000 accused prisoners may have also been summarily executed july 27. It has an extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents. During the early years of the revolution, robespierre became head of the committee of public safety, a committee in the national convention. The writings of robespierre ebook by maximillien robespierre. Danton showed too often his vices and not his virtue.
Modern history sourcebook, paul halsall august 1997. Within months of taking control, the committee had passed the law of suspects to protect the country from counterrevolutionaries, especially those living outside paris. While this can certainly be a valid interpretation of violence, this video also seems to verify that zizek is cool with straightup. Books by maximilien robespierre author of virtue and terror. Read the writings of robespierre by maximillien robespierre available from rakuten kobo. This is something that ive been trying to find answer to for a while now. During the french revolution, the revolutionaries wanted to make a new government that would give the citizens more freedom, liberty, and equality.
I was introduced to robespierre through my a level history course, and ive found these speeches, and also the highly thoughtprovoking introduction in the book to through the speeches introduced by slavoj zizek, one can begin to understand the mindset, and reasoning provided behind the great slaughter of french people during the 17931794. Scott 19192006 was an associate scholar for the american council on economics and society and a member of the council on national policy among other associations. So, a common narrative about the ww2 eastern front goes like this. Sep 27, 20 in order to do this, the convention needed to observe and employ a policy of virtue and terror robespierre. Of no one of whom so much has been written is so little known, croker boldly asserted. He probably saved the revolution at a time when it could easily have colla. List of books and articles about maximilien robespierre.
It is time to mark clearly the aim of the revolution and the end toward which we wish to move. The writings of robespierre by maximilien robespierre. Two centuries after the french revolution, maximilien robespierre is still regarded as its towering figure. Those who start off with how do robespierres a different viewpoint on views of human nature comparecontrast to something will often those of john locke. Oct 29, 2012 robespierre argued that society has the right and duty to define what is morally right and wrong for its members. Best known for his biographical and historic works he is the author of numerous titles including james i.
Why robespierre chose terror first totalitarian revolution. The french revolution, led by a powerful prosecutor named maximillien robespierre, was a movement that began in the late 1780s and ended in the late 1790s. He largely dominated the committee of public safety and was instrumental in the period of the revolution commonly known as the. Oct 03, 2016 maximilien robespierre 17581794 was a lawyer and, from 1789, an increasingly important and controversial political figure during the french revolution. Rousseaus influence on robespierre virtue and terror. Before the overthrow of the monarchy robespierre was a hesitant and anxious lawyer whose physical countenance was fatigued and pale. Robespierre s defense of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written, and has extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents. Robespierre believed that the virtue needed for any democratic government was extremely lacking in the french. In his response to critics, zizek notes that the actions of ghandi were far more violent than stalin because they were more disruptive to the status quo. Maximilien robespierre great man or master of terror. An intimate new portrait of one of historys most controversial figures. Mar 22, 2014 me reading virtue and terror with explanation and commentary. He had once been a fairly straightforward liberal thinker reputedly he slept with a copy of rousseaus social contract at his side.
We must not look for it in the books of political writers, who have not. T he problem for robespierres biographer was best stated by the 19thcentury historian john wilson croker. Control of all by each, reinforced by the local monitoring committees, says the politicization of thoughts, the end of privacy, an inquisitorial unit. I speak of the public virtue which worked so many wonders in greece and rome and which ought to produce even more astonishing things in republican francethat virtue which is nothing other than the love of the nation and its laws. Choose from 150 different sets of robespierre flashcards on quizlet. Early life a poor youth, he was enabled to study law in paris through a scholarship. Robespierres well thought out address attempted to manipulate his audience into accepting his credence. The representatives of the french people, organized as a national assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration. This title is not eligible for purchase to earn points nor for redemption with your code in the reader rewards program.
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