Robespierre and the Reign of Terror

"Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their heads." - Maximilien Robespierre, 1794

The French Revolution started with some great ideas. Inspired by the Enlightenment thinkers; the revolutionaries brought to life the ideas of freedom, equality and brotherhood. The middle class and the poor had more political power than before. Things in France were more democratic. But as the King, Queen and Nobles lost power, those that gained power did not always use it well. The revolution would deteriorate into the Reign of Terror. A limited monarchy was set up. A legislative Assembly was set up to work with and share power with the King. King Louis XVI didn't like the fact that he lost so much power and didn't trust the new government. He tried to flee the country. But Louis was caught at the border and he and the royal family were returned to France. France was desperately trying to figure out who would run the country. Street gangs roamed Paris and at times had as much power as the government. A radical club called the Jacobins took control and tried to rid France of anyone connected to the Old Regime. Using the famous French execution machine - the guillotine - the Jacobins cut the heads off of anyone they thought might be against them. They even tried King Louis XVI for treason, found him guilty, and cut his head off - in public! France was in chaos. Many people were shocked that the Jacobins executed the king. Many groups tried to gain power and take over the government. There was a fear, or terror that gripped France. People in the government did not trust each other. All it took was one accusation and someone could be arrested and sent to the guillotine. Out of this power struggle rose Maximilien Robespierre. He took control of the government and tried to wipe out any trace of the old monarchy. Kings, queens, and jacks were removed from playing cards and replaced with the faces of revolutionaries. The calendar was drastically altered. The months were re-named and sundays were removed because the new radicals thought religion was old fashioned. All of the churches in Paris were closed (so much for the original revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality and freedom). Robespierre ruled France like a dictator. His rule was called the Reign of Terror, because so many people were executed by the government. And no one was safe. You could be a friend of Robespierre one day, and sent to the guillotine the next. Robespierre even killed Louis XVI widow, queen Marie Antoinette. On her way across the guillotine, as she accidentally stepped on her executioners foot, she apologized; "Monsieur ... I beg your pardon. I did not do it on purpose". Those were her last words. People grew tired of Robespierre cutting everyone's head off. People who worked in the government did not feel safe, they thought their head might be the next to go. So a conspiracy was organized against Robespierre. He was arrested and his head was cut off. The Reign of Terror was over. France settled down with a government that had a legislative body and an executive body of five men called the Directory. There was finally some stability. The Directory then appointed a talented young general to command Frances armies. That general was named Napoleon Bonaparte.