Assess the importance of Robespierre in the French Revolution.
#A number of students find the personality of Robespierre more interesting to discuss about in street talk yet they find it challenging to respond to questions in essay format on the same individual.
# The following article is an attempt to make it as 'simple as possible but not simpler ' (Albert Einstein) in assessing Robespierre's role and contributions in the French Revolution.
To some Robespierre has variously been labelled as 'Master and Victim of terror', 'Champion of Virtue', 'the incorruptible and no lover of women', and his leadership style as clear exibit for extreme Dictatorship among others. In as much as there are varying views on this personality one needs to have a clear balanced approach towards the question under study.
Robespierre, who led the Jacobins and the National Convention from 1793-1794, looms high in the history of the French Revolution. He left a remarkable impression on the history of Europe in general and France in particular. His contribution was seen in preserving the revolutionary ideals from both internal and external foes. While his contribution is mostly positive, he also had undermined the progress of the revolution in one way or the other.
Affirmative side
a) He used the ‘reign of terror’/ repression in trying to save the revolution i.e. he executed the enemies of the revolution. When people were killed those remaining decided either to support the revolution or to remain quiet.
b) He reorganized the army under the leadership of General Carnot. This meant that mob violence was quelled.
c) He also used different forms of propaganda. This was done by misinforming the people. For instance, their motto was “If one is an enemy of the revolution, one is an enemy of the state.” Because of this, people did not want to be seen as enemies of their own state and therefore they were forced to support the revolution.
d) He introduced moderate reforms eg regulation of bread prices and introduction of technical education.
e) Robespierre took advantage of rivalries between the allied powers i.e. Austria and Russia, Austria and Prussia vs Britain.
f) Robespierre also harnessed the resources of the revolution for war time use e.g. the levee en masse.
g) Robespierre also introduced specialization of labour. Specialized protected the revolution because some were specialized in industries while others were in war and this made the people not to be tired.
h) He aroused the spirit of nationalism among the soldiers. As a result of being nationalistic, the French soldiers fought with great zeal as opposed to the grand soldiers of the monarchy who were forced to fight.
I) With the help of the National Convention, Robespierre completed the destruction of feudal regime by establishing a uniform system of weights and measurements.
j) He also began some educational reforms. He promoted technical instruction by founding the technical colleges. Laws providing for the opening of one or more schools in each canton were passed thereby laying the foundation of the public school system. It was left to the Directory however to carry out these laws.
k) he was able to make France the dominant power in Europe.
l) Together with the National Convention, they rendered notable services to the future of France by completing the destruction of the feudal regime, by establishing a uniform system of weights and measures (metric system) which was later adopted by other countries.
m) As leader of the National Convention, he started the work of preparing a uniform code of law for France (a task which Napoleon Bonaparte was to finish and which he was to gunner the credit)
n) He created the National Archives, the museum of the Louvre and the National Library
However
-price regulations became extreme and destroyed industries
-traces of bloodshed and terror-“the revolution was now devouring its own children through mass executions” (D. Thomson)
-many people suffered through his policies. The Law of Suspect being a typical example as well as the use of the most brutal means ie the Guillotine
-indirectly fought against the same ideals he claimed to be advocating for. For instance under his reign there was Universal Conscription in the army which is a direct infringement of human rights especially in decision making.
-Psychologically, humanity lost its values. Never ever in the history of France had people witnessed celebrations of mass killing.
-Religious fanaticism was now rampant to almost the extinction of tolerance in France
Conclusion
It is clear from the assessment above that Robespierre, the leader of the Jacobins and National Convention, indeed played a pivotal role in the history of the French Revolution. Though he left reminiscences of bloodshed and terror, he also left entries on the credit side of the ledger as R. Ergang has pointed out. In short, the bad aspects of his administration were overshadowed by the good aspects, especially his ability to save the revolution from both internal and external forces. What Robespierre achieved was more of for the greater good and necessary for the French people.
Question Demands
The key issue is an assessment of the positive as well as the negative roles of Robespierre in the French Revolution.
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