At the turn of 1793, the French Revolution had turned bloody. Most of Europe had become hostile toward France. During this period, everyday people were carted away in droves after their conviction by the Revolutionary Tribunal. The tribunal had the responsibility of doing away with anyone that uttered, acted, and/or suspected of being against the revolution. Prior to 1793, in 1791, the Legislative Assembly took office and the bourgeois citizens formed political groups to discuss ideas–– Jacobins was one of such groups. The Jacobin leadership and the National Convention took over and set the Revolution on its violent paths. Many citizens had a different view on the new path of the Revolution, and they were considered traitors. The Jacobins continued to grow more powerful, making enemies of even France’s allies.
France became a house divided as some citizens would even welcome enemy troops to fight against the Revolution. When such people were caught, they were executed by the tribunal.
Over 300, 000 suspects were arrested, with 17,00 executions and 10,000 deaths in prison without a trial.
Maximilien Robespierre (Mak-see-mee-lyan/Rohbz-pyair): Is one of the figures of the period with mixed views on his identity. Depending on who you asked, some contemporaries viewed him as a hero and others a tyrant/terrorist. Robespierre was a man dedicated to the Revolution and believed anyone against the Revolution should be executed. Using his position as a prominent member of the Committee of Public Safety, Robespierre enacted a Law of Suspects– in which one only needed to be suspected of anti-Revolution thoughts to be condemned.
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