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Document Analysis – Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror

Document Analysis – Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror. . According to Robespierre, what is the fundamental principle of democratic government?.

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Document Analysis – Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror

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  1. Document Analysis – Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror

  2. . According to Robespierre, what is the fundamental principle of democratic government? • Robespierre believes that the fundamental principle of democratic government is the virtue that comes from the love of a country and its laws.

  3. Why does Robespierre believe that love of country should come before everything else in ones life? • Robespierre believes that the public interest must outweigh the particular or personal interest. A nation loses its virtue and liberty when the people lose their virtue and turn to “aristocratic prejudices”. The people are relied upon to keep the government in check and must not lose their civic virtue.

  4. Evaluatethe following: “…the characteristic of popular government is confidence in the people and severity toward itself.” • The government must always be on guard against the corruption of itself. As power corrupts, governments and the persons who run it are prone to use their power to their personal advantage. Confidence in the people relates to the fact that the government must always trust that they are ruling properly as long as they have the support of the people. The extent to which this is true or accurate may have changed from the 1790’s to today. Can a government based on self interest stay in power in a democracy?

  5. Who are the enemies of the Republic? • Those who would use the Revolution as a career and prey on the people of the Republic are the enemies within the state. Those who would seek to invade France and install a monarch would be the enemies of the state from without.

  6. What is the goal of the document? What is Robespierre trying to justify? • Robespierre is trying to justify the use of killing and terror to keep the government and the people in line. He thinks that all those who would change or alter the Revolution are guilty of self interest and therefore need to be justly, swiftly, and severely punished. i.e. with cutting off their heads.

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