Robespierre's Fall and the Collapse of the Terror Flashcards
why was there issues in the CGS
- The CGS had become increasingly hostile to the CPS
- many anti- clerical and atheists in the CGS were dismayed by the promotion of the Cult of Supreme Being and they were infuriated not to have been consulted over the Law of 22 Prairaial
- Robespierre and Saint-Just had set up a separate surveillance and police network to hunt for counter-revolutionaries, infringing CGS powers
what happened with the CPS
- dissension within the CPS also increased
- Saint-Just argued with Carnot over military tactics after the Battle of Fleurus
why was varennes upset
Billaud-Varennes was angered because he was not involved in the drafting of the 22 Prairial but because the aspirations of the 2 men had grown further apart
what were the fears of the Plain
- the deputies of the Plain feared that Robespierre was turning into a dictator and were uneasy about the number of persecutions and the knowledge that they could be next
- local government was breaking down because of the overload of work and an atmosphere of fear
why were the religious people upset
The Cult of Supreme Being angered Catholic priests and atheists and they feared for the future of religion under Robespierre
what happened to RP
Robespierre stopped attending the CPS at the beginning of July and did not reappear until more than 3 weeks later
what happened to the 26 July
Robespierre re-appeared before the National Convention and gave his last speech, accusing different committees and groups including the CGS, those in charge of finance and the military of conspiring against public liberty.
he suggested purges were necessary to cleanse France of its impurities and attacked some members of the CPS. this led to a violent exchange in which <Robespierre refused to name those he was accusing
what happened 27 July
Saint-Just arrived at the Convention, ready to deliver a speech, not seen by the CPS and was interrupted. Accusations were levied against Robespierre which led to chants saying ‘Down with the Tyrant’.
what decree was passed
A decree to arrest Robespierre was passed unanimously and further decrees against his brother, Augustin, Saint-Just, Couthon and Le Bas followed
how was support of RP
- the reaction to the news in the Paris Commune was to try to raise a contingent of the NG to defend Robespierre- but the support of the sections was variable and only 1/3 responded
- some Comune forces managed to liberate Robespierre and the other deputies
what did the convention do
a force was subsequently sent by the Convention to retake prisoners and as it burst on them, Le Bas shot himself and died. Only Saint-Just was taken without resistance
what happened on 28 July
- 28 July (10 Thermidor) Robespierre and 22 associates were found guilty and all except Le Bas went to the guillotine the next day
- a further 71 death sentences were pronounced the following day and 12 more. 87/95 commune members lost their lives.
- end of the radical revolution and the Terror
