- R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
- What does Saint-Just's speech tell us about his political attitudes? Who were the enemies of the Republic in his eyes? How radical are Saint-Just's ideas?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Reading questions, ch. 10
You only need to read documents 64 & 65 from chapter 10. Please answer both of these questions.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
ReplyDeleteI believe that this was Robespierre’s most important speech because he finally shows his true colors. In this speech he admits that revolutionary government needs terror, but also virtue and without these two elements the government is not complete. This speech defines the purpose of the Terror as “prompt, stern, inflexible justice; terror thus issues from virtue; it is less a particular maxim than a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to the most pressing needs of the fatherland.” His ideal republic includes the peaceful enjoyment of liberty and equality. He believes that this can only be achieved through a government that is democratic or republican.
What does Saint-Just's speech tell us about his political attitudes? Who were the enemies of the Republic in his eyes? How radical are Saint-Just's ideas?
Saint-Just’s speech tells us that he held radical political beliefs. He believes that a Republic is constituted by the total destruction of all opponents. The people of France are not adequately pursuing this ideal, according to Saint-Just. When compared to some other revolutions the French are not daring enough. According to Saint-Just the enemies of the Republic were the aristocracy, without them there would be no threat to the revolution. This speech was seen as an extremely radical measure and shows Saint-Just’s true commitment to the Revolution.
1. R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be Robespierre's most important speech, because it give very clearly what Robespierre was trying to achieve through the use of the terror and what he wanted the Republic to be like. In the Speech Robespierre announces that his vision of the ideal Republic is one where "people, guided by the laws they have made, do all that they can do themselves,and all that they cannot do themselves through their delegates." To this end he says that the ideal principle that a republic should have is virtue, namely public virtue which is according to Robespierre the "love of the fatherland and its laws." In the Robespierre also mentions what the duty of a proper citizen in a republic should be to maintain equality and virtue in a republic. He mentions how weakness, vice and prejudice are vestiges of the royalists. Here Robespierre seems to making the point that the only true citizens in a republic were those who took an active role in defending that republic. Robespierre also defends the Terror, by making it along with the key factors of a republic in revolution just as virtue alone is in peace, remarking that "virtue, without which terror is disastrous; terror, without which virtue is powerless." Robespierre is thus saying that in a revolution terror comes from virtue in order to protect that virtue.
-Jonathan Mcclintock
R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre most important speech because it defined the purpose of the Terror and the kind of Republic the Committee of Public Safety (CPS) wasy trying to create. It was trying to create a kind of body that suited the needs of the people while maintaining all parts in harmony with the government laws. Robespierre's ideal republic is one based on virtue. People need to guard themselves from selfishness and weak individuals who govern the government which democracy entails.
ReplyDeleteSaint-Just's speech tells us about his political attitudes of imprisonment. It is viewed as progress of reason and justice because it puts down defiance as seen in the Terror. He views foreigners as enemies of the Republic who's only means is to destroy France by distorting and corrupting its people.
-Jeremy McCain
Johanna Gotay
ReplyDelete1) R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
R.R. Palmer's believes this was Robespierre's most important speech because it defines the purpose of the terror and the kind of republic that the Committee of Public Safety was trying to create. The speech defines the terror being nothing "other than a prompt, stern, inflexible justice," which must be accompanied by virtue. Essentially his theory is that no republic has the possibility to prosper without terror. He believes that terror issues from virtue. It is the "sword shining in the hands of liberty." Lastly, Robespierre's vision of an ideal republic is one founded on virtue, which is a quality naturally inhered in the people.
Johanna Gotay
ReplyDelete2) What does Saint-Just's speech tell us about his political attitudes? Who were the enemies of the Republic in his eyes? How radical are Saint-Just's ideas?
The speech by Saint-Justs tells us that his political attitudes were complacent. Parties were not demanding much of the Republic. Justice was not being achieved. Saint-Just's definition of enemies of the Republic were those who were indulgents, foreigners who tried to re-establish a monarchy, enemies of liberty and partisans of tyranny. His ideas on having liberty accounts for those who demanded liberty and sequestering enemies properties were extremely radical measures. The revolution hadnt seen these requests.
1 R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
ReplyDeleteRobespierre wanted a democratic or republic government. He wanted people to embrace equality and improve virtue. He said that the purpose of the Terror was to be a motivating force during revolution. He calls terror a "prompt, stern, inflexible justice". He thinks it needs to be applied during the hardest times for the country. This speech was important because it defined the kind of republic that the government was trying to create and defined the purpose of the Terror.
Lindsay Berreth
Saint-Just's speech seems to indicate that the people are beginning to lag in their revolutionary fervor. He admonishes the not to let themselves weaken because they see that they have done horrible things. He thinks worse had been done for less glorious purposes. (p.260)
ReplyDeleteThe enemies of the public are 1. Foreigners 2. Aristocracy 3. Indulgents
Saint-Just's mentality is that all enemies of the State must be killed. "A Republic is constituted by the total destruction of all opponents". In his thinking France had not killed enough yet, they needed to stay stronger on the course.
Jessica Arnold
Palmer said that this is Robespierre most important speech because is defines the purpose of the Terror and describe the ideal Republic that they were reaching for in France.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of Terror is to maintain equality and improve virtue. (255) That which goes against equality and virtue must be oppressed. He says that terror and virtue go hand in hand. (256)
He elaborately describes what the Republic will soon be. But he sums it up nicely by saying that they move toward the goal of "the peaceful enjoyment of liberty and equality". (255)
Jessica Arnold
R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
ReplyDeleteThis is Robespierre’s most important speech because he attempts prove the apparent necessity of the Terror to ensure the creation of a virtuous republic. Robespierre’s goal for the republic is the peaceful enjoyment of liberty and equality In his speech, Robespierre explains that this republic must be founded on virtue and that terror is disastrous without virtue and virtue is powerless without terror. Additionally, he says that when people are corrupt, liberty is lost and that the Terror can be used to firmly ensure the virtue of the republic.
What does Saint-Just's speech tell us about his political attitudes? Who were the enemies of the Republic in his eyes? How radical are Saint-Just's ideas?
Saint-Just is extremely committed to the Revolution, he considers himself a radical and thinks the people of France need to be more radical. Saint-Just says the republic is constituted by total destruction of all opponents. He believes that compared to the Spanish Inquisition and the English Tribunals, France’s tribunals and violence are not as cruel as people seem to think. According to Saint-Just, enemies of the republic seem to include foreigners, moderates, enemies of liberty and supporters of the monarchy.
R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
ReplyDeleteR.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre’s most important speech because it “defines the purpose of the Terror and the kind of republic that the Committee of Public Safety was trying to create.” It defines the purpose of the Terror by saying that public interest should be at the heart of all action and not personal interests. “You should reject of repress all that tends to focus attention on the abjection of personal interests, the awakening of the taste for little things and contempt for the great.” If something is not in the interest of the greater population, it should be stifled. He then went on to say in his speech that “terror is nothing other than prompt, stern, inflexible justice; terror thus issues from virtue; it is less a particular maximum than a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to the most pressing needs of the fatherland.” Terror he said was a useful tool in imposing the will of the government on the people, used with the most pressing ideals of the government, but there are no boundaries built into this definition. Robespierre’s ideal republic is one with a National Convention to keep the government from falling to the selfishness of individuals and their interests. His ideal government is one that can rally the people around the common good, against those who are against the government.
What does Saint-Just's speech tell us about his political attitudes? Who were the enemies of the Republic in his eyes? How radical are Saint-Just's ideas?
ReplyDeleteSaint-Just’s speech tells us that he was radical in his political attitudes toward French Revolution and the French government. In his speech he said “A Republic is constituted by the total destruction of all opponents. There are complaints about revolutionary measures! But we are moderates in comparison with other governments.” He is condoning the actions of the government during the Terror as necessary and as being less than what other European governments are doing to their populations at the same time. He believed that the enemies of the Republic were partisans of tyranny, the Indulgent who will not stand for their country for fear that someone will speak against them, the Foreigner who wants to rule the French people, and the rebel factions across France are all enemies of the state. I believe that his ideas are very radical focusing on extreme measures as a way to stomp out the “enemies” of the Republic. He understands that there are people in France who feel that the actions of the government during the Terror are too extreme and he is finding “proof” that they are action more fairly than all other European nations.
Kate Sinrud
R.R. Palmer wrote that this was Robespierre's most important speech. Why? How does it define the purpose of the Terror? What is Robespierre's vision of the ideal republic?
ReplyDeleteThis is Robespierre's most important speech because he decides to outline his true opinion on what the goal of the revolution should be. He acknowledges the terror that his fellow delegates have been concerned about, and he justifies it as a means to an end. Robespierre likens the terror to rough justice, needed to ensure the survival of the principles of virtue and democracy. He claims that the only way to combat all of the domestic ills of the nation is to hold strong virtue, which is enforced through the terror's actions.
As for his ideal version of the Republic, Robespierre highlights this by the word "Virtue", which focuses on improving ourselves and each other. Equality is another big concept that Robespierre touches on, saying that their political responsibility is to maintain equality as well as virtue. He states that an ideal republic is one were everybody represses their self-interests in favor of those that serve the greater good.