The radicals in France wanted to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic form of government to mimic that of the United States.
Moderates believed a republic was too far of a leap for a country with the tradition of monarchy. They wanted to create a parliamentary system like Great Britain that would maintain a monarchy and have representation. Conservatives wanted to maintain the monarchy and as a result were often the target of the radical government. Robespierre and the Jacobins launched a government meant to be a republic which turned into a dictatorship filled with bloodshed at the blade of the guillotine.
