Question

1: explain how to Robespierre’s view of the death penalty and use of violence change over time

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

1. Robespierre believed that the death penalty was an abusive decision and that it made justice as criminal as the people who committed the crime. He believed that criminals should go through a system of resocialization and not be executed, by men who also had flaws and who were taking God's place in people's lives. However, over time, during the French revolution, Robiespierre came to be in favor of the death penalty for monarchs and their supporters, as they were trying to prevent the freedom of the people. According to Robespierre, a republic is only committed to Republicans, those who are against the republic would adopt tyrannical behaviors and spread terror across society, so it would be necessary for them to be sacrificed in the name of peace, justice and freedom.

2. The tyrannical behavior of the monarchs and the violence of their supporters made Robiespierre change his opinion about the death penalty. He believed that these people were not to be forgiven for trying to limit the population on account of their own interests, exploiting the population in the name of their own wealth and even betraying those they swore to protect and care for.