History 540 (F01) Class Project
Prof. Jeremy Popkin, Univ. of Kentucky
The
Trial of Robespierre (Nov. 21)
As part of the requirements for
this course, each of you will participate in a creative re-enactments of an
event that never happened in the French Revolution (but should have): a trial of Maximilien Robespierre. The question to be decided will be: Did Robespierre defend the principles of the
French Revolution, or did he betray them?
Each of you will play the role of a historical character in this
re-enactment. In addition to taking
part in the re-enactment, you will do some additional research on your
character and prepare a 750-1000 word (3-4 pp double-spaced typed) paper on the
person you are re-enacting and the reasons for his or her actions. You will have to do some research in the
library to obtain the necessary background on your "character." I have provided some suggestions on sources
of information you can use; you may need to do some research to find
others. You should attach a
bibliography of sources consulted to your essay. Papers for the class project are due on Mon., Nov. 26.
The purpose of
this class project is to help us better understand the issues at stake in the
French Revolution. Robespierre was
involved in key debates on many revolutionary issues; understanding what he and
other major revolutionary figures had to say about them will enrich our
comprehension of these conflicts.
Most of the
characters for the re-enactment are actual historical personages. Some are “composite characters” who will
stand in for major groups from the revolutionary period. If you are taking the part of an actual
person, you will try to make the arguments that your character might have
voiced if an actual trial of Robespierre had been held. If you are doing a “composite character,”
you will have to combine research with some imagination to understand how such
a person might have viewed Robespierre.
Because Robespierre himself is obviously such a key figure in this
debate, we will clone him: different
students will represent his views on different issues.
How to proceed: Look over the
list of characters for the trial. Then
fill in the accompanying sign-up sheet, listing at least 3 characters you would
be interested in playing. I will give
out actual assignments, and you can then start researching your character.
Bibliography
Each student will need to find
specific sources dealing with his/her character, but the following sources will
be of use to many of you:
--Scott and Rothaus, Historical Dictionary of the
French Revolution--basic information on most personages involved in both
reenactments, along with additional bibliography
--Furet and Ozouf, Critical Dictionary of the French
Revolution: longer articles on some
key issues and persons
--biographies of Robespierre by J. M. Thompson (the most
complete), Norman Hampson (explains the contrasting views on him), George Rudé (a favorable treatment) and David
Jordan (sympathetic but not uncritical)
Roles
for Trial of Robespierre
Robespierre 1(advocate of rights for the poor in the
National Assembly)
Robespierre 2 (opponent of war and
expansion)
Robespierre 3 (spokesman for
execution of king and expulsion of Girondins from the National Convention)
Robespierre 4 (dominant figure in
the Committee of Public Safety)
Robespierre 1 will debate with
characters who opposed his advocacy of democracy and natural rights in the
National Assembly:
Joseph Mounier (moderate
conservative opponent of universal suffrage)
Abbé Sieyčs
(early revolutionary leader, opponent of universal suffrage)
Edmund Burke (English critic of
the French Revolution)
Condorcet (advocate of women=s rights)
An ordinary citizen of Paris and
‘passive citizen’ (supporter of Robespierre)
Robespierre 2 will have to defend
his policy on the declaration of war
J.-P. Brissot (radical and war
advocate)
Lafayette (hero of the American
war, commander of the French National Guard)
A German enthusiast for the French
Revolution from the Rhineland
Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France
A member of the Feuillant party in
the Legislative Assembly (opponent of war)
Robespierre 3 will be questioned about his positions on
the trial and execution of Louis XVI and on the expulsion of the Girondin
deputies from the National Convention
Louis XVI, king of France
Madame Roland (moral leader of Girondin group, opponent of
Robespierre)
Olympe de Gouges (author of >Declaration of the Rights of Women=)
Jean-Paul Marat, radical journalist (often more radical
than Robespierre)
Vergniaud (leading Girondin spokesman in debate over the
king’s execution)
Robespierre 4 will have to justify his conduct as the
dominant figure in the Committee of Public Safety
Georges Danton, longtime radical leader (executed by
Robespierre)
Pčre Duchesne,
a populist journalist (executed by Robespierre)
Bertrand Barčre, Committee of Public Safety member (helped
overthrow Robespierre)
Madame de Farge (sans-culotte woman and knitting
specialist)
An ordinary soldier in the French army
Your name: ___________________________________________
Character(s) you would like to
play in trial of Robespierre:
1st choice:
_________________________________________
2nd choice:
_________________________________________
3rd choice:
_________________________________________
Your assignment for the trial of
Robespierre is:
Suggestions for background
reading: