Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 1
The Terror
“The Revolution eats its children”
“French Revolutionaries” – a British cartoon
from the period. What message does it try
to convey?
Following the execution of the King, the Convention argued about how the
country should be run and how the war should be fought. This debate became
much more heated following a peasant uprising in La Vendée against compulsory
military service. Two main groups emerged with very different ideas.
Group
The Jacobins
The Girondins
Leader
Jean Marat
Max Robespierre
Georges Danton
Madame Roland
Idea
“We must suspend free speech and liberty
so we can win the war. Otherwise, there
will be nothing left to defend”
“We must preserve the ideals of free
speech and liberty at all costs. Otherwise
the Revolution is not worth fighting for”
Discussion point: Which of these two views do you agree with most?
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 2
In the end, the Jacobins seized control of the Convention and expelled the
Girondins. Their main leaders were as follows:
Georges Danton
Jean-Paul Marat
Maximilien Robespierre
Louis Saint-Just
"We must dare, and again
dare, and forever dare."
“God has always been hard
on the poor”.
“Every Revolution eats its
children”
“Keep cool and you
command everybody”
He was known for his
ugliness – he had been
twice gorged by a bull, and
trampled over by a herd of
pigs as a child.
He was known as “The
Toad” due to his ugliness.
Suffered from a rare disease
that left his skin peeling off in
lumps.
He was a talented lawyer
with amazing energy,
dedication and intelligence,
but with a streak of absolute
ruthlessness.
He was a young law student
who robbed his parents and
ran away to Paris, where he
befriended Robespierre.
Questions:
Which of the quotes listed above do you find the most striking? Explain your
answer carefully.
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 3
What happened to each man?
Danton did not agree with Marat and Robespierre that the
Girondins be executed as “traitors to the Revolution” – so he
was thrown out of the government. He felt Robespierre hadn’t
got the guts to arrest him, but he was wrong. He was sent to the
guillotine. His last words were “Infamous Robespierre! The
scaffold is calling for you! Your house shall be razed! You shall
follow me!". He left instructions for his head to be held up for the
crowd after his execution because “it’s well worth looking at!”.
Marat was soaking himself in a herbal bath to relieve his sores
when he was visited by Charlotte Corday, a woman who
claimed to have details about a planned rebellion. Whilst he
was jotting down notes, she stabbed him through the heart with
a butcher’s knife.
Robespierre reacted to the death of Marat by declaring “Let
Terror be the order of the day”. During “The Terror” 40,000
people were guillotined in just a few months.
He then called himself “The Incorruptible” and organised a
bizarre “Festival of the Supreme Being” suggesting that he was
a God! In July 1794 (the “Coup de Thermidor”), police came to
arrest Robespierre himself, who had part of his jaw shot off as
he tried to escape. He was carried off to the Place de
Revolutions in Paris and guillotined, facing upwards. A wax
mask was made of his face [right] by Madame Tussaud, who
exhibited her work in London and later opened a museum.
Saint-Just was arrested at the same time as Robespierre.
During the Terror he had been particularly bloodthirsty, but
during his trial he had a nervous breakdown. He had to be
dragged screaming to his cell after the death sentence was
passed, and tore his shirt to shreds as he was being led to the
scaffold.
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 4
Debate: Who was the most evil of the Jacobins? [Optional]
Stage 1: Organising the Teams
• Your teacher will divide you into four Teams – 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• Within each team, one person must take the role of “The Accused” (Team
1=Marat, Team 2=Danton, Team 3=Robespierre, Team 4=Saint-Just).
• The remainder of the team will be subdivided into two groups: (a) “Defence
lawyers” for the character in their team; (b) “Prosecution lawyers” for the
character in their team.
Stage 2: Internet research phase: Preparing the Case
• “The Accused” and the “Defence Lawyers” in each team have to produce a oneminute speech outlining why their character deserves to be remembered as a
hero (a) personally and (b) professionally.
• “Prosecution Lawyers” in each team have to produce 3 questions for “The
Accused” designed to make him look guilty (in the form “Is it not true that…”).
Stage 3: The Courtroom Trial
• “Prosecution Lawyers” from Team 1 (against Marat) should read out the
questions they will be asking “The Accused”. “Defence Lawyers” should make a
note of these and start considering how they will reply.
• “The Accused” from Team 1 (Marat) then stands up and delivers his 1-minute
speech (without notes!). The rest of the class should take notes in the record
sheet provided.
• “Prosecution Lawyers” then ask each of its questions to “The Accused”. For
each question, “The Accused” is allowed to briefly consult with his “Defence
Lawyers” before issuing a response.
• During and / or at the end of the questioning, the class should take notes in
their record sheet to help them reach a verdict later.
• The process is repeated for each of the other teams.
Stage 4: The Verdict
• Each member of the class has one vote.
• First, all of the prosecution lawyers will be asked which of the four “Accused”
they regard as the MOST INNOCENT. The teacher will note how many hands go
up in favour of Marat, Danton, Robespierre and Saint-Just.
• Next, all of the “defence lawyers” and “the accused” will be asked which of the
four “Accused” they regard as the MOST GUILTY. The teacher will note how
many hands are raised against Marat, Danton, Robespierre and Saint-Just.
• The “guilty” tally is subtracted from the “innocent” tally for each character to get
an overall “innocence rating”. The person with the lowest score is declared the
most guilty.
Worksheet by RJ Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk / 5
Who was the most evil of the Jacobins? – Trial Record Sheet
Name
Marat
Danton
Robespierre
Saint-Just
Points made by the defence
Points made by the prosecution