Abstract
This paper discusses whether the play "Danton's Death", which professes a nihilistic philosophy which states that life and specifically political struggle is futile, can be considered political. It examines whether Danton's loss of faith in humanity makes the play existential to the point where it considers politics a pointless endeavor.

From the Paper
"It is Danton's moment of sanguinity, which takes this bleakest of plays into the realm of political theater. For a brief moment Danton believes that all is not lost, even if he can no longer achieve anything himself, there is hope for the future; his acts would not be futile if they inspire revolution after him; his actions have not been worthless. Even if he is dead, buried and forgotten, in this moment he shows that he has some belief in the human race; he believes that there can be others like him that will rebuild the foundations of liberty on the graves of their forefathers."

Tags:humanity, faith

Abstract
This paper examines the areas and periods in which the peasants in the French countryside helped trigger the events that led to the French Revolution and then attempts to differentiate these periods from those during which the peasants were simply used as a manipulated mass by the political factions that were leading the country.

From the Paper
"In order to approach and discuss the presence and import of the people during the French Revolution, we need to briefly have a look at their influence and actions before the Revolution. As David Andress, lecturer in Modern European History at the University of Portsmouth mentioned in one of his lectures, following an idea from Arlette Farge, "the presence of the crowd as witness was essential to the display of power central to absolutist notions of governance -- at executions, royal processions, religious and civil celebrations" (Andress, David). So, the 18th century was characterized by the presence of the crowd to different events, especially as a vote of confidence for the autocratic monarchy. However, it is important to emphasize the fact that this presence was controlled. Indeed, signs that this control was becoming looser and was not able to touch on all categories of citizens became obvious in the 1780s. Turbulences occurred in this decade, especially in the countryside, with brief repressions from the government."

Tags:sans-culottes, danton, robespierre, crowd, witness, vote, autocratic, monarchy

Abstract
This paper chronicles the life of Maximilien Robespierre. His birthplace, early childhood years, adolescence, and adult years are discussed. His initial political philosophy, which emphasized human rights, democracy, and patriotism is outlined. Robespierre's appointment to the "Committee of Public Safety" and his career as an appointee are also discussed. The paper also covers Robespierre's approach to handling his political opposition and explains how this was part of the "Reign of Terror" campaign. The paper continues by explaining that Robespierre's transformation from a man with just motives in the beginning to one intent on controlling any opposition to him with terror, eventually doomed him to failure.

From the Paper
"Maximilien Robespierre was born in 1758 in the small town of Arras in France. According to Thompson (1952), the Robespierre family had lived in that part of the country for three hundred years, even though Maximilien was later to be accused of behaving as a foreigner. By 1789, at the age of thirty-one, he was almost a nobody: an orphan, for his mother was dead and his father had deserted the home; with a younger brother and sister upon his hands; with a brilliant school career behind him, a small and unsuccessful legal practice, and a reputation for forensic oratory and essay-writing, which was recognized as the readiest approach in those days to a public career (Thompson, 1952). Within time, Robespierre had developed an interest in democracy, human rights and virtue, in the form of civic responsibility and morality (Mathiez, 1927). His focus on civic morality would later lead to his recognition as "the Incorruptible"."

Tags:jacobin, club, commune, of, paris, girondists, opposition, executed, foreign, invasion, order, danton, dantonists