Robespierre, Puppet of the TimesThe time of the French Revolution was a turning point in the history of man. There had been many revolutions before this one, and there have been many since. The coalition of many spectacular and world-changing developments came together in the historical moment of the French Revolution. The Enlightenment brought to the people ideas that not only had never been considered on a mass scale, but which also form the foundation of today's Constitution. The radical nature of the Enlightenment combined with the brute force of the French Revolution transformed many ways of the past into what they are today. Not only did it abolish the validity of many ideas of ancient times, such as aristocratic privileges and monarchical rule, but this revolution was one of the first to seek to create ideological purity with the use of the Terror. changes still active today brought about by the French Revolution, it is difficult to even imagine that this would not have happened if it were not for one man, Maximilien Robespierre. Through all the setbacks suffered by the French Revolution, Robespierre was present every step of the way to guide the revolt to its final stages. Only after the guillotine fell on his neck was the Revolution considered over. Labeled "The Incorruptible" by his colleagues and contemporaries, Robespierre was the uncompromising leader of a Revolution that guided his every action, deluded his thoughts, and distorted his perception of right and wrong. Some say that Robespierre's actions determined the course of the Revolution, I say that the rebellion governed the man. Robespierre is often described by historians as a man with a very troubled childhood. Having lost his mother in... middle of the document... act of the law of 22 Prairial. This act was the straw that broke the camel's back. The provisions of the 22 Prairial Act stated that a defendant did not have to be convicted by a jury to be put to death. It was also stated that any member of society can be held guilty as an enemy of the revolution for anything that even hints at anti-revolutionary behavior. Robespierre's death occurred just eighteen days after this law came into force. It was the final nail in the coffin that buried Maximilien Robespierre along with his expired and deluded policies. Works Cited Hampson, Norman. The life and opinions of Maximilien Robespierre. Blackwell Pub, 1988. Print.McPhee, Peter. Robespierre: a revolutionary life. London: Yale University Press, 2012. Print.Simpson, William. Europe 1783-1914. 2. New York: Routledge, 2009. 40-63. Press.