Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror began on September 1793 after the death of Louis XVI and went till the fall of Robespierre in 1794. The leader of the Reign of Terror was both George Danton and Maximillien Robespierre, however with the growth of the Reign of Terror, Robespierre gradually became the outright leader. Danton had a strong physical presence and was an incredible public speaker and Robespierre was less passionate. However, Robespierre was a harder worker and he was much more ambitious than Danton. The Reign of Terror was influenced by the Enlightenment ideals, particularly the concepts of popular sovereignty and inalienable rights. This movement played a critical role in shaping modern nations by showing the world the power inherent in the will of the people. One of Robespierre's saying was "Softness to traitors will destroy us all". If anyone happened to say anything critical of the revolutionary government then the people in charge (Robespierre) would come after you and put you in the guillotine. Another of Robespierre's speeches was: "If the spring of popular government in time of peace is virtue, the springs of popular government in revolution are at once virtue and terror: virtue, without which terror is fatatl;terror, without which virtue is powerless. Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, server, inflexible... It has been said that terror is the principle of despotic government. Does your government therefore resemble despotism? yes, as the sword that gleams in the hands of the heroes of liberty resembles that with which the henchmen of tyranny are armed". However as the Reign of Terror grew even more eventually even Robespierre's supporters began to feel that the Terror must be stopped. The first of Robespierre's supporters who spoke out about the terror ending was put in jail and punished, soon enough though all of the supporters gathered and was executed on July 28, 1794. Robespierre was the last victim in the Reign of Terror.
"French Revolution — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts." History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. .
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/kat_anna/terror.html
http://www.historywiz.com/terror.htm