Alberta Social Studies 20-1 Practice Exam

During the French Revolution, political groups vied for influence as the revolution grew more radical. The group associated with extremism that included Robespierre, Danton, and Marat is the Jacobins. They were the most influential radical faction, pushing for strong centralized power and drastic measures to defend the republic. They formed the Committee of Public Safety and oversaw the Reign of Terror, using emergency powers to root out enemies of the revolution. Robespierre became a leading voice for virtue and ruthless action; Danton helped drive the early radical push but later clashed with the stricter line; Marat, a fiery journalist, energized support for revolutionary violence. The Girodins were the more moderate opponents, while the Sans-culottes were radical supporters who often backed the Jacobins in street action, and the Directory later represented a move away from radical extremism.