3 | The Revolutionary government

An extraordinary system of justice

Led by the Mountain party, the National Convention formed a revolutionary government equipped with sweeping powers, justified by the security situation in the country. Justice was handed down swiftly, particularly for political crimes.

Prompted by the need for unity in the face of counter-revolutionary threats, assemblymen from the Mountain Party (Robespierre, Saint-Just, Danton, etc.) became the sole holders of political legitimacy. All dissenting voices were silenced, whether they called for direct democracy or expressed more moderate demands. The Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal of Paris delivered justice that was as eagerly awaited as it was fearsome. It was charged with trying those accused of political crimes, with no right of appeal. This extraordinary form of justice, a departure from common law, was in no way aligned with the original objectives of the revolutionaries of 1789.