Historian A: Simon Schama – Political Radicalism Perspective

'Robespierre was a driven revolutionary, committed to justice and equality. His actions during the Terror were motivated by a desire to protect the Revolution from its enemies, both external and internal. Schama views Robespierre as a principled leader, whose strict policies aimed to uphold the ideals of liberty and fraternity, even if they involved harsh measures. He argues that Robespierre genuinely believed these measures were necessary to achieve a just society, despite their brutality.'

Historian B: Peter McPhee – Political Power Perspective

'Robespierre's role in the Terror was primarily about consolidating and exercising political power. McPhee emphasizes that Robespierre used the Terror as a tool to eliminate rivals and dissenters, ensuring his dominance over the revolutionary government. He suggests that Robespierre’s actions reflected a desire for control rather than purely revolutionary ideals, and that his policies ultimately betrayed the principles he initially claimed to uphold.'