Three flash points in the French Revolution provide us with cautionary tales as we contemplate the challenges facing American democracy today:
The September Massacres of 1792, the Reign of Terror, and the fall of Maximilien Robespierre.
Historian and Newberry Fellow Christine Adams discusses these pivotal moments, when political violence committed in the name of democracy undermined the principles of the French Republic and set the stage for an autocrat to eventually come to power.
Adams was interviewed by Newberry Director of Fellowships and Academic Programs Keelin Burke for this live discussion.