Abstract
The French Revolution is often depicted as a process of growing violence, underpinned by more and more radical theories. Indeed, a Manichean view often leads people to believe that France was peaceful in the beginning of 1789, and turned violent and radical in 1793. In other word, it is often said that the French Revolution is a period of constant and growing radicalization. Nevertheless, this view is not correct. I think the word radicalization is very ambiguous, that is why one need to give a precise definition of this concept. To me, the word “radicalization” has to be analysed through different perspectives. First, this term put an emphasis on theories, which have proved to me more and more radical, that is to say hostile to the Ancien Régime. Second, the term radicalization asks the question: who gets power? Third, I think that the level of violence is linked to the term radicalization. On top of that, the radicalization is due to different events, such as the Tennis Court oath, flight of the King… Which events provoked the radicalization of the French Revolution? What are the main characteristics of this Revolution?
