After the victories that were captured against inner and
outer enemies, violence seemed no longer to be expedient.
Robespierre was classified a dictator who only pursued the
increase of his power. Resistance was arising in the Con-
vent which led to the deposition of Robespierre on August
27th 1794. The moderate powers were able to assert them-
selves and the state sanctions which implemented a con-
trolled economy were unmade. But still it was uncertain in
which way the republic was to be governed from now on. Na-
poleon’s coup was the consequent answer to the weakness of
the Directory. The reign of Napoleon was supported by the
upper classes that remained unaffected in their economic
power. The army which was the second base of power was led
to fruitful victories on Europe’s battlefield.
In Görres’ opinion Napoleon’s takeover was the final fail-
ure of the Revolution. Envy and mistrust have been distur-
bing the establishment of a democratic order in the days
of terror, the maxim of violence has taken hold.
Napoleon’s power was based on the same principle: By in-
flaming the people he gained the upper hand and the inner
problems were covered. The struggle for the establishment
of a republic was defamed as verbiage. Napoleon regarded
the politicians as “disunited tattlers” who grabbed the
“highest power”. The regime he built with his own hands
can only be sustained by fear and terror.