The Mountain were a branch of the Jacobins and the enemy of the Girondists, the more conservative group. The Mountain were characterized by their dramatic push towards revolution and the extents they were willing to go to get it. The Jacobins are the ones who voted that the king (Louis XVI) be executed, which is one of the primary reasons for the Girondist/ Mountain divide.
Above everything, the Mountain loathed the Girondists. They saw them as holding back revolution and as nothing but enemies. The hatred between Mountain and Girondists lead to the Mountain joining forces with the Sans-Culottes, a French radical group made of France's peasantry. The Mountain preferred the idea of working with commoners than the thought of helping the Girondists who did not agree with the Sans-Culottes either. The fact that their nemesis, the Girondists did not fathom the actions of the Sans-Culottes was cause enough for them to join forces with them.
The controversy does not begin with the fact that they are helping the Sans-Culottes only to get back at the Girondists, but instead it is with the abuse of the Mountains power over the Sans-Culottes begin. The Mountain use their undignified power over the Sans-Culottes by seeking vengeance upon the Girondists. The Mountain are responsible for sending many Girondists to jail. They used the peasants as a mob to rise up against any and almost all Girondists. Though they did not care about their alliance with the Sans-Culottes, they misused their power over the peasants who made up the Sans-Culottes.
This is where my question comes into play. Do you agree with me? did the Mountain misuse their alliance with the Sans-Culottes? or Did they make a smart political decision that ended up helping both them and Sans-Culottes. Before responding, consider these points. The Mountain only entered this alliance to get back at the Girondists and once they did form an alliance they used the Sans-Culottes for their own personal interests. I reaffirm my position that the Mountain misused their alliance and their selfishness helped no one but themselves.
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