Maximilien de Robespierre, a leading figure in the French Revolution, presented a significant petition on behalf of the Commune of Paris to the Legislative Assembly. This petition sought the establishment of a revolutionary tribunal, a mechanism intended to judge and punish those accused of crimes against the revolution. The context of this petition was crucial, as the revolutionary fervor was intense, and fears of internal conspiracy and external aggression were palpable. The lack of an immediate and fair judicial process was viewed as a threat to the very ideals that the revolution aimed to uphold.

As revolutionary fervor escalated in mid-August, the political atmosphere in Paris was charged. The Commune of Paris, representing the city's revolutionary government, sought to unify efforts to protect the revolution and ensure its survival against a backdrop of hostility, not only from monarchist forces but also from neighboring countries threatening invasion. Robespierre's advocacy for a revolutionary tribunal highlighted his commitment to safeguarding what he considered the 'Republic of Virtue' — an ideal state that prioritized the welfare of the citizenry and the philosophical principles of the Enlightenment.

The formation of the tribunal was seen as a necessary step to ensure that justice could be swiftly administered without the impediments of the existing legal structure, which was increasingly seen as obsolete in the revolutionary context. This call was met with significant support as well as opposition within the Legislative Assembly as it posed challenges to the established legal norms and raised ethical concerns about potential abuses of power. However, it ultimately foreshadowed a more radical phase of the Revolution, where justice would be socially and politically charged and reflect the tumultuous nature of the period.