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Why did Maximilien Robespierre argue for universal suffrage?

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Eighteenth-century painted portrait of Maximilien de Robespierre wearing a brown striped coat, high collar, and white cravat, set against a plain background. — Maximilien Robespierre One of the leading figures of the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre.

Maximilien Robespierre advocated for universal suffrage as part of his broader commitment to the principles of the French Revolution and the Enlightenment. Grounded in his study of philosophy and history, he insisted that all laws must conform to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which served as the preamble to the French constitution of 1791.1

His support for universal suffrage was an extension of his fight for political equality and his opposition to discrimination. In addition to voting rights, he championed unrestricted admission to the national guard and public offices, and he defended the rights of marginalized groups, including actors, Jews, and Black enslaved people. By advocating for these measures, Robespierre sought to ensure that the government truly expressed the will of the people, rather than representing only the interests of a propertied elite.1