The guillotine was usually used for public executions, and the crowds that gathered to watch were often unruly. The executioner had to be quick and efficient in order to avoid being attacked by the crowd.
After the blade had fallen, the executioner would hold up the victim's head to the crowd. This was considered to be a warning to those who might be thinking of opposing the government.
The guillotine was last used in France in 1977, and it is now considered to be an outdated and barbaric method of execution.
Here are the mechanics of the guillotine:
* The guillotine consisted of a heavy blade that was attached to a pulley and rope system. The blade was held in place by a catch.
* When the executioner pulled the rope, the catch was released and the blade would fall. The blade was weighted so that it would fall with great force, and it would usually sever the victim's head in one blow.
* The victim was usually placed in a kneeling position with his or her neck resting on the blade. The executioner would then pull the rope, releasing the blade.
* The head of the victim would fall into a basket or container that had been placed below the guillotine.
* The executioner would then clean the blade and prepare it for the next execution.