The following question is based on the documents in the 1979 DBQ Packet:
"Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the Terror as an instrument of the French Revolution."
Post your thesis as a comment on this post. Must post by 1/21/2011.
The Terror was successful in executing the enemies of the French Revolution and in some ways uniting France as a nation under a new government, but ended up being the end of more than those who directly opposed it as it escalated, and led to oppression of the people of France, as various people who were in many ways innocent or undeserving of capital punishment were killed.
ReplyDelete-Conor
While the Terror did unite various classes in the French social hierarchy, the revolutionaries' valiant efforts seemed to be the result of the harsh oppressive government, and without it, they would not have unleashed such wrath.
ReplyDeleteJaylen Williams
ReplyDeleteThe Terror was successful in weeding out the counter-revolutionaries in France, but the Terror turned into a paranoid slaughter of French citizens from all social classes, which contradicted the revolutions efforts to protect the state from factions within France and outside of France.
Using terror as an instrument of the French Revolution had both advantages and disadvantages. Terror was necessary to end tyranny, to keep people under control and to continue with the revolution. However, the fatality rate, the system of oppression, lack of fair trial and the inclination towards absolutism were drawbacks of using terror during the French Revolution.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the late eighteenth century a majority of the aristocratic leaders of the revolution participated in The Terror, encouraging the use of revolutionary tribunals and the execution of thousands to repress enemies, and maintain control over the state. However, most of the public grew dissatisfied with the Terror, because of the oppressive nature of the tribunals and the domino effect the executions left in their trail.
ReplyDeleteThe nature of the existing French hierarchy made the Terror necessary to end the age of tyranny while successfully establishing a new government. It effectively destroyed the monarchy, kept people under control, and eventually established a government. However, he Terror and the resulting chaos tended to force the revolutionaries themselves to turn to the unjust absolutism they so detested as the revolution progressed.
ReplyDeleteThe Terror arguably was a necessary evil for further eradicating corruption within French politics, containing the irreconcilable ideological differences of individuals and ultimately maintaining the desired path of the revolution. Conversely however, The Terror as well promoted the oppression of innocent individuals from all levels of society and was hypocritical to the initial objectives of the revolution to create a just administration.
ReplyDeleteThe reign of terror was a useful tool for the proponents of the revolution as it provided a mechanism for the swift, irreversible removal of those people that would hinder it's progress. As it progressed, however, the people orchestrating the terror allowed themselves to become the type of leaders that they had worked so hard to remove.. This alienated the people of France, and damaged the people's relationship with thermite new government
ReplyDeleteThe Terror had some positives and negatives for the French nation. Positively, the Terror ended the poor leadership by the monarchy and ended French corruption, while at the same time controlling the French population. Unfortunately many people were killed who didn't deserve to be killed, which infuriated the entire French population.
ReplyDelete- Mitchell McMahon
The Reign of Terror was brutal, yet necessary, to eradicate the political and economical corruption that took control over France during the late eighteenth century. The Terror proved to have a positive effect on the French Revolution because it allowed the French to finally unite under a new government and be free from tyranny, however the violence soon became out of hand and thousands of innocent people were killed without proper reason.
ReplyDeleteTerror is a proven necessity in the evolution of man. Throughout the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution there were many advantages and disadvantages present to the terror instated. There were corrupt leaders in France that were dethroned by the Terror, creating hope among France for a society with an oppressive monarchy. However, the amount of blood shed from the guillotine and it's supporters does not compensate for the "bad" blood spilled.
ReplyDelete