DBQ The French Revolution and the Terror

Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the Terror as an instrument of the French Revolution.

The Terror began in 1793 and ended in July of 1794.  There was a total of 14,000 people executed by use of the guillotine, firing squad, and other methods.  The departments of France that were most prominently filled with executions were Lore, Vendee, and Lyon; with total kills over 495 (document 1).  Throughout all of France the incidences that most often lead to execution were hostile acts against the state and conspiracy (document 3).  During this time period, the country was in total chaos; they were being attacked by Prussian and Austrian troops, and their economy was a disaster.  The Terror of 1793, was a time of great distress throughout all of France, and thousands of people were executed; it was advantageous for the Revolutionary Army because there opposition was being wiped out, but it was also disadvantageous in the sense that it created for them even more enemies that they would have to deal with.

The Terror was an advantageous time for the Revolutionary Army because they were able to wipe out any of their opposition.  The members of the Revolutionary Army believed, "The guillotine and the firing squad did justice to over four hundred rebels" (document 5).  These people believed that they were bringing justice to France by killing the citizens that were against the revolutionary acts.  There were many different opinions reported to the government about the public's view of these events; one stated, "The law is just, it strikes rich and poor indiscriminately.  The verdicts of the Revolutionary Tribunal are always applauded" (document 12).  This document may not exactly be accurate because there is no distinct author, but from what it says the people are happy with what is going on their country regarding the Terror.  The Revolutionary Army was slowly, but steadily wiping out all of their opposition, and they were on the road to a new government and the French Revolution.

The Terror was a disadvantageous time for the Revolutionary Army because as they were killing all of these people, all they were really doing was creating more enemies for themselves to have to deal with later.  Overall, they were hurting themselves more than helping themselves.  Camille Desmoulins, journalist and former ally of Maximilien Robespierre, one of the leaders of the anti-revolutionary acts, says, "Could you make a single man perish on the scaffold without making ten enemies for yourself from his family or his friends?" (document 6).  The Revolutionary Army is taking their acts to the extreme in executing everyone in their path.  They may think that they are working for the common good and for the victory of the French Revolution, but they are only killing the citizens of France.  Another report to the government on the public's opinion of the situtation states, "Bitter complaints already expressed numberless times, were repeated today of the arrest and imprisonment of citizens" (document 10).

Out of the two opinions, the Terror was definitely more disadvantageous to all of France than it was advantageous.  This was causing there to be more unrest and internal fighting than was necessary.  Charles James Fox said, "What a pity that a people [the French] capable of such Incredible energy, should he guilty or rather be governed by those who are guilty of such unheard of crimes and cruelties" (document 4).  The Revolutionary Army believed that they were working for good, but in reality they were only hurting their own country of France.  The people were completely devastated and would always be afraid to accept a new government.

The Terror was a horrible time in the history of France.  The Revolutionary Army absolutely took things to the extreme and were killing basically everyone.  The people will forever be devastated and will always have to deal with the memory of these terrible events.  They will also have trouble trusting any other government that comes in to power.