2/10 DBQ

The Great Terror of France began during the French Revolution after the death of King Louis XVI. The man responsible for the terror was a lawyer who identified with the people named Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre used the Terror to quell any thought of a counter Revolution within the people. He used this strategy to destroy the monarchy that had destroyed France, but in doing so, became a dictator. The Terror put down any thought of a counter Revolution, and putting a king on the throne, but caused much unrest, and the general population lived in fear.
Throughout the year the Terror lasted, at least 14,000 people were executed for ideas about counter revolution, or "crimes" committed against the state (doc 3). Robespierre took away all rights of those who were arrested, so people could be executed for simply being accused. The Terror was not just in Paris, it took place in all of France, with some regions executing more than 500 people (doc 1). The Terror was not limited to just those who had oppressed the people. Everyone could be a potential victim. Everyone's lives were in danger. If anyone had different ideas, or opposed Robespierre, they were given the death sentence (doc2).
Sentencing everyone who opposed Robespierre to the guillotine had advantages. His opposition was destroyed. The people agreed that in order for peace to be restored to France, those within its borders who opposed the revolution had to be put down (doc 9). The general opinion of the soldiers fighting for France during the revolution was the same. Their leaders saw it as an easier way to execute a traitor than a firing squad, and that it could execute many without the expense (doc 5). Robespierre had his own advantages by using methods such as the Terror. Should anyone oppose him, or disagree with him, they saw the guillotine.
There were more disadvantages to the Terror than there were advantages. Robespierre went too far with his ideas, and he was arrested, and then killed. Robespierre was also betrayed by those who had supported him. However, many of those that he had executed were former allies (doc 6). The Revolution quickly lost its credibility. It became a revolution of either one is with them, or one dies (doc 13). After much time, the public was starting to become aware of what is going on. They begin to realize that is one is accuses, he is dead. Too many innocent French patriots were being put to death for nothing (doc10).
Overall, the Terror had more flaws then benefits. The only benefit of the Terror was that Robespierre's enemies were out of the picture. Flaws included; people living in constant fear, innocent people dying, and people dying for their social status, or not backing the Revolution. The French people lost many of their rights during the Terror. They can no longer gather publicly, and they could not defend themselves, and were taken immediately to the guillotine. b