Mr. Picazo
History, Per. 5
6 January 2016
Was the Reign of Terror Justified?
The Reign of Terror was a significant time in the French Revolution impacting the nation and killing many individuals. The Reign of Terror lasted less than two years. During that time, the Revolution was in extreme debt, due to wars. To solve the financial crisis, they created the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen which ensured liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, Austria and Prussia were unhappy. They feared it increased the chance of a revolution. Led by chief prosecutor, Maximilien Robespierre, found that the king was guilty against the state. In 1793, he was guillotined. The execution lead to the Reign of Terror. 20,000 people were executed. …show more content…
Austria and Prussia traveled into France in fear that the revolution might come into their country. As time passed, emigres formed and allied themselves as enemies (Doc C). Between April and May of 1794, the time line illustrates that the French won victory over their foreign enemies which are proven to be the emigres (Doc B). Also, The Declaration of Rights and Citizens proves that the foreign threats were not even placed during the Reign of Terror. Clearly, if the French won the battle of Valmy, the foreign threat was not serious enough to call a different outcome. The French government was taking away rights by abolishing worship and religious holidays. Undoubtedly, the threats were not enough to be justified and neither were the …show more content…
The ideals of the government were natural rights and to protect the people. However, the Reign of Terror did not complete that. Instead, it went against people’s rights. Written by Steven Otfinoski, “Watch committees were set up in every neighborhood to ferret out and expel foreigners” (Doc E). This killed many people and threatened the right of equality. In addition, historians discovered that there were between 20,000 to 40,000 people were killed by guillotine during this time (Doc F). The ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity were not followed throughout the Reign of Terror. Clearly, this demonstrates that the Reign of Terror denied the rights of people, therefore liberty, equality, and fraternity were not