Background Essay Questions 1. Who was the absolute monarch of France in 1789? King Louis XVI e 2. What were three serious problems that faced Louis XVI in the 1780s? France w as in debt, his people w ere unhappy w ith the unfair taxes, and he w as faced w ith multiple charges of treason. 3. In what year did the French Revolution begin? Was this shortly before or shortly after the American Revolution? The French Revolution began in 1789, w hich w as shortly after the American Revolution. 4. In August 1789 what three words became the rallying cry of the French Revolution? Liberty, equality, and fraternity 5. Why were members of the French nobility and the French Catholic Church upset about the revolution? They felt that the people w ere questioning their ability to rule the country. They did not like new ideas of Enlightenment being thought up. 6. Who became leader of the radical wing of the revolutionary government? Maximilien Robespierre 7. Define these terms: absolute monarch One single person w ho has all of the pow er in a country or place Estates General An assembly of 1,200 men, w hich w as similar to our Congress today fraternity The people becoming bonded as a w hole radical More organized and level-headed guillotine A w eapon that w as used to behead people Reign of Terror A year-long period during the French Revolution in w hich there w as no absolute monarch (Louis XVI had been executed) conservative Document A Source: “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens” by the French National Assembly, August 27, 1789. The “Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens” was written and signed by the National Assembly, which was the governing body in the first stage of the Revolution. This document served as a preamble to the new French constitution. Note: The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believe that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole causes of public calamities and the corruption of the government.... Therefore, the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims ... the following rights of man and of the citizens: Article 1: Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Article 2: The aim of all [government] ... is the preservation of the natural ... rights of man. These are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. Article 7: No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned, except in the cases [allowed] by law. Article 9: All persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty.... Article 10: No one should be silenced on account of his opinions, including his religious views. Document Analysis 1. Who issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man”? When was it written? - The French Revolution - 1789 2. According to the National Assembly, what were the “sole causes of public calamities and the corruption of government”? "the ignorance, nelglect, or contempt of the rights of man" 3. According to Article 2, what should be the aim of all government? The preservation of the natural rights of man 4. What Article in the “Declaration” would be violated if government officials arrested and executed someone without a trial for speaking out against the government? Article 9 Document B Source: Timeline compiled from various sources. Timeline of the Reign of Terror Beginning of the French Revolution; King Louis XVI forced to share power 1789 May-August Declaration of Rights of Man issued All hereditary titles and privileges of nobility are abolished. 1790 June 19 Civil Constitution of the Clergy is adopted; clergy (priests) required to swear loyalty to the revolution July 12 The Royal family is caught trying to flee France and is forced to return to Paris. 1791 July 20-21 Austria and Prussia express support for French monarchy. August 27 France declares war on Austria, and Prussia joins Austria. 1792 April 20 Monarchy is abolished, Republican government established. September Trial, conviction, and execution of Louis XVI for treason Dec-Jan Committee of Public Safety is created to fight “enemies of the revolution.” 1793 March Counterrevolutionary revolts break out inside France. April Maximilien Robespierre is appointed to the Committee of Public Safety July 27 Levée en Masse (forced military draft for all French males) fuels revolts. August Robespierre declares “Terror the order of the day;” beginning of Reign of Terror September 5 Law of Suspects passed which limited rights of the accused September 17 Festival of Reason. Christian churches are soon closed by revolutionary government. November Committee of Public Safety cracks down on rebels. December Counterrevolution in western France is near collapse. French victory over foreign enemies is nearly complete. 1794 April / May Government denies legal counsel to accused enemies of the revolution. The number of government executions sharply increases. June Robespierre is executed by guillotine. The Reign of Terror is declared over. July Document Analysis 1. From the beginning of the Revolution in 1789 until September 1792, what kind of government did France have? An absolute monarchy 2. What events appear to have caused the Revolutionary government to execute the King? He had committed treason 3. How many months passed between Robespierre appointment to the Committee of Public Safety and his execution? 14 months 4. What evidence is there that people’s “natural rights” were denied during the Reign of Terror? They w ere guillotined if they spoke out against the monarchy or w hoever w as in pow er 5. What evidence is there that the Reign of Terror was successful in fighting enemies both inside and outside of France? The Reign of Terror helped people discover who the traitors were within France, especially in the government (like King Louis XVI and nobles that denied the people of their rights). Some of the people outside of France were aligned with Louis XVI and aided him in his fight against the French Revolution. Document Analysis 1. What was the outside threat that faced the French revolutionaries in 1792 and 1793? There w ere many monarchs that felt threated by the French Revolution's enlightenment ideas. 80,000 men marched into France to fight the revolutionaries. 2. Who were the émigrés and how did they threaten revolutionary France? - 10,000 French army officers - They aligned w ith the 80,000 others (and France's foreign enemies) in hopes of abolishing the French Revolution. 3. What was happening inside of France that threatened the success of the Revolution? A counterrevolution broke out against the Republican government. 4. Why might some French peasants oppose the revolutionary government? The revolutionaries w ere angering the French government, w hich created haste, violence, and suspicion across the country. 5. How could you use this document to prove that the Reign of Terror was or was not justified? You could use it to prove that the Reign of Terror was not justified because countless people were killed in the process. The people of a country should always be put first, especially in a nationwide crisis. Document Analysis 1. When was this letter written? August 25, 1793 2. Who wrote the letter and to whom? - A local official from w estern France - The National Convention 3. What is the purpose of the letter? This official is requesting help because the soldiers failed to stop the "rabble". 4. Is there any evidence in the document that helps you measure the size of the revolt? Explain. Not explicitly, but it does say that the crow d continued to gather, w hich most likely means that the size of the revolt w as grow ing. 5. How can you use the document to argue that the Reign of Terror was justified or not justified? This document could help prove that the Reign of Terror was not justified because people from both sides were dying. The only thing that the revolt did was cause violence and be rowdy. Document Analysis 1. Is this a primary or a secondary source? Secondary source 2. What was the purpose of the Tribunal and how were the judges chosen? - To try all crimes of the state - They w ere appointed by the National Convention 3. What was the purpose of the watch committees? To punish foreigners that w ere believed to be counterrevolutionaries 4. What sorts of activities could get a person in trouble with the Committee of Public Safety? Almost anything, even a single w ord spoken against the government 5. How many people were executed by the commissions in the countryside? 35,000 to 40,000 people 6. Do you think the activities of the Tribunal and Committee of Public Safety were justified? No. The rights of the French citizens were heavily restricted. Document Analysis 1. How many people were being executed on this occasion? Who were the people being executed? - Around 16,000 people w ere most likely executed by guillotine - Criminals 2. Where are the executions taking place? Paris, France 3. Describe the atmosphere. The people of France are overw helmed w ith joy as they w atch the criminals get beheaded. To them, death w as justifiable for the crimes that had been committed. 4. Why was the guillotine regarded as a “humane” way to execute criminals? There w as no pain and the criminals' deaths w ere instant. 5. How could you use this document to argue that the Reign of Terror was justified or not justified? This document could be used both ways, but I could see it as being used to justify the Reign of Terror. This is because the criminals felt no pain when they were executed. Document Analysis 1. According to Robespierre, what are the goals of the war and the revolution? They hope that it w ill someday help to form a democracy and create a government that w ill act peacefully tow ard its citizens. 2. Whom should the government protect, according to Robespierre? The government should protect the peaceful citizens. 3. What does Robespierre mean by “internal” enemies and “external” enemies of the Republic? (Hint: Think about the other documents in this Mini-Q.) There are enemies outside of France, inside of France, and possibly w ithin the government itself. 4. What does Robespierre believe should be done to enemies of the Republic? They should be "smothered". 5. How could you use this document to argue that the Reign of Terror was justified or not justified? From Thesis to Essay Writing Essay Outline Guide Unit Title Paragraph #1: Introduction Grabber How w ould you feel if you started getting executed off of just suspicion? Background nd w hen Louis XIV w as executed people started getting killed on suspicion of being against the revolution. Restating the question with key terms defined So w as the reign of terror justified? Thesis and road map w ho died, but not only just died it w as all unjust as w ell. There w as most likely many traitors in the group. Paragraph #2 Baby Thesis for bucket one Killing people off for no reason is not a good w ay to go about a revolution. Evidence: Supporting detail from documents with document citation According to doc. F the people in France enjoyed w atching people get beheaded in public. Argument: Connecting evidence to the thesis This could have been a reason for more people to get executed due to the public enjoying it so This is a reason to keep executing innocent people in order to keep the revolutions hope's up. Paragraph #3 Baby Thesis for bucket two Almost everybody w ho died in the French revolution w ere innocent and killed off of just suspicion. Evidence According to doc E. people w ere sent out as w atchers to take anybody that w as suspicious a Argument because taking people off of suspicion is so vague. eople that w ere doing this took people based on the smallest things like just talking bad about the revolution. Paragraph #4 Baby Thesis for bucket three There w as a w hole threat inside of France that w asn't just people. Evidence to Doc. C some people w ere against the revolution due to the revolution w anting to get rid of their religion. Argument lution killing all of these people is extremely unjust especially because they w rote that they w anted equality s proof of corruption in the group due to how this w ent against the w hole document to start the revolution. Paragraph #5: Conclusion Conclusion: "Although" statement followed by restatement of your main idea and explanation of why the answer to the question is important Although very few people were okay with all of the revolution that was happening due to how unjust it was, they were completely powerless to do anything. This was because they were outnumbered.
