Topic > The French Revolution - 1817

During the summer of 1793, the radical phase of the French Revolution was intensified by the Terror, created by the Committee of Public Safety. The Terror successfully preserved the Revolution by eliminating counter-revolutionaries to eliminate corruption within the government and giving equality to all social classes, dissolving France under one government. However, these successes were undermined by the numerous failures of the Terror due to the oppression of citizens that would lead to numerous executions and the paranoid massacre of citizens of all social classes that led to the changes in support of the Revolution. preserved the Revolution by eliminating counter-revolutionaries to eliminate corruption within the French government. On 25 December 1793, in a speech to the National Convention, Robespierre stated that the Revolution was led by liberty against the enemies of the State and expressed the need to destroy those who opposed the Revolution (DOC 7). Robespierre, leader of the Terror, supported the actions of the Committee of Public Safety. The Terror was his tool to rid the French government of corrupt individuals. He wholeheartedly embraced his ideas without making exceptions and fully supported all executions because he believed the suspects were counter-revolutionary rebels. As it turned out, Robespierre's numerous executions actually eliminated many corrupt individuals in France. In a letter from General Ronsin, dated December 17, 1793, Ronsin described the justice he had served to over four hundred rebels by guillotine and firing squad. He continues by saying that the republic needs the example of these rebels, the Terror will frighten anyone who dares to even do so...... middle of paper......France but its expenditure on the war put an end to its government and brought his country to ruin. The Reign of Terror prolonged the Revolution but caused more problems than necessary. Although the Terror eliminated the counterrevolutionaries, it sparked mass hysteria among the French people. The oppression of the citizens drove them into further paranoia that caused many executions of innocent individuals, and people began to doubt the new government system. This uncertainty caused opposition to the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety and their eventual dismemberment. Ultimately, the Reign of Terror was helpful but detrimental to the French Revolution. The Terror left France dismantled and unstable because it had no constant government to rely on, but the French people had become somewhat unified due to their experiences during the Terror..