French Revolution, Research Paper Example

French Revolution: The Reign of Terror (1793-1794)

Introduction

Oppression was one element that characterized the French community during the early 1700s. The rise of the elite society has caused the members of the community belonging to the lower grade of economic division to feel estranged, as if they were no part of the plan of progress that the government intends to engage with in relation to how the French society prepares itself for the world. Noticeably, it is because of such point of oppression that the people in the country began to form unions that are dedicated to destabilizing the government so as to get what they need from what the administrators are lavishly using as part of their personal gains. The people in the country aim to become more indulged on how their resources are used to the fullest as they benefit from all the mentioned operations in the community.

The process of taking away the governmental control from the elitists was long and practically hard to accomplish; in the process, people died and the oppressed ones suffered even further. A part of the most horrific events that covered the revolution was the reign of terror that stretched between the years 1793 and 1794. These events covered the pattern of massive death patterns that occurred against the elitists groups and the poor ones alike. Revolutionists during the time became more aggressive in gaining what they want and attaining the social stability that they think they deserve especially when it came to balancing the nation’s economy and the ways by which wealth was distributed among the people. Regarding this matter, particular concerns arise. Historians have long debated whether the Terror of 1793-1794 was an inevitable consequence of the French Revolution and its guiding principles and impulses or was instead a drastic departure from those original principles and impulses. Which side is correct? This particular questions shall be given particular attentionto especially in examining how and why the reign of terror occurred, as well as how much it did affect the overall constraints of the development of the French government and on how it intended to pacify the situation [which lead it into becoming what it is right now].

The Principles Surrounding the French Revolution

As mentioned in the introductory part of this discussion, there is but one principle that lead to the developments that imposed the occurrence of the French revolution and that is to eliminate social stratification. The imbalance by which wealth is distributed among members of the community causes several members of the society to instantiate upheaval against those who are in power. Throughout the history of the French Revolution, the application of such principle in determining the terms and the conditions that characterized the whole stretch of the historical event does imply on the primary purpose of the event and how it was supposed to reshape the constructs of the procedures by which the French community is to take on a much serious course of development, one that will lead the nation to balanced progress that is later on going to bring in prosperity to the whole nation.

Noticeably, the French revolution brought about a sense of realization especially on the part by which people are given the chance to speak out their minds [in a much controlled and limited manner]. The people needed all the strength that they could get; all the courage they could acquire to be able to face the ones in power and give them the chance to speak out their minds to the authorities and have the authorities find a way to respond to them. Without the said response, the people intended to impose a distinct action that would put the end to the authoritative rule of the elitists replacing them with the supposed members of the revolutionary group; however, not everything went according to plan after this particular implication of events.

The Reign of Terror

The Jacobins, a particular union of French rebels during the years between 1793 and 1794, distinctively overthrew the administrators of the Committee of Public Safety and took over the said agency accordingly. During this time, it has been reported in history that at least 16,594 individuals have died through the guillotine order. Along with this data, some other 40,000 died who were accused of administrational rebellion; some of them died waiting for trial, while some others were killed even without trial.

The emergence of the rebellion came from the desire of the French community to bring about a new sense of determination on how the poor ought to be treated. During the time, the elitists were the ones in control; the ones given the right to acquire political positions and the ones who were considered to have a distinct insistence on how they are likely to manage the community and the resources supposedly able to support the needs of the people [no matter what sector of economic leveling they may come from].

The poor ones, the oppressed individuals, were considered as mere ailments in the society. Treated as rats in the streets, the poor members of the society were desperate enough to acquire their needs that they would do anything it takes, including the most undesirable works just so to survive one day at a time. Treated as the dispensable members of the society, the ones experiencing poverty had no other choice but to embrace poorness as it is. The people belonging to the middle-earners before the revolution spurted out had to fight for such position in the economy as the elitists are already forming options of controlling the society’s wealth that they [the middle-earners] are left with no choice but to get along with the changes accordingly and accept whatever it is that is left for them to take. The release and management of changes have become rather extensive especially that the determination of poverty as the primary cancer in the society became more obvious especially among those who are oppressed. The desire to stop the situation became even more intense as the social events took different turns and the elitists gain even higher positions in the political arena giving them power over almost everything else.

A History of Fighting for the Right to Live

In 1973, the principle of bringing the oppressed into the pedestal continued to become the primary foundation of the course of rebellion and revolution that the people took into serious account. It was June 10 when the enraged ones were led by Jacques Herbert and Jacques Roux as they established the campaign for freedom under three particular goals:

1. Control administrative and political purges
2. Pursue a more controlled and fixed price for the bread distributed in the market
3. Limitation of the electoral franchise; making it possible for other ordinary members of the community to enter in the authoritative positions open in the administrational sit

The need to fight for their lives and for their freedom to live gave the rebels the strength and motivation they need to pursue a life that gave them a chance to embrace a better version of their nation; one that benefits their existence fully. Most often than not, it is through this empowerment of the people that the revolution took a definite turn in refurbishing the nature of administrational governance in the country.

Conclusion

Reading through the references and seeing through the historical data that surrounded the facts about the French revolution, it could be understood that the reign of terror between the years 793 to 1794 were inevitable results of the principles that were considered as the foundation of the French Revolution ever since the point it has begun. Noticeably, the goal of the people to embrace a new sense of development that would lead them into becoming more capable of determining their future and that of the future of their nation, instead of simply being controlled by the elitists has created in them a distinct desire to empower everyone else to follow through the campaign towards freedom and social balance.

Abolishing the concept and culture of social stratification in the French community was one specific course of development that required sacrifice; sadly, a part of the sacrifice is the death of the ignorant ones who were simply aiming to experience a better life in France. Nevertheless, through historical record, it could be understood how at some point, the sacrifice of such lives intended to mandate a sense of definite direction to how the revolution itself would bring about a full realization of the goals that the rebels had in mind; therefore opening a door towards creating a more established and much livable France, into becoming the France that is known at present; a nation of prosperity, progress and prestige.

References

William, Doyle. The French Revolution: A very short Introduction. Oxford University Press.

Winks, Robin and Joan Neuberger. Europe and the Making of Modernity. Oxford University Press.