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Reign Of Terror Dbq Essay

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DBQ: Reign of Terror What would start as an act to protect people from the abuses of the government, would turn into one of the most oppressive periods of French History, giving it the name: Reign of Terror. King Louis XIV’s expensive and unnecessary war debts and lavish expenditures left his citizens starving and without a platform. In order to solve this, Louis XIV raised taxes, making the very mistake of King George III that led to the American Revolution. The social classes were called to reach a solution, but as always reached a stalemate. Delegates of the Estates General then took for themselves their natural right to dissention, and created the National Assembly. Regarding the right to dissent, the right to one’s own religious views, …show more content…

Accordingly, Document A suggests, “No one should be silenced on account of his opinions, including his religious views. (Document A) It is shown later in the Revolution the oppression of certain religions and viewpoints. This excerpt serves as proof of further contradiction. Likewise, Document B suggests that, “Christian churches are soon closed by revolutionary government.” (Document B) As simply stated, Christians, with one of the largest followings, are oppressed against the very standard of the Revolutionary government. Even if this action was for economic reasons, the Revolution promised to provide economic stability, which would not be the case if this were true. “Furthermore, Document C shows that, The Vendée region was the center of [the Counterrevolution]. People here fiercely fought against the military draft called the levee en masse and against laws that tried to abolish Christianity in France.” (Document C) Taking away the tools of religion is far enough, not mentioning the abolishment of religion all together. The Reign of Terror once again severely violates their own word and one of the most agreed upon rights of that time. These rulers of “peace” reject one of the most proven principles of order: the freedom of religion, making their rule misleading and extremely …show more content…

Moreover, Document C relays that, “The Counterrevolutionaries included some members of the aristocracy, priests, peasants, and townspeople.” (Document C) The leaders of the Reign of Terror had a goal to punish the emigres and label all dissenters as enemies of their peaceful rule. The diversity of the countermovement shows that not just the emigres are rebelling against their abolition of superiority, and that all groups are oppressed unjustly.Withal, Document D concludes that, “At this time, counterrevolutionary activity had been increasing for more than a year. This official is reporting that soldiers already sent by the government have failed to stop the “rabble” and he is writing for more help. To make matters even more unsettling, Prussians were invading at the same time from the north.” The large number of dissenters shows that Revolutionary rule is widely abusive, and is therefore unjust. (Document D) Similarly, Document F also reports that, “Historians estimate that 16,000 people were guillotined during the Reign of Terror.” (Document F) The penalty of death is usually reserved for the most serious crimes. It cannot be that 16,000 people of the Counterrevolution are deserving of immoral public humiliation on top of death, making the methodology of the Reign of terror false. The oppression of the just Counterrevolution shows

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