The French Revolution was a period in history where French citizens uprooted the political landscape and altered the relationship between the rulers and their citizens. It was a revolution against starvation, extreme famine, and, at the end of the day, death itself. Thousands of people were beheaded by the guillotine throughout the French Revolution, with it being the preferred method of execution. The most prolific use of the machine, though, occurred from the summer of 1793 to the summer of 1794, during a period in French history known as the Terror. Though the device was created in order to be a tool that would make the death penalty more humane, it would soon grow to be a key character in the revolution. The impact the guillotine had on …show more content…
Oftentimes, executions would be botched, taking multiple swings of the sword or axe just for the beheading to be complete. As you can imagine, this would cause extreme agony for the receiver and also leave the executioner with a heavy conscience. Eventually, this would lead to the creation of a machine with more accuracy, but that machine was not the Guillotine. Though the guillotine is one of the most prominent devices when it comes to tools used for the death penalty, it is not the only beheading device in our history. On the contrary, most historians place guillotine-like devices all the way back to antiquity, but our first look at a proto-guillotine comes around 1300. Named the Halifax gibbet, it worked similarly to a guillotine, a tall wooden tower that held a blade that was wedged into a block of wood. When the rope that held the block was cut, it would fall down, beheading the prisoner, who would be tied with rope and placed under the blade. However, it didn't so much as slice the head off; instead, it crushed the neck, with the blade just creating a cut. Not quite the guillotine yet, in the mid-1500s, in Scotland, a redesigned Halifax Gibbet was built, named the Scottish Maiden. Instead of using the wood block to which the blade was attached to weigh it down, the Scottish Maiden instead made its blade out of the dense lead. It also forced the prisoner to …show more content…
I do think that the French Revolution would have occurred, as the guillotine was not introduced until two years into the revolution, and was used well after the revolution until 1977, but I don’t think the reign of terror nor the increase in deaths or capital punishment would have occurred if the guillotine was never invented. The revolution might have been more focused on storming the government, using their muskets and knives, and possibly multiple versions of the Boston massacre would have occurred throughout the 1790s, but not near the same amount of bloodshed would occur if it was not for the guillotine. The guillotine had a unique control over history and the citizens of France, and even people today. Over 200 years later here we are, with the guillotine used throughout pop culture, or even in political conversations as the gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to grow in modern-day America. Let’s just hope Madame Guillotine stays in
While in reality, it was used by Robespierre as a way to build upon and strengthen his power. Instead of working on the democratic ideals of liberty and equality that he spoke of in public, Robespierre used the Terror to execute or imprison thousands of people who he viewed as a threat. “Robespierre's Justification Source B: Maximilien Robespierre, speech to the National Convention, “On the Moral and Political Principles of Domestic Policy” After Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo, he was exiled from France. So now with France without a leader, the Congress of Vienna is seeking to put a king back in power in France, and resume the
Later in time, Maximilian Robspere came to power and started the reign of terror. Under his leadership and his Committee of Public Safety, tens of thousands deemed enemies of the revolution lost their lives on the guillotine. Shortly after, Robespierre himself was arrested and guillotined, accused of leading France into tyranny and dictatorship. The French Revolution was inspired by the right to change a non beneficial leader and resist
This Reign of terror was the result of the French people's paranoia that the enemies of the revolution were going to gain power. The paranoia caused the revolutionaries to sentence anyone who did anything against the resolution to the guillotine, however most
As proven by history time and time again, tyrannic regimes do not survive. On a more radical note, the French Revolution cascaded down the road of corruption resulting in the unfortunate occurrence of mass … decapitation. Anyone critical of the Reign of Terror would be subject to the big-headed kingdom of the guillotine. In fact, the kingdom was only heads: “Policing the truth resulted in the execution of those who were accused of disseminating false news” (Rose and Mchangama 1). The French authorities outmatched expectations with the level of depravity in their government.
Approximately 40,000 people were executed. Known as the "Reign of Terror," 15% of the executed were nobles and the clergy and another 15% were people of the middle class. The remaining executed citizens were peasants and san-culottes. All of them had one thing in common: death by guillotine, a new execution engine with a falling blade. Endorsed by Maximilien Robespierre, the guillotine brought great fear to citizen across France.
The French Revolution in 1789 was one of the most brutal and significant events in world history. The French Revolution of 1789 had many different causes. The Enlightenment and the political leaders led France to financial problems, causing the French Revolution. The people wanted change and decided to rebel against their government. Nobles enjoyed privileges like not having to pay taxes, having all the power and freedom politically, and could out vote the commoners.
The most of the people didn’t oppose the revolution, but even the ones that did or plainly didn't care still fought for it. “They are compelled into the field by the terror of the guillotine” (Document 8). On fear of death the people fought, and because of that they had the numbers to spread the revolution through France. The rebellious regions in france where put back in line because of the fear. “You were being betrayed by everyone...
The French Revolution was a period in history that included unfair society, an unreliable monarchy, and poor harvest. People became angry with the king and demanded change. Unfortunately, King Louis XVI did not pay attention to them and the people decided to take matters into their own hands. One major result of this is that the king was executed. Still wanting change, people began to form groups and became leaders of the Revolution.
The Reign of Terror was a climatic event of violence that insured the death of many people. The Reign of Terror was one of the most historical events during the French Revolution because it helped save France from invasion by other countries, and in that sense preserved the Revolution. During this time, there were many public executions and mass killings of suspects in September 1793 through July 1794. In total 300,00 people were arrested, 17,000 were executed, and 10,000 presumably died in prison. The Reign of Terror was also organized by the twelve-man committee of safety.
What came next was a social upheaval from the constitution of 1792. The country ended feudalism, but thousands were executed in suspicion of being enemies of the state. The guillotine, a death trap, became a part of everyday life. It took years before Napoleon Bonaparte effectively ended the revolution. Ultimately the French’s use of the guillotine distracted them from reaching their objectives of equal rights.
The worst period of the Revolution occurred from 1793 to 1794 during the ‘Reign of Terror’. This was led by a man called Maximilien Robespierre and he was one of the most powerful men in the Revolution. He organised for the law to be changed so that anyone suspected of being opposed to the revolution could be killed. Approximately 40,000 people were executed or died in prison during this time. By July 1794, Robespierre was executed as people would not longer tolerate his extreme cruelty.
The Reign of Terror In September 1793 to July 1794, the Reign of Terror killed over 40,000 people in France using the guillotine a machine that made it a simple way to execute a mass amount of people. The Reign of Terror was led by no other than , Robespierre. He was trying to form a new government but instead caused thousands of people to be massacred. Ultimately, The Reign of Terror in France was not justified because the threats did not require it, the methods were too extreme and It did not support the ideals of the revolution.
During the time of the Terror, 1793-1794, a total of 14,000 people were executed from the guillotine, firing squads, or other methods of torture. Among the perishing of many, hostile actions were committed against the State and conspiracy (Doc 2). Collectively, the entire country was “in disarray” due to the brutal nature of the French Revolution. The nation was being attacked by the Prussian, Austrian, and British troops and the economy was in ruins as well. Through this time of panic and stress throughout the entirety of France, there were advantages for the Revolutionary Army, but also disadvantages for its people and the country in terms of enemies.
The Reign of Terror was a period during The French Revolution. Robespierre, the head of the french government during 1792-1794, feared that too many people were conspiring against the revolution. Therefor, Robespierre and the Jacobins (the radicals) thus began to arrest every suspect in France. About 50,000 people were taken to the guillotine, including King Louis XV1, Saint-just, and Robespierre. “The Revolution limped along after Robespierre’s execution and was revived with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.”
In my opinion it’s good that French revolution happened because People got their right, they don’t have to pay much taxes anymore, they are not under absolute monarch anymore, and they don’t have to steal bread to feed their families. If the revolution had not happened there would have been still an absolute monarch and most people in France would not have their right. Also throughout the whole revolution many people lost their lives to fight for their