February 8-14

Continue discussion on the French Revolution: from the Accession of the Extremists through the Reign of Terror and Virtue, and ending with the Thermidorian Reaction.


The Reign of Terror and Virtue

guillotine

This guillotine was created by Ronald Giardina of Mountain View High School, Mountain View, California. It is used with his permission.

  1. Read Popkin, 71-106, 135-138, 152-155; Todd, 45, 47-50, 82-84, 101, 130-131 and on-line lecture #2 on the Reign of Terror and Virtue.
  2. Write a review of History Channel’s, The French Revolution, which can be found in the Munday Library’s database, Films on Demand; and write a review by answering questions on #2 of “Learning Activities and Course Requirements.” Post review under “Assignments” in Blackboard by Saturday, February 14th @ midnight.

Estimated time: reading -6 hrs.,viewing time -1.5 hrs., answering questions, reviewing other students’ postings, and posting comments- 2.5 hrs. Total: (10 hrs.)

Additional reading and writing time for MLA students-(2hrs.)


Study Guide Questions

  1. Why was the monarchy abolished in September 1792?  Why was this considered the beginning of year I in the new French calendar?
  2. Why was King Louis XVI executed, rather than exiled in January 1793? The documentary quotes Robespierre as having said, “You have to kill the king so the Revolution can survive.” Explain what you think he meant.  How did the King’s execution, the foreign and civil wars, and the crowds of Parisian sans-culottes (artisans and lower-middle class) affect the course of the Revolution?
  3. Why do you think that most of the male revolutionists did not want to grant political rights for women? (Robespierre and Condorcet appeared to be the only ones who considered this). Why did the Convention ban all women’s clubs and organizations in October 1793?
  4. The documentary quotes Robespierre as having said, “Terror without virtue is disastrous, but virtue without terror is powerless.” Explain. Describe the Reign of Terror and Virtue.
  5. In both the documentary and in Popkin, the Girondin deputy Pierre Vergniaud is quoted, “The Revolution, like Saturn, is devouring its children” (Popkin 86). Explain the meaning of this statement as it applies to the French Revolution.  Speaking of Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, Danton said, “Fearing the return of tyrants, they’ve become tyrants.” What did he mean? (This is not in Popkin or the documentary, but I want you to think about this comment).
  6. Trace the French Revolution through Crane Brinton’s stages of revolution. Briefly describe each stage, and state when it occurred.
  7. What do Popkin and Todd think the French Revolution accomplished? What do you think it accomplished? According to Popkin and the documentary, what is the legacy of this revolution?
  8. In what ways did the French Revolution manifest political, economic, and cultural globalization?

MLA Students:

Complete the undergrad assignment, and answer answer #6 on the study guide.

Also, go to the George Mason University website, Exploring the French Revolution. Under the section, “Imaging the French Revolution,” read both the introductory and the concluding essays, as well as the essay by Joan B. Landes.  Briefly summarize Jack Censor’s and Lynn Hunt’s main conclusions about Revolutionary images in the introductory and concluding essays. In addition, briefly summarize Joan B. Landes’s essay. Also view images on this site. You can access the site under Online Learning Resources.