FRENCH REVOLUTION DEBATES

Resolution #1: Robespierre was a heroic patriot

Was Robespierre the first modern dictator, inhuman, fanatical and dictatorial, an obsessive who used his political power to try to impose his rigid ideal of a land of Spartan “virtue”? Or was he a great revolutionary martyr who succeeded in leading the French Republic to safety in the face of overwhelming military odds? Were the controls on individual liberties and the mass arrests and executions of “the Terror” the necessary price to pay to save the Revolution?
Recommended Resources
  1. French Revolution overview​
  2. Crash Course: French Revolution (video)
  3. Robespierre: A Revolutionary Life
  4. Patriot or traitor?
  5. Was Maximilien Robespierre was responsible for the Terror?
  6. Declaration of the Rights of Man
  7. Why Robespierre Chose Terror
  8. Background: Maximilien Robespierre, 1758-1794
  9. Maximilien de Robespierre biography
  10. Internet Modern History Sourcebook
  11. ​Reign of Terror (video)
  12. Yale Lecture: Maximilian Robespierre and the French Revolution (video)

Resolution #2: Napoleon was an enlightened, revolutionary ruler

Should Napoleon Bonaparte be seen as a savior of France’s republican cause or simply as an opportunist? His advocates credit him with helping to spread the values of democracy and the French Enlightenment throughout Europe. Others find it ironic that this would be the legacy of the man who declared himself Emperor.
Recommended Resources
  1. French Revolution overview
  2. Napoleon, Encyclopedia of World Biography
  3. The Napoleonic Experience
  4. Napoleon Bonaparte
  5. PBS: Tyrant or Hero
  6. Napoleon’s Proclamation at Asterlitz
  7. Benjamin Constant, Leader of French Liberal Opposition to Napoleon
  8. Rise of Napoleon (video)
  9. Yale Lecture: Napoleon (video)
  10. Internet Modern History Sourcebook

Task 1 - Individual - Background Research

Each member of the group must read and summarize at least one resource.
  • Write a paragraph summary of the main ideas of the source.
  • Then make a bulleted list of specific details from the resource you can use in your team’s argument and counterargument.
  • Each student must submit their personal work to the teacher via Google Classroom.

Task 2 - Group - Making an Arguement

Submit one group document of your team’s written preparation via Google Drive. There are three components. Make one Google Doc and share it. Copy everyone's work into this document so you can sort and edit the content.
  • Arguments
    • Make a list of the arguments that support your resolution. State each argument in a clear, concise claim.
    • Bullet-point the key pieces of evidence that support your claim.
  • Counter-arguments and rebuttals
    • Brainstorm counter-arguments (predict what the other team will present). State each counterargument in a clear, concise claim.
    • Write a short rebuttal to each counter-argument. The rebuttal may be in the form of a short paragraph, or it can be a claim with bullet-pointed data.
  • Organize evidence
    • Sort and label the  team’s evidence into categories for which student will present it.
    • Some key points will be repeated as themes. Other lesser pieces of evidence should be used once.

Task 3 - Individual - Writing your Speech

Each student writes their own speech for their section. It should be approximately 300 words (2-3 minutes spoken). This must be saved on the same Google Classroom file as task 1,  which is shared individually with the teacher in Google Classroom.

Debate Format

Debate Agenda
  • All speakers get 2:30 - 3:00 minutes. Approximately 300 words.
  • You may use notes if you like, but be sure to know the information well enough to make eye contact with the judges.
  • Slow, deliberate clarity of argument is preferable to a lengthy list of many points. If you insufficiently analyze your resources, you will earn a grade reduction.
  • If the judges cannot hear or understand your speech, a zero is earned.
Affirmative goes first each round
  1. Opening Statement: Provide context and preview the evidence your team will outline
  2. Argument: Present your specific, organized evidence
  3. Attack: Challenge the other side's argument
  4. Rebuttal: Defend against the challenge
  5. Closing Statement: Remind the judges what your team has proven