French Revolution Security

On September 11, 2001, our nation was attacked in devastating fashion by a group of terrorists flying passenger airplanes. Since then greater security measures have been taken in an attempt to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again. In the pursuit of public safety, Americans have both knowingly and unknowingly surrendered some of their rights and liberties in order to gain the security they so desperately crave. But what are the potential consequences of a people that allows themselves to be dominated by their government in the name of greater security? While these consequences cannot be predicted, one can look back in history to similar occurrences such as the French Revolution.
The French Revolution was a time of uncertainty in France for both the government and the citizens. During this time of upheaval, the common citizens overthrew the monarchy which left an unstable and ineffective government in its place. As such, all of the country’s citizens were sent spiraling into a state of paranoia because there was no security set in place to keep them safe from outside invasions, the government, or even from each other. For around ten years,
They demanded greater security from the government and, like the French, were willing to give up some of their liberties in exchange. According the New York Civil Liberties Union, the First Amendment freedoms of speech, association, and the right to access government information were infringed upon. Additional rights such as the Fourth Amendment freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, Fifth Amendment right to due process, Sixth Amendment rights to legal representation and a speedy public trial, Eighth Amendment right of freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, and Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection have all been gradually weakened by the American government in the name of greater national