Most of the truly horrid things happened after the revolutionist had taken power and they started to turn on each other. The big advantage the US had (which comes directly form the greater freedom you referenced) was that we already had leaders and democracy in place.

All that being said it doesn't change the fact that the French Revolution as a fine example of how to not do it. It is a testament to the French people that they were able to go from that to where they are today but if you want to have a revolution the US should be your model. Our founding fathers did an amazing job of using the radicals but not allowing them to seize control which is one of the things that sent France and even Russia down such dark paths. They endured certain rights but kept most control local which kept them from having the massive struggle to bend everyone to their will and even then we were a diverse country with very different interest. They were different enough that it lead to a civil war which while ugly did not degenerate into purges and mass incarceration of dissenters. Yes we had advantages that made that possible but we also had the disadvantage that no one had done it before and we were creating this from nothing more than ideals and theory.