What is Reign of Terror?
The French revolution holds an important part in modern European history. The french revolution was begun in the year 1789 and ended in the late 1790s. The french revolution's reign of terror was an important period of the french revolution, it was also called the Terror. In the first republic, a series of slaughters and numerous public execution took place during the reign of terror. And historians believed that this was the exact start for ‘the terror’. The french revolution's reign of terror began in March, June, or September of 1793. And it came to end in July 1789 or during the early time of 1792. During this period, the first killing of the revolution occurred.
The term "Terror" was mainly used to describe the period, which was introduced by the Thermidorian Reaction. He came to power by discrediting Maximilien Robespierre in July 1794
Historians specified the exceptional revolutionary measures continued after the death of Robespierre as the "White Terror". At the end of this reign of terror since June 1793, about 16,594 official death were announced by France. In that, about 2,639 deaths were recorded from Paris. This article explains who started the reign of terror and also gives you complete information about the Reign of terror and major events that occurred during this Reign of terror.
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"Terror" As the Order of the Day
Maximilien Robespierre was the first person to start the reign of terror. During the summer of 1793, a sense of emergency arose among the leading politicians in France, especially during the spread of civil war and counter-revolution. On 05th September 1793, Bertrand Barère shouted in the convention, "Let's make terror the order of the day!". This quote frequently interpreted the huge population and gained support for the "system of Terror". The convention agreed to construct the revolutionary army under the pressure of the radical sans-culottes. But they refused to make terror as the order of the day. Jean-Clément Martin, a well-known french historian said that there was no "system of terror" instated by the Convention from 1793 to 1794.
Robespierre described ‘terror’ as the fear that the justice of exception shall inspire the enemies of the Republic. He mentioned ‘terror’ as the necessary form of exceptional justice in the context of the revolutionary government: The basic popular government in peacetime gives virtue and the basic popular government during the revolution has both virtue and terror.
Important Events During the Reign of Terror
On 10th March 1793, the revolutionary tribunal was set up the national convention. With these charges of the tribunal, about half were acted. As a response to mass conscription, the march rebellion broke out in the vendee, which was later developed into a civil war.
On 06th April 1793, The committee of public safety was established by the national convention and it gradually became the de facto war-time government of France. The reign of terror was supervised by a committee. At that time, about 300,000 people were arrested and suspected during the reign of terror. During this period, 17,000 were officially executed and 10,000 prisoners died without trial.
On 02nd June 1793, the national convention was surrounded by the Parisian sans-culottes. Later, they were calling for administrative and political eradication, a low fixed-price for money, and a limitation of the electoral franchise to sans-culottes alone. For the national guard, they convinced the convention to arrest 29 Girondist leaders. Girondin deputies reacted against the imprisonment and started Federalist revolts against the National Convention in Paris with the support of thirteen departments.
On 24th June 1793, The first republican constitution of France adopted the convention. Later, the public referendum ratified but never put them in force.
On 13th July 1793, Jean-Paul Marat, a Jacobin leader, and journalist has killed as a result of the political influence of Jacobin was increased. In August 1792, Georges Danton arose against the king. So, on 10th July 1793, he was removed from the Committee of Public Safety and Robespierre became a part on 27th July 1793.
The convention organized the paramilitary forces in the name of ‘revolutionary armies’ on 09th September. This action forced farmers to surrender grain as per the demand of the government. On 17th September, the law of suspects was passed and created a mass overflow in the prison systems. On 29th September, the convention created a fixed price for bread, grains, and all other essential goods. They also took measures for providing fixed wages for laborers.
On 10th October, ‘the provisional government shall be revolutionary until peace’ was the announcement made by the convention. Marie Antoinette executed the same on 16th October. On the same day, they started a trial of the Girondins and executed it till the 31st of October.
In 1793, the campaign of dechristianization occurred with an increase of the Anti-clerical sentiments. The Hébertists organized a festival of reason on 10th November.
the National Convention passed the Law of Frimair on 10 Frimaire. Here, the central government got more control over the representatives on the mission. Some feminist writer close to the Girondins executed Olympe de Gouges
On 04th February 1794 especially during the 16 Pluviôse, the national convention announced the abolition of slavery in all France and french colonies.
On 08th and 13th Ventôse, which is on 26th February and 03rd March 1794. Saint-Just made a declaration to seize the property of refugees and opponents of the revolution. They named this action the Ventôse Decrees.
At the end of 1793, two major parties were emerged for threatening the revolutionary government. The Hébertists were called for threatened insurrection and the Dantonists, which was led by Georges Danton. Georges Danton also demanded moderation and clemency. The committee of public safety also took action against both. On 24th March, major Hébertists were tried to execute a revolutionary tribunal on or before 24th March. On 30th March, the Dantonists were arrested. From 03rd to 05th April, they tried to execute the revolutionary tribunal and executed it.
On 08th June 1794, that is on 20 Praitials, the whole country has celebrated the festival of the supreme. The national convention passed the law of 22 Prairial, which was proposed by Georges Couthon. This law simplified the judicial process and accelerated the work of the revolutionary tribunal. This enactment of the law also increased the number of executions. So, historians named this period the "The Great Terror" because of the Thermidorian Reaction
On 26th June 1794 that is on 8 Messidor, the Battle of Fleurus was won by the French army and this moment turned into the turning point for France's military campaign. The revolutionary government remains undetermined for necessity wartime measurement.
This article gave complete information about who started the reign of terror, and the effects of the french revolution's reign of terror.
FAQs on French Revolution Reign of Terror
1. What was the French Revolution summary?
In 1787, the major social upheaval of the French Revolution began and it was ended in 1799. The main aim of the french revolution was to change the relationship between the rulers and people and to redefine the nature of political power.
2. Who won French Revolution?
The revolution held in France from 1789 to 1799 was named the French Revolution. The french revolution founded the end of the French monarchy. Initially, the french revolution's reign of terror began with a meeting of the Estates-General in Versailles and came to end, while Napoleon Bonaparte took control of it in November 1799.
3. Did the French Revolution succeed?
By creating a constitution, giving the third estate great control over the populace of France, limiting the monarchy power, and gaining rights and power for the lower class of France, the french revolution succeed and came to a great power from lower classes.
