The French Revolution's cycle of violence, from the Reign of Terror led by Robespierre to the reactionary White Terror, showcases the era's ideological conflicts. The Thermidorian Reaction ended the Reign of Terror, leading to the White Terror where royalists and moderates targeted Jacobins. This period included the Vendémiaire Uprising and the Second White Terror after Napoleon's fall, reflecting the tumultuous journey towards a new political order.
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The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, orchestrated the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution
Thousands of people deemed enemies of the Revolution were executed during the Reign of Terror
The revolutionary government carried out mass executions of perceived enemies, resulting in thousands of deaths during the Reign of Terror
The Thermidorian Reaction, which resulted in the arrest and execution of Robespierre and his allies, marked the end of the Reign of Terror
The White Terror was a reactionary phase where royalists and moderates sought retribution against those associated with the Reign of Terror
The White Terror specifically targeted Jacobins and their supporters, seeking revenge for the violence of the Reign of Terror
The White Terror was characterized by decentralized and sporadic acts of violence carried out by various groups across France
The First White Terror was a spontaneous and decentralized movement characterized by acts of violence against those associated with the Reign of Terror
While the First White Terror included royalist elements, it was primarily driven by a desire to move away from the extreme policies of the Reign of Terror
The violence of the First White Terror was eventually suppressed by the French government, particularly the military, in an effort to restore order
The Second White Terror unfolded in 1815 after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo and his subsequent abdication
The violence of the Second White Terror was directed against those who had supported the Napoleonic regime, including Republicans and Bonapartists
The Second White Terror had a clear royalist agenda to reassert the old order and punish supporters of the Empire, making it more politically motivated than the first
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After the ______ of ______, the ______ Terror emerged as a counter-reaction, with royalists punishing those linked to the previous violence.
Reign
Terror
White
01
Outcome of Thermidorian Reaction for Robespierre
Robespierre arrested, executed; Reign of Terror ended.
02
Characteristics of White Terror
Decentralized retribution; targeted Jacobins, revolutionaries; involved lynchings, legal executions.
