Logo
Logo
Log inSign up
Logo

Tools

AI Concept MapsAI Mind MapsAI Study NotesAI FlashcardsAI Quizzes

Resources

BlogTemplate

Info

PricingFAQTeam

info@algoreducation.com

Corso Castelfidardo 30A, Torino (TO), Italy

Algor Lab S.r.l. - Startup Innovativa - P.IVA IT12537010014

Privacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms and Conditions

The Reign of Terror during the French Revolution

The Reign of Terror was a pivotal moment in the French Revolution, characterized by political purges and mass executions. Led by the Committee of Public Safety and figures like Robespierre, it aimed to suppress counter-revolutionary activities. The period saw religious reforms, the establishment of the Revolutionary Tribunal, and the intensification of the Terror through laws that suspended the rights of the accused. The Terror's end came with the Thermidorian Reaction, which led to Robespierre's downfall and marked a shift towards moderation.

see more
Open map in editor

1

4

Open map in editor

Want to create maps from your material?

Enter text, upload a photo, or audio to Algor. In a few seconds, Algorino will transform it into a conceptual map, summary, and much more!

Try Algor

Learn with Algor Education flashcards

Click on each Card to learn more about the topic

1

Time span of the Reign of Terror

Click to check the answer

September 1793 to July 1794

2

Primary method of execution during the Terror

Click to check the answer

Guillotine

3

Estimated official executions during the Terror

Click to check the answer

Approximately 17,000 people

4

The ______ of ______ was marked by political chaos and threats from abroad, leading to extreme actions.

Click to check the answer

Reign Terror

5

Following the beheading of King ______ ______, European kingdoms formed the ______ ______ to oppose the French Revolution.

Click to check the answer

Louis XVI First Coalition

6

Jacobins' stance on governance

Click to check the answer

Advocated for a centralized republic

7

Role of violence in Jacobin policy

Click to check the answer

Employed violence to purge nation of enemies

8

Outcome of Jacobins vs. Girondins rivalry

Click to check the answer

Intensified political crisis, led to Reign of Terror

9

In ______ 1793, the National Convention created the Revolutionary Tribunal to prosecute state enemies, resulting in many ______.

Click to check the answer

March executions

10

Civil Constitution of the Clergy 1790

Click to check the answer

French law reorganizing Catholic Church, subjugating it to state control.

11

Oath of loyalty by clergy

Click to check the answer

Clergy required to swear allegiance to constitution, leading to schism and 'refractory priests'.

12

Cult of the Supreme Being

Click to check the answer

State-sponsored deistic religion introduced during Revolution, faced significant opposition.

13

The ______ of Public Safety was established in ______ 1793 to serve as the executive during a crisis.

Click to check the answer

Committee April

14

Outcome of Battle of Fleurus 1794

Click to check the answer

French victory, diminished sense of emergency, weakened justification for the Terror.

15

Thermidorian Reaction date and consequence

Click to check the answer

27 July 1794 coup, arrest and execution of Robespierre, ended Reign of Terror.

16

After the downfall of ______ and the dissolution of the ______ Club, France's political scene underwent a major transformation.

Click to check the answer

Robespierre Jacobin

Q&A

Here's a list of frequently asked questions on this topic

Similar Contents

History

The Execution of King Louis XVI: A Watershed Event in French History

View document

History

The Peninsular War and Napoleon's Downfall

View document

History

Political Clubs in the French Revolution

View document

History

The Reign of Louis XVI and the French Revolution

View document

The Emergence of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution

The Reign of Terror, spanning from September 1793 to July 1794, was a period of unprecedented violence during the French Revolution. It was instituted by the revolutionary government to combat potential counter-revolutionary insurrections and to establish control amidst chaos. The Committee of Public Safety, led by figures such as Maximilien Robespierre, oversaw the Terror, which led to the execution of approximately 17,000 people by guillotine, with unofficial deaths due to imprisonment and massacres likely elevating the toll much higher.
Guillotine on a wooden platform with a hay-filled basket beneath, surrounded by a faceless crowd, against a backdrop of 18th-century Parisian skyline under a gray sky.

Precipitating Factors of the Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror was precipitated by a confluence of political instability and external threats. The French Revolution faced opposition from European monarchies, particularly after the execution of King Louis XVI, which led to the formation of the First Coalition against France. The internal political landscape was equally tumultuous, with factions such as the radical Jacobins and the more moderate Girondins vying for control. The execution of the king, the war with Austria and Prussia, and the internal dissension set the stage for the extreme measures that would follow.

The Jacobins and Girondins: Divergent Revolutionary Paths

The Jacobins, a political club that came to dominate the National Convention, advocated for a centralized republic and were willing to employ violence to purge the nation of perceived enemies. Their leader, Robespierre, became synonymous with the Terror. In contrast, the Girondins favored a more moderate approach and a federalist government structure. The rivalry between these factions intensified the political crisis, contributing to the justification for the Reign of Terror as a means to protect the Revolution.

Revolutionary Tribunal and the Suppression of Dissent

To address the threat of counter-revolution, the National Convention established the Revolutionary Tribunal in March 1793. This institution was tasked with identifying and prosecuting enemies of the state, leading to a wave of executions. Popular uprisings, such as the Federalist revolts and the radical sans-culottes' demands, further destabilized the country. The Tribunal became a tool for the Jacobins to consolidate power by eliminating the Girondins and other political opponents.

Religious Reforms and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy

The Revolution's approach to religion, particularly the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790, aimed to bring the Catholic Church under state control and caused deep divisions within French society. The requirement for clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the new constitution led to a schism, with many refusing and becoming 'refractory priests.' Efforts to establish a state-sponsored deistic religion, such as the Cult of the Supreme Being, were met with resistance and contributed to the unrest that the Terror sought to quell.

The Committee of Public Safety and the Intensification of the Terror

The Committee of Public Safety, formed in April 1793, was empowered to act as the executive government during the crisis. Its members, including Robespierre, utilized the Law of Suspects and the Law of 22 Prairial to streamline the process of trying and executing alleged counter-revolutionaries. These laws effectively suspended the rights of the accused, leading to a dramatic increase in the number of executions during the period known as the Great Terror.

Turning the Tide: Military Victories and the End of the Terror

The French military's success, particularly the victory at the Battle of Fleurus in June 1794, helped to alleviate the sense of emergency that had justified the Terror. As the external threat diminished, internal opposition to the excesses of the Terror grew. The Thermidorian Reaction, a coup within the National Convention on 27 July 1794, resulted in the arrest and execution of Robespierre and his close associates, effectively ending the Reign of Terror.

Legacy and Repercussions of the Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror left a complex legacy, with its extreme measures creating a sense of paranoia and disillusionment among the populace. The Thermidorian Reaction led to a period of relative moderation, but also to the White Terror, during which former Jacobins and radicals were targeted. The fall of Robespierre and the disbanding of the Jacobin Club marked a significant shift in the political landscape, as France continued to grapple with the consequences of the Revolution and the Terror.