Reign of Terror Begins

• The National Convention establishes the Committee of Public Safety.
• The Reign of Terror is officially declared.
• Robespierre rises to prominence as a key leader during the Reign of Terror.
• The revolutionary government begins executing perceived enemies of the revolution.
• The Law of Suspects is enacted, expanding the scope of arrest and execution.

The Reign of Terror commenced on 5 September 1793 and continued until 28 July 1794, under the de facto leadership of Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety. This period was marked by heightened political repression and mass executions, aimed at consolidating the gains of the French Revolution and eliminating perceived enemies of the state. The Revolutionary Tribunal (a court instituted by the National Convention) became a central tool for prosecuting these threats. Anyone deemed an "enemy of the revolution" faced swift and often fatal justice.

A significant characteristic of this era was the Law of Suspects, enacted on 17 September 1793. This law broadened the range of individuals who could be arrested, including those who had shown sympathy for monarchy, exhibited behaviors contrary to revolutionary ideals, or even lacked active enthusiasm for the revolution. As a result, thousands of people were imprisoned, and many underwent summary trials with little opportunity to defend themselves effectively. The Tribunal frequently dispensed sentences of death, usually by guillotine.

Throughout this period, the Paris Commune played a vital role in mobilizing the sans-culottes (working-class militants) to support the revolutionary government. Local revolutionary committees were established in communes across France, enforcing the policies of the Convention and the Committee of Public Safety at a grassroots level. These committees vetted citizens for loyalty, conducted searches for contraband or hoarded goods, and facilitated the requisition of resources for the war effort.

The centralization of power in the hands of the Committee of Public Safety led to a series of radical reforms aimed at stabilizing the revolutionary government and defeating foreign and internal enemies. Notable measures included the Levee en Masse, a mass conscription decree issued on 23 August 1793, which mobilized the entire nation for the Revolutionary Wars. This decree led to significant victories against European coalitions opposed to the Revolution.

Economic measures during the Terror included the Law of the Maximum (29 September 1793), which aimed to control prices and prevent rampant inflation. This law set maximum prices for grain and other essential goods, ensuring that the urban poor could afford basic necessities. Additionally, the coercive policies on requisition and redistribution helped sustain the revolutionary armies.

Despite these efforts, the atmosphere of distrust and fear permeated every aspect of daily life. Neighbor turned against neighbor, often motivated by personal vendettas more than genuine revolutionary zeal. The political infighting within the revolutionary government culminated in fractures within the ruling Jacobin faction. Robespierre's power waned as opposition grew, leading to his arrest and execution on 28 July 1794 (9 Thermidor, Year II in the French Revolutionary Calendar).

The fall of Robespierre marked the end of the Reign of Terror, but the period left an indelible mark on the French Revolution. Its legacy was a stark reminder of the lengths to which the revolutionary government would go to maintain its authority and the drastic measures enacted to safeguard against counter-revolutionary threats.

• The Reign of Terror, which lasted from September 1793 to July 1794, was characterized by mass executions; approximately 16,000 people were guillotined during this period alone.
• One of the notable figures of the Reign of Terror was Georges Danton, who initially supported the radical Jacobins but eventually fell victim to their purges.
• Women played an essential role during the Reign of Terror; they organized political clubs and participated in demonstrations, yet faced severe repression in the aftermath.
• The Law of Suspects, enacted on 17 September 1793, allowed for the arrest of anyone deemed suspicious, leading to widespread paranoia and betrayal among acquaintances.
• The notorious Committee of Public Safety, headed by Maximilien Robespierre, became the de facto government during the Reign of Terror, operating under the belief that terror was necessary to defend the revolution.