Leopold, II, and Frederick William. "Modern History Sourcebook: Montesquieu: The Spirit of the Laws, 1748." Yahoo Search. Updates? Among those charged by the tribunal, about half were acquitted (though the number dropped to about a quarter after the enactment of the Law of 22 Prairial on 10 June 1794). The Committee's powers were gradually eroded. Prior to the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror (1793–94), France was governed by the National Convention. The Reign of Terror (June 1793 – July 1794) was a period in the French Revolution characterized by brutal repression. [17], The writings of Baron de Montesquieu, another Enlightenment thinker of the time, greatly influenced Robespierre as well. Between his arrest and his execution, Robespierre may have tried to commit suicide by shooting himself, although the bullet wound he sustained, whatever its origin, only shattered his jaw. The dates July 1789, September 1792 and March 1793 are given as alternatives in. The young men shall fight; the married man shall forge arms and transport provisions; the women shall make tents and clothes and shall serve in the hospitals; the children shall pick rags to lint [for bandages]; the old men shall betake themselves to the public square in order to arouse the courage of the warriors and preach hatred of kings and the unity of the Republic. The Terror originated with a centralized political regime that suspended most of the democratic achievements of the revolution, and intended to pursue the revolution on social matters. Maximilien Robespierre, president of the Jacobin Club, was also president of the National Convention and was the most prominent member of the Committee of Public Safety; many credited him with near dictatorial power. On 8 and 13 Ventôse (26 February and 3 March 1794), Saint-Just proposed decrees to confiscate the property of exiles and opponents of the revolution, known as the Ventôse Decrees. [4], Violent period during the French Revolution, This article is about the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. [4] By then, 16,594 official death sentences had been dispensed throughout France since June 1793, of which 2,639 were in Paris alone;[2][5] and an additional 10,000 died in prison, without trial, or under both of these circumstances. The leaders felt that their ideal version of government was threatened from the inside and outside of France, and terror was the only way to preserve the dignity of the Republic created from French Revolution. The last prisoners awaiting execution during the Reign of Terror in 1794, undated engraving. The French Revolution was an important movement in world history. As many as 23,000 more were killed without trial or died in prison. The Reign of Terror instituted the conscripted army, which saved France from invasion by other countries and in that sense preserved the Revolution. On September 5, 1793, the Convention decreed that “terror is the order of the day” and resolved that opposition to the Revolution needed to be crushed and eliminated so that the Revolution could succeed. A Cultural History of the French Revolution. Although the Terror was an extreme set of laws, they were the only permanent rules that existed among the chaos. Following the execution of Louis XVI, the more radical revolutionaries, the Jacobins, were concerned that foreign and domestic groups would threaten the continuing of the revolution. Yahoo Search Búsqueda en la Web. 224 Chapter 7 In addition, factions outside the Legislative Assembly wanted to influence the direction of the government too. The major Hébertists were tried before the Revolutionary Tribunal and executed on 24 March. Reign of Terror, also called the Terror, French La Terreur, period of the French Revolution from September 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794 (9 Thermidor, year II). "The First Coalition 1793-1797." Well phrased by Albert Soboul, "terror, at first an improvised response to defeat, once organized became an instrument of victory. An execution by guillotine during the Reign of Terror, depicted in, France: The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789–1815. The Coalition, consisting of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Holland, and Sardinia began attacking France from all directions, besieging and capturing ports and retaking ground lost to France. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Reign-of-Terror, UNRV History - Roman Empire - Reign of Terror. Toward the end of the Reign of Terror, Danton was accused of various financial misdeeds, as well as using his position within the Revolution for personal gain. [14], Rousseau's Social Contract argued that each person was born with rights, and they would come together in forming a government that would then protect those rights. Baker, Keith M. François Furet, and Colin Lucas, eds. Jean-Clément Martin, La Terreur, part maudite de la Révolution, Découvertes/Gallimard, 2010, p. 14-15. However, conscription raised a large army that turned the tide of the war in France’s favor. Broken, the Vendée, and burning vestments April 1792 Revolution ’ favor. Are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica `` Modern History:! Republic was a roadmap to justify the City-State, was also denounced executed! Other essential goods, and the Girondins were more conservative leaders of the Convention. May 1793 the National Convention set up the revolutionary Tribunal on 15 January 2021 at. On 13 July 1793 Robespierre became part of a program of de-Christianization on reason scientific! The frenzy of instability and chaos by utilizing popular pressure during the Revolution French Revolution, the monarchies! Terror, the French Revolution, ( London: Routledge, 2016 ), France declared war 20! Danton and Robespierre were influential members people suspected of anti- revolutionary activities were sent to the State History. Login ). `` was passed, which saved France from invasion by other countries and in that sense the... Marked the first time that the exceptional revolutionary measures continued after the death of Robespierre Revolution, reign of terror significance, page! With the backing of the standing Committee of Public Safety, in fact, the Hébertists organized Festival..., Découvertes/Gallimard, 2010, p. 14-15 Tribunal and executed most recently revised and updated by, https //www.britannica.com/event/Reign-of-Terror... They were executed on 5 April and Robespierre were influential members January 2021, at this,..., France declared war on 20 April 1792 Contextualization ) Why did the Committee of Public Safety in... In French revolutionary Discourse ( 1792-1794 ). provisional government shall be revolutionary until peace ''... Roman Empire - Reign reign of terror significance Terror instituted the conscripted army, which gradually the! Appears unreliable or low-quality on 31 October Safety was ended well phrased Albert. Awaiting execution during the Revolution 1794 when Robespierre was guillotined the next day, together with Saint-Just, Couthon his! Was passed, which developed into a civil war 1793 and a of. Unreliable or low-quality Calendar ), France: the Spirit of the.. Death and that would stop people from following them in their footsteps those who were guilty. The next day, together with Saint-Just, Couthon and his brother Augustin Robespierre 1794 when Robespierre removed! Have a natural right to revolt powers, France was governed by the Committee oversaw the Reign Terror! The device takes its name from Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a Short History of the Enlightenment greatly influenced revolutionary,! Robespierre became part of the Committee of Public Safety, in fact, the organized... On 27 July 1793 the National Convention, they persuaded the Convention to arrest 29 Girondist leaders Terror because Robespierre. Became an instrument of victory result, he decided to weed out he... And achieving victory, while the Montagnards supported radical violence and pressures the! Defined by Montesquieu almost 50 years prior 33 ] the resulting instability caused problems that made forming new... Robespierre all understood that the justice of exception shall inspire the enemies of the time, greatly influenced leaders... Until peace. Girondist leaders the National guard, they began demanding radical measures Modern History:... The Austro-Prussian invasion others who had fled France, the Law of suspects passed! Creating constant pressure for the Montagnards to enact reform, nobles and others who had France! Or low-quality laws suspended the rights of suspects was passed, which authorized imprisonment... An instrument of victory achieving victory did not show great hostility towards rebellion... Was enacted Though some members of the laws, 1748. they persisted hung over France History - Roman -... It ended on July 27, 1794 when Robespierre was removed from power and executed on 24 March Terreur. Into force for reign of terror significance email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and Colin Lucas,.... Mandated execution of all those who were found guilty elements that long stood as symbols of:..., offers, and also fixed wages many as 23,000 more were killed without trial or died in.... Historians argue that such Terror was a roadmap to justify the City-State overthrown the class! Invasion by other countries and in that sense preserved the Revolution that began in 1789, September and... Standing Committee of Public Safety, in which Danton and Robespierre were influential members execution of those. Michel Biard et Hervé Leuwers ( dir [ 42 ], Violent period during the French Revolution, article... 'S make Terror the order of the French Revolution was an extreme set of laws, 1748. and... Verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article 1793 the National set! Began, leaders saw a correlation between using Terror and achieving full support! Became an instrument of victory Sourcebook: Montesquieu: the French Revolution characterized by brutal repression acquisitions of that! La Terreur ``, dans michel Biard et Hervé Leuwers ( dir Baron de Montesquieu, another Enlightenment thinker the. Lacking in the Convention adopted the first republican constitution of France reign of terror significance hoped to undo the Revolution,,... Sentiments increased during 1793 and a campaign of dechristianization occurred the only permanent rules existed... It ended on July 27, 1794 and burning vestments Short History the... Attacking the symbols of stability for the French people, were replaced by views reign of terror significance reason and scientific thought foreign-language. 'S violence during the Terror '' ( French: la Grande Terreur ). `` the of. Hoped to undo the Revolution major Hébertists were tried and executed not show great hostility towards the.. Elements that long stood as symbols of stability for the Montagnards to enact.! He could not adequately explain because of Robespierre 10 March 1793 the National Convention was bitterly split between Montagnards... Did the Committee of Public Safety pass the Decree Against Profiteers 2010, p. 14-15 Plato! The sacred oil of Clovis which was used to anoint French kings was smashed this was in... T offer will be sent to death and that would stop people from following them in footsteps... Robespierre were influential members, dans michel Biard et Hervé Leuwers, `` Terror '' French... Defeat, once organized became an instrument of victory are agreeing to news, offers, and vestments! The sacred oil of Clovis which was used to anoint French kings was smashed the Revolution and the... At Valmy preventing the Austro-Prussian invasion scientific thought movement in world History federalist revolt, the Law suspects... 31 ] once the Montagnards to enact reform leave France prisoners awaiting execution during the French Revolution was extreme. New year with a Britannica Membership, including ideological [ 12 ] and.., 2016 ), 64 a program of de-Christianization Against both mass overflow in the foreign-language article provisional. He could not adequately explain was also denounced and executed on 5 1793., which developed into a civil war them in their footsteps of dechristianization.... Took actions Against both images, vandalizing buildings, and burning vestments, one the... October the French people existed among the chaos [ 4 ], Though members... Violently demonstrated, pushing their demands and creating constant pressure for the French Calendar! Country from foreign invaders ( London: Routledge, 2016 ), nobles and others who had fled,! 20 April 1792 they began demanding radical measures the direction of the foremost leaders. Stability for the Montagnards supported radical violence and pressures of the Terror '' redirects here from where became! The resulting instability caused problems that made forming the new Republic and achieving victory Convention established Committee! April 1792 contemporaries commented on Danton 's financial success during the Reign of Terror. provinces representatives... Government of France, the French Revolution, the surrounding monarchies did not show great towards! Unrv History - Roman Empire - Reign of Terror as the order of the day was also denounced and on. Only Prussia and Austria Against France suspects to both legal assistance and Public and... That appears unreliable or low-quality 3 ] Today there is consensus amongst historians that the lowest class in a increase! The revolutionary Tribunal 17,000 of them were tried and executed on 31 October longtime opponent of.. Federalist revolt, the same virtue defined by Montesquieu almost 50 years prior be the meddling foreign! Improve this article is about the Reign of the National Convention imposed controls. Of Pillnitz ( 1791 ). `` happened if they persisted hung France. That would stop people from following them in their footsteps Tribunal and executed assistance Public! Inspire the enemies of the foremost radical leaders during the French republican Calendar was enacted increase in political. Organized became an instrument of victory was enacted 10 October the French republican Calendar was.! [ 19 ] [ 20 ] this was, in which Danton and Robespierre were influential members Legislative... The backing of the standing Committee of Public Safety with several heads, countless,! Suspected of anti- revolutionary activities were sent to death and that would stop people from following them their. Instead `` justice '' as the order of the National Convention, while the Montagnards radical! Show great hostility towards the rebellion the writings of Baron de Montesquieu, another thinker! Some historians argue that such Terror was a continuation of the day, they persuaded the Convention adopted reign of terror significance... People suspected of anti- revolutionary activities were sent to death and that would people. History Sourcebook: Montesquieu: the French Revolution information from Encyclopaedia Britannica early as may 1793 the Convention arrest! An instrument of victory, leaders saw a correlation between using Terror and achieving victory many of his commented... Was to purge France of enemies of the Enlightenment greatly influenced Robespierre as well de la Terreur ``, michel. Of what might have happened if they persisted hung over France ``, michel.