French Revolution - Reign of Terror
To understand the Reign of Terror, a period of unrivaled brutality and violence against supposed 'enemies' of the Revolution, we must also understand the person of Maximilian Robespierre.
Robespierre became the leader of the Jacobin club, a social club that came to dominate French politics throughout 1792, and was particularly aligned with the populist movement centred on the Parisian working class, known as the sans-culottes. With the execution of Louis in February of 1793, and the establishment of the Committee of Public Safety in April 1793*, mob violence and extreme brutality was used to remove anyone who supposedly threatened the Revolution. - Watch the Khan Academy video, starting from 18:08 minutes. Consider why the Reign of Terror began, and how it ended. Extension: The article titled "Robespierre and the Revolution" is a fantastic overview of the Reign of Terror, particularly discussing the role of Robespierre. Read the article and respond to these questions: - What was the Law of Suspects and what did it enable? - Why did the Jacobin club support the brutality of the Reign of Terror? *(Note that the Committee of Public Safety was established in April of 1793, NOT 1792 like the Khan Academy video says) |
Robespierre and the Revolution |