The Terror

The guillotine remains the symbol of the Terror, and is usually associated with the French Revolution. Bloody purges, terrified citizens, dictatorship and the suppression of freedom granted through the Declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen in 1789 - all these were part of the Terror.

Text

1 of 3

The period of the Terror was considered by some historians as a deviation of the revolution, provoked by militant sans-culottes. These militants forced the country’s leaders to adopt politics contrary to the liberal reforms adopted by the Constituent Assembly. Althoughtheir support was necessary for the salvation of the revolution, the sans-culottes did not obtain any permanent benefits or lasting changes for themselves.

Image

Text

2 of 3

There were two periods of Terror, both linked to war outside the country. The first period began after the attack on the Tuileries Palace and ended with the Battle of Valmy. After these battles, the allied invasion was rebuffed.

Image

Text

3 of 3

The second period of Terror began with the arrest of a number of Girondist deputies and ended with the execution of Robespierre and his supporters.

Image

The Convention

Based on the law granting universal suffrage, all men over 21 years of age could participate in the elections for the Convention. However, the results were distorted due to the high level of pressure, which led to fear and intimidation.

Text

1 of 3

In Paris, monarchist supporters lost their right to vote. As a consequences, all 24 members representing Paris were Jacobins, republicans and supporters of the Commune. Thus, Robespierre obtained the greatest number of votes in the capital.

Image

Text

2 of 3

Initially, there were 200 Girondists and 100 Jacobins in the Convention, which meant that neither camp had a majority. Those who did not belong to either camp sat in the middle, lower-level part of the hall in which the Assembly met. So, they were called the marsh or the plain.

Image

Text

3 of 3

Approx. one-third of the deputies were lawyers. The percentage of businessmen and traders fell from 13% in the Constituent Assembly to 9% in the Convention.

Image