Why did Robespierre begin a period of Terror in the French Revolution?
Consider four factors that can be considered as reasons for why Robespierre began the period of Terror from Septemeber 1793 to July 1794.
We can then start to think about key evidence which will support our factors.
For example, your essay plan may start to look like this:
1) To eliminate counter-revolutionaries at home:
1800 drowned at Nantes on the premise that they were Counter Revolutionaries
‘Summary Execution Decree’ of 19th March 1793 allowed the trial and execution of armed rebels within 24 hours of their capture
Committee of General Security (CGS) responsible for rooting out anti-republicans
Vendee uprising March 1793 caused approx. 80,000 deaths after the introduction of conscription and expansion of war caused a frenzy- led to introduction of Revolutionary Tribunal
2) To eliminate threats from hostile countries:
The September Massacres 1792- rumours arose that prisoners were plotting to escape and hand the city over to the Prussians
Marat therefore called for them to be killed. Half of 2600 prisoners in Paris jails were murdered in 1792
Key purpose of Armee Revolutionaire was to mobilise nation’s resources for the war effort by confiscating the church’s silver and bells- helped fuel dechristianisation
The British were defeated at Hondschoote and Spanish driven out of Roussillion
3) In order to solve economic issues:
General Maximum introduced 29th September 1793 to control prices and wages
Convention bowed to pressure from Sans Culottes in July and passed a law that imposed death penalty for hoarding food and other supplies
The journee of September 1793 fuelled by enrage’s demands for the convention to deal with starvation and poverty
4) The demands of the Sans Culottes:
The killers of the September Massacre were Sans Culottes
Girondins regarded them as buveurs de sang (drinkers of blood)
Nobody opposed them as this would have meant mobilising the National Guard and risking another Champ De Mars
Formation of armee revolutionaire in September 1793, mainly Sans Culottes members
General Maximum introduced 29th September 1793 as Sans Culottes wanted it in order for them to afford bread
After looking at your evidence for each factor, decide which factor was the most important in causing the Terror and use your strongest evidence to explain why.
