The Reign of Terror
Robespierre and the Republic of Virtue
The Word on the Street
 During the French Revolution, the new freedom of the press
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allowed newspapers and pamphlets to do things they had never
done before
They freely criticized the government and addressed the concerns
of the people
These papers were people’s link to the revolution
Some of these papers were very radical and often promoted fear
and paranoia in the part of the people
The most infamous writer during this time was Jean Paul
Marat
He supported the Jacobins and promoted violence and
intolerance towards anyone who opposed radical reform
For example, Marat said that if the conservative elements of the
National Assembly were not removed then . . .
“Five or six hundred heads would have guaranteed your freedom and
happiness but a false humanity has restrained your arms and stopped your
blows. If you don’t strike now, millions of your brothers will die, your
enemies will triumph and your blood will flood the streets.They'll slit
your throats without mercy and disembowel your wives. And their bloody
hands will rip out your children’s entrails to erase your love of liberty
forever.”
The Committee of Public Safety
 After the death of Louis and severe defeats
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on the battlefield, the National Assembly
created the committee of Public Safety: a
nine man group that would form the
executive leadership of the country
The were led by Georges Danton
As time passed, the committee assumed
more and more power
Eventually, they committee assumed
dictatorial powers and ruled the country
by emergency decree
One of the most influential members and
spokesman for the group was a young
lawyer named Maximilien de Robespierre
Robespierre would eventually replace
Danton as leader (after Robespierre had
Danton executed)
The Death of Marat
 Marat was a member of the National
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Convention as well as a newspaper writer
Through his writing and political
maneuvers, he attacked the Girodins, who
he blamed for starting the war
He was influential in the destruction of
Girodin power in the National Assembly
and then the persecution of Girodins as
traitors
One day, as Marat sat in a bath (because of a
skin condition) he was stabbed to death by a
female Girodin sympathizer
Marat became a martyr of the revolution
and his death was the spark that started the
reign of terror
The Jacobins became obsessed with
destroying any elements in society that
opposed the revolution
Maximilien de Robespierre
 The leader of the
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Jacobins
A Lawyer before
the Revolution
Brilliant
Fanatical
Visionary
Uncompromising
Incorruptible
The Reign of Terror
 As the leader of the nation, Robespierre faced a
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difficult task
The countryside was still starving and violent
There were enemies of the revolution
everywhere (royalists who wanted a return to
monarchy, French Nobility plotting the
downfall of the revolution in hiding, foreign
invaders that were routing the French Army in
every battle, everyday people who were
unhappy with the current situation and wanted
stability)
Robespierre fought back with “THE TERROR”
He demanded absolute conformity from
everyone in society
Anyone who did not follow Robespierre’s rules
(even minor infractions) were swiftly executed
In his time as leader of France, 18,000 people
were beheaded in public
Robespierre Accomplishments
Through terror, Robespierre accomplished many things; for example
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He calmed the countryside and provided stability for the first time in years
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He Turned the Tide of War (He started drafting soldiers from the general public, he
inspired them with the hope of the revolution and a better life, defeat meant going
back to tyranny. France started to win against the combined Armies of most of
Europe)
Robespierre had other contributions as well . . .
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He was one of the major contributors to the declaration of the rights of man
He was also a visionary and demanded that others conform to his vision
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He instituted the “METRIC SYSTEM”
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Attempted to create a new Calendar (e.g. Thermador)
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Created new fashions
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Created new language conventions and word usages
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Created a New Flag (France’s current flag)
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He even created a new religion (The Cult of the Supreme Being)
The Sans Culottes
 This was a radical left wing group
 Means “No Short Pants” a direct
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insult to the fashion wore by the
nobility
Long pants were the clothes of the
third estate
Made up of thousands of supporters
across France
They represented the lower classes
(workers and peasants)
The were firm supporters of the
Jacobins and made up the bulk of his
revolutionary Army
Robespierre’s Downfall
 Robespierre was too successful
 When the threat of military defeat was gone and the
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countryside was back in order, there was no need for
the radical Robespierre and his grand vision
When they went to arrest him he attempted to
commit suicide (he shot himself but missed . . . He
only managed to blow off his lower jaw)
He was guillotined without trial the next day
This is known as the Thermadorian Reaction
After the downfall of Robespierre and the Jacobins, a
new government took over: The Directory
The Directory was more moderate and further
stabilized France
However, the directory was weak and only managed
to survive for 4 years