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The Reign of Terror in France

Explain the reasons for the use of terror in the period from 1793-1794.

The use of terror from the period 1793 to 1794 was a period in which the
revolution politically moved to the extreme in order to maintain the control and
influence of the National Convention. The reasons and basis for the terror largely
occurred from the force of circumstance, where the threat of foreign invasion
and constant internal rebellion jeopardised the survival of the Republic. The
Jacobins, who were the central authoritative force at this time, also adopted the
use of terror in order to eliminate all its opposition. The analysis of personalities
during the time and the context of political violence inherited from the Ancien
Regime are also considerable influences in its self.

The circumstances surrounding France during 1793 to 1794 contributed to a

large extent the use of terror as the newly established power of the National
Convention faced many prominent threats, in particular, foreign invasion. The
opposition and the outrage which had instigated from the abolition of feudalism,
eventually leading to the execution of the French monarch, King Louis XVI, was
clearly evident in surrounding European kingdoms, especially those of Austria,
Prussia, Britain and Spain. The growing fear and concern that a similar outbreak
of rebellion would similarly occur prompted the monarchs to create improvised
measures to deal with this predicament. Invasion by foreign armies were
inevitable in these circumstances. The French deputies, in order to protect
France for the present and the future, consequently did not have much of an
alternative choice, but to employ strong and deliberate measures, in order to
drive away foreign armies from France. Therefore, it was through the use of
terror that foreign threats to the revolution could be eliminated effectively.

Another threat to the power of the National Convention was the counter-
revolutionary uprisings occurring within France itself. The uprisings that
predominantly cultivated in the provinces of La Vendee, Normandy and Brittany
and in the cities of Bordeaux, Lyons, Marseilles and Toulon were ongoing and
never-ceasing. The motivations behind the revolts in the provinces were caused
by a series of complications that had arisen in the ambition of upholding the
Republic. These complications ranged from the profound loyalty of the citizens in
regards to the Church, where its power and wealth were in the process of being
destroyed by the revolutionary assemblies, to the widespread loss of life from
France’s defeats on the battlefield. The clearly determined resistance of the new
revolution by a substantial amount of the largely illiterate peasant population
could be witnessed in the massacres, initiated by Catholic peasants, of the
citizens associated with the local administration. It was both crucial and vital to
sustain internal political order in France in order for the National Convention to
be effectively in control. The use of terror therefore was immediately applied to
eliminate the ongoing and never-ceasing counter revolution that was threatening
the power of the National Convention.

The central authoritative force during the revolutionary period was the Jacobins,
who thus controlled the power that the National Convention possessed. However,
during the period 1793 to 1794, the Jacobins faced insecurities and threats to its
power from its increasing conflict and rivalry with the Girondins. Conversely, the
two political factions had coexisted in the same Convention before the
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apprehension and fear of both internal and external war invigorated the growing
rivalry. This constant foreboding led to accusations such as that of treason
between the two political factions. Eventually, war broke out, and the Jacobins,
who largely advocated for the new Republic, were compelled to implement a
deliberate policy to eliminate the Girondins, who in contrast, had much less
radical policies. The implementation of this policy, which resulted in the
extensive use of terror throughout the elimination of Girondin leaders, therefore
allowed the Jacobins to successfully gain and maintain their control of the
National Convention and thus the newly formed Republic of France.

The analysis of a principal personality during the period 1793 to 1794, irrefutably
the leader of the ruling Jacobins, Maximilien Robespierre, could also elucidate the
reasons for the use of terror. Robespierre’s ideas and ambitions, to begin with,
were of an intense and controversial nature, thus it was blatant that he would
accomplish a vital role in the uprising of the French Revolution. Personally,
Robespierre had allowed himself no space for the possibility of error as he
sensed the volatile and unstable situation of France during the revolutionary
period. To ensure the upholding of his power, as well as the Committee’s, it was
crucial to restore order within his country, hence Robespierre endeavoured to
eliminate any possible threats. The denunciation of his opponents by bringing
their motives into question and the fact that any disagreements were seen at
fault thus parallel the unvarying vigilance of Robespierre’s personality. The use
of terror during the period 1793 to 1794 could therefore be reflected upon the
personality of principal figures, such as that of Maximilien Robespierre.

The context of political violence inherited from the Ancien Regime in addition
attained a considerable influence in the use of terror during the revolutionary
period. The Ancien Regime, which had been enforced before the revolution, was
fundamentally an organisation of society in which the largely peasant population
were prepared, or forced, to provide the aristocracy with service or payment in
exchange for protection. This inequitable system was often exploited, and
retributions and executions, especially of the peasants, were frequent. Therefore
the use of terror could be mirrored upon the values inherited from the Ancien
Regime.

The reasons for the use of terror from the period 1793 to 1794 could certainly be
accounted for. The survival of the Republic, a symbol of the success and the
achievements accomplished by the revolution, was imperative and worth battling
for. Occurrences such as that of external invasion, internal rebellion and internal
political opposition had all jeopardised the survival of the Republic. The use of
terror was extensively used to eliminate these unceasing threats, as well as
other reasons such as that of the personality of Jacobin leader, Maximilien
Robespierre and the context of political violence inherited previously from the
Ancien Regime.