Machinery of terror Flashcards
When was the Committee of General Security originally set up?
set up in 1789; acted as political police, renamed in 1792
What were the tasks of the CGS?
.Surveillance over state security
.prosecution of foreign agents and counterfeits
.regular reporting to the national convention
What triggered the sending of representatives on mission by the National convention?
Outbreaks of counter-revolutionary violence throughout France (1793)
Who were the Representatives on mission similar to?
Intendants in the Ancien Regime
What were the tasks of the representatives on mission in March 1793?
.Restore public order
.check on functioning of the grain trade
.Ensure the levy of 300,00 men was carried out
.Arrest suspects to be sent before the revolutionary tribunal
Where were some RoM’s sent to in order to make them more effective?
The armies
What powers did the army RoM’s have?
.Acted as a source of propaganda, and support morale of troops
. Replace military commanders
. Arrest and send people to RT
.Supervise and supply recruitment
Why was the revolutionary tribunal Set up ?
War crisis and threat of violence from the sans-culottes had made deputies fearful of a repeat of the September massacres
What was considered as a Counter-revolutionary act punishable by the RT?
. Any attempts to re-establish the monarchy
.Attacks on the principles of the revolution
. Attacks on the states internal and external security
Where did the Committee of public safety have its origins?
In earlier attempts to co-ordinate war efforts
When was the CPS created?
April 1793, 2 days after the treason of General Dumouriez
What did General Dumouriez do that influenced the Creation of the CPS?
He had attempted to lead his army into Paris to try and overthrow the convention, deflected to the Austrians when his men refused
What were the functions of the CPS?
. Meet in secret
. Supervise activity of all ministers and agents of the government
. Collectively pass decrees relating to defence
. report weekly to the convention
Who was the CPS dominated by?
Danton
Why did Robespierre decline being a member of the CPS?
He thought it had little usefulness
What was the law of 19th March in direct response to?
Widespread revolt in the Vendee
What did the law of the 19th March state?
The penalty for any rebel captured carrying arms was death, with no trial or right of appeal
What impact did the law of 19th march have?
Allowed suspects to be tried and executed within 24 hours of capture
Caused the majority of executions under the terror
When did watch committees originate?
August 1792, after the overthrow of the monarchy
What were the Watch committees of the Paris commune often blamed for?
The September massacres
A secondary law was passed under the watch committee state
Required all communes or town sections to set up a watch committee
What was this set up in the face of
internal and external threats
What was the role of the Watch committees
. Watch foreigners
. punish those involved in riots or conspiracy to death
. had NO powers to arrest
What could the watch committes issue
Certificate of civisme (civic virtue/support of revolution) which all officials had to have
