The Spread of the Terror

Question 1

How many victims of the Terror were there between 1792 and 1794? - The Terror

Answer 1

Between 1792 and 1794, there were 40,000 victims of the Terror.

Question 2

How many cases did the Revolutionary Tribunal deal with between September and December 1793? - The Terror

Answer 2

Between September and December 1793, the Revolutionary Tribunal dealt with 500,000 cases.

Question 3

In the early stages of the Terror, what percentage of executions were of the nobility? - The Terror

Answer 3

In the early stages of the Terror, only 9% of the victims were from the Nobility.

Question 4

When was Marie-Antoinette guillotined? What crimes was she accused of and what crimes was she convicted of? - The Terror

Answer 4

Marie-Antoinette was executed in October 1793, charged with incest, orgies, squandering government money, conspiracy against the state and sharing intelligence with the Enemy. She was convicted of all except incest.

Question 5

When were the expelled Girondin deputies put on trial and executed? - The Terror

Answer 5

The expelled Girondin deputies were put on trial and executed in October 1793, with this result effectively a foregone conclusion.

Question 6

How many people were guillotined in the Terror in the Vendée? What OTHER methods were used to execute the Vendéeans? - The Terror

Answer 6

In the Vendée, 7873 people were guillotined during the Terror. Furthermore, people were shot without trial and even part of mass drownings.

Question 7

When did dechristianisation become an official policy of the Paris Commune? What methods were used to fulfil this? - The Terror

Answer 7

Dechristianisation became an official policy of the Commune in October 1793, with this facilitated by removing or vandalising statues, crosses and religious ornaments. The figures on the Notre Dame were all executed.

Question 8

How many clerics lived in Paris before dechristianisation? How many clerics lived in Paris after dechristianisation? - The Terror

Answer 8

Paris had over 6000 clerics prior to dechristianisation, with only a few hundred following the Terror.

Question 9

What was the Festival of Reason? When was it held? - The Terror

Answer 9

The Festival of Reason was held in November 1793, with an opera singer representing Liberty sitting on a throne and being attended to in order to respect revolutionary ideals. This was held at the Temple of Reason in Notre Dame.

Question 10

What was the view of Robespierre on the religious policies of the Paris Commune? How did he preserve the previous practicing of religion? - The Terror

Answer 10

Robespierre believed that dechristianisation was too radical as a policy and that faith would be a help in maintaining order. He managed to persuade the Convention to secure religious toleration.

Question 11

When was the Law of 14 Frimaire II passed? What did this determine? - The Terror

Answer 11

The Law of 14 Frimaire II was passed on the 4th December 1793. This gave the CPS powers over local government, ministers, generals and representatives on mission, whilst it also closed down popular societies.

Question 12

How did the Law of 14 Frimaire II impact the Sans-Culottes? - The Terror

Answer 12

The Law of 14 Frimaire II diminished the influence of the Sans-Culottes as it prevented them from gathering politically and discussing politics. This reduced the hold of this group over the Jacobins.

Question 13

Who was Hébert? What did he and his followers believe and why did this contrast with Robespierre? - The Terror

Answer 13

Hébert was a radical leader and pamphleteer who called for an acceleration of the Terror with the removal of the Jacobin faction which dominated the Government, likening it to a dictatorship.

Question 14

Who were the Indulgents? What were their beliefs and how did these contrast with the Sans-Culottes? - The Terror

Answer 14

The Indulgents included people such as Danton and Desmoulins who wished to de-escalate the Terror, arguing it had served its purpose given the stability France was now experiencing. This contrasted with Robespierre, who wished to remove all political opponents and maximise his own control.

Question 15

What was the fate of Hébert and the Hébertists? When did this happen? - The Terror

Answer 15

Hébert and the Hébertists were arrested following rumours of a plot to massacre Convention members, with them executed in March 1794.

Question 16

What was the fate of the Indulgents? When did this happen? - The Terror

Answer 16

The Indulgents were arrested following allegations of bribery and financial corruption. Danton, Desmoulins and others were then put to trial in April 1794.

Question 17

How had the CPS begun to split and become a weakened body by May 1794? - The Terror

Answer 17

The CPS had begun to be factious, with Robespierre, Couthon and Saint-Just now dominating the Executive whilst radical revolutionaries and moderates alike within the body had become extremely alienated.

Question 18

How many people were executed between March and June 1794? - The Terror

Answer 18

Over 1000 people were executed between March and June of 1794.

Question 19

When was the Cult of the Supreme Being established? What was this? - The Terror

Answer 19

The Cult of the Supreme Being was established in March 1794, with this being a deist celebration of a Supreme Being rather than a Christian God. This was an attempt to reverse previous dechristianisation.

Question 20

When was the Law of 22 Prairial passed? What did this determine? - The Terror

Answer 20

The Law of 22 Prairial was passed in May 1794. This centralised all revolutionary justice by closing provincial tribunals, reducing trials to a maximum of 3 days, only allowing verdicts of acquittal or death, removing deputies’ immunity from prosecution and removing defences and witnesses.

Question 21

When was the Great Terror? How many people were put to death during this period? - The Terror

Answer 21

The Great Terror lasted from June-July 1794. 1284 people were put to death during this period.

Question 22

What percentage of executions during the Great Terror were nobles? What percentage were bourgeoisie? What does this say about this phase of the Terror? - The Terror

Answer 22

During the Great Terror, 35% of executions were nobles and 40% were bourgeoisie. This demonstrates that this phase of the Terror was heavily class based compared to earlier stages.

Question 23

How did Robespierre anger the sans-culottes through his later policies towards prices of goods and wages? - The Terror

Answer 23

Robespierre angered the Sans-Culottes by backtracking on the Law of the General Maximum to encourage more food to be farmed, leading to an increase in the price of food. Furthermore, a maximum wage price was set, immensely angering the Sans-Culottes.

Question 24

Why were CGS members angered by the decisions of the CPS? - The Terror

Answer 24

Anti-clericals and atheists within the CGS were immensely unhappy with Robespierre’s decision to overturn dechristianisation. Furthermore, the CGS had not been consulted on the Law of 14 Frimaire II, and their powers had been infringed upon by the CPS.

Question 25

Why were Catholics dismayed by the policies of the CPS? - The Terror

Answer 25

Catholics were dismayed by the policies of the CPS as they feared the process of dechistianisation as well as the Cult of the Supreme Being.

Question 26

When was the Coup of Thermidor? - The Terror

Answer 26

The Coup of Thermidor happened on the 27th July 1794.

Question 27

What happened at the Coup of Thermidor? - The Terror

Answer 27

The Convention passed a unanimous decree to arrest Robespierre and his associates, with them taken to prison. An attempt to release them was made by some sections of the National Guard and this succeeded. However, the prisoners were retaken and later executed.

Question 28

When were Robespierre and his associates executed after the Coup of Thermidor? - The Terror

Answer 28

Robespierre and his associates were executed on the 28th July 1794.