The Reign of Terror

The French Revolution was a time of hardship and despair for French citizens, as each day was a battle just to maintain life. In the early 1790's, times became particularly difficult, especially for the poor. To resolve issues for the poor, the French government made a few radical economic changes that would supply the poor with food and work. Meanwhile, Maximilien Robespierre (depicted on the right) devised a system to solidify the French home front. This web of extremely intense courts was named the The central purpose of these courts was to try "enemies of the state" and other rebels for political crimes against France. This court had nearly unlimited power, as it answered only to Robespierre's Committee of Public Safety. Approximately forty thousand French people died via execution or while in prison, and another three hundred thousand were arrested for various crimes. These courts were created in an attempt to stabilize the French home front and force people to become more patriotic. However, looking back, these courts really only produced terror in the hearts and minds of people, rather than the patriotic feelings that these actions were meant to evoke. Not only were approximately forty thousand people killed for crimes they may or may not have committed, but also nearly three hundred thousand people were unnecessarily arrested. In hind sight, these arrests made people think not "wow, I could be arrested if I oppose France," but rather, "why would I service a country that accuses it's loyal citizens of crimes they did not commit?" These courts were soon to be realized for what they truly were, and Robespierre was soon unmasked as the evil man that he truly was, and in July of 1794 Robespierre was executed by the French government, thus lifting the dark blanket that the Reign of Terror had cast over all of France.