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31 Dec 2025
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The French Revolution: Exploring the Era of The Terror
F
Finlay Newell
@finlaynewell_ampn
1 / 4
The Terror Takes Hold
When crowds stormed the Hôtel de Ville demanding bread and higher wages on 4 September, the Convention declared Terror as "the order of the day". This wasn't just political rhetoric - it marked the beginning of systematic revolutionary violence.
The armée révolutionnaire became the Terror's enforcement arm, consisting mainly of sans-culottes . They defended the revolution by ensuring food supplies reached Paris and other large cities, whilst rounding up hoarders and crushing opposition. Though not official government policy, the sans-culottes drove this revolutionary force forward.
De-Christianisation attacked the Church in shocking ways. Churches were closed, bells removed, and roadside shrines destroyed. By spring 1794, most churches had shut down. This deeply angered rural villages and became one of the Terror's most resented aspects.
The Law of Maximum (29 September 1793) imposed death penalties for hoarding goods. Peasants hated selling their produce for less, but the policy worked - the value of assignats (revolutionary currency) rose from 22% to 45% by December 1793.
Remember: The Terror wasn't chaos - it was organised violence with specific economic and political goals that actually succeeded in many areas.
The Great Terror and Government Control
By late 1793, the Committee of Public Safety (CPS) had crushed federal revolts, secured food supplies, and strengthened the French army. Their success allowed them to seize power back from the sans-culottes through clever political manoeuvring.
The Law of Frimaire (4 December 1793) created a centralised dictatorship. The CPS controlled foreign policy whilst the Committee of General Security (CGS) handled police and internal security. All revolutionary armies were disbanded, and representatives-on-mission came under CPS control.
Opposition was brutally eliminated. Danton, representing right-wing opposition, called for an end to terror but was executed. Hébert, with his left-wing newspaper demanding property redistribution, also faced the guillotine along with his Cordeliers club supporters.
The Law of Prairial (30 June 1794) sped up "revolutionary justice" by streamlining executions. This marked the Great Terror - a period when no one dared criticise the CPS. The government had transformed from revolutionary democracy into authoritarian dictatorship.
Key Point: The CPS eliminated opposition from both left and right, showing how revolutionary governments can become more extreme than what they replaced.
The Sans-Culottes' Rise and Influence
The sans-culottes (literally "without breeches") gained power primarily through war and crisis. These working-class Parisians had shaped the revolution since 1789, storming the Bastille and forcing the king back to Paris during the October Days.
Their influence exploded when the National Guard opened to "passive citizens" (poorer men without property). The sans-culottes orchestrated the crucial journée of 31 May 1793, which brought Jacobins to power and changed revolutionary politics forever.
Sans-culottes ideology was straightforward but powerful: hatred of aristocracy and wealth, anti-clericalism (opposition to Church power), and belief in direct democracy. They controlled the Paris Sections - local administrative units that managed the National Guard and watched suspects.
The levée en masse (23 August 1793) called up all Frenchmen for military service, conscripting nearly half a million men. Factories were established to produce ammunition. This mass mobilisation proved successful short-term, delivering crucial military victories that saved the revolution.
Think About It: The sans-culottes show how ordinary people can drive massive political change when circumstances align with their demands.
Revolutionary Government and Crisis
The Convention had three clear objectives: identify, observe, and punish suspects. This systematic approach created the machinery of Terror through powerful new institutions that reshaped French government.
The Committee of General Security hunted down anti-revolutionary opposition, whilst the Revolutionary Tribunal (established 10 March 1793) tried counter-revolutionary suspects. Representatives-on-mission reasserted government authority in provinces, supported by surveillance committees in every town.
Two distinct Terror periods emerged. The first began with the attack on Tuileries Palace and September Massacres, ending at the Battle of Valmy. The second started with the 31 May journée and concluded with Robespierre's execution in July 1794.
The federal revolt spread across 60 of France's 83 departments, with serious disturbances in Marseilles, Toulon, and Lyon. Many regions resented the Convention's authority and Jacobin influence. The overthrow of the Girondins on 2 June saw 80,000 National Guardsmen with cannons demand their expulsion from the Convention.
The Montagnards aligned with sans-culottes whilst the Plain supported repressive measures. This political crisis forced the government to seek popular support against internal and external enemies.
Bottom Line: The Terror emerged from genuine political crisis, not just revolutionary extremism - understanding this helps explain why it happened and why it worked.
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Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The French Revolution: Exploring the Era of The Terror
F
Finlay Newell
@finlaynewell_ampn
The French Revolution's most dramatic and violent phase, known as the Terror, transformed France between 1793-1794 through radical political control and social upheaval. This period saw the rise of powerful committees, mass executions, and attempts to completely reshape French society... Show more
The Terror Takes Hold
When crowds stormed the Hôtel de Ville demanding bread and higher wages on 4 September, the Convention declared Terror as "the order of the day". This wasn't just political rhetoric - it marked the beginning of systematic revolutionary violence.
The armée révolutionnaire became the Terror's enforcement arm, consisting mainly of sans-culottes . They defended the revolution by ensuring food supplies reached Paris and other large cities, whilst rounding up hoarders and crushing opposition. Though not official government policy, the sans-culottes drove this revolutionary force forward.
De-Christianisation attacked the Church in shocking ways. Churches were closed, bells removed, and roadside shrines destroyed. By spring 1794, most churches had shut down. This deeply angered rural villages and became one of the Terror's most resented aspects.
The Law of Maximum (29 September 1793) imposed death penalties for hoarding goods. Peasants hated selling their produce for less, but the policy worked - the value of assignats (revolutionary currency) rose from 22% to 45% by December 1793.
Remember: The Terror wasn't chaos - it was organised violence with specific economic and political goals that actually succeeded in many areas.
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The Great Terror and Government Control
By late 1793, the Committee of Public Safety (CPS) had crushed federal revolts, secured food supplies, and strengthened the French army. Their success allowed them to seize power back from the sans-culottes through clever political manoeuvring.
The Law of Frimaire (4 December 1793) created a centralised dictatorship. The CPS controlled foreign policy whilst the Committee of General Security (CGS) handled police and internal security. All revolutionary armies were disbanded, and representatives-on-mission came under CPS control.
Opposition was brutally eliminated. Danton, representing right-wing opposition, called for an end to terror but was executed. Hébert, with his left-wing newspaper demanding property redistribution, also faced the guillotine along with his Cordeliers club supporters.
The Law of Prairial (30 June 1794) sped up "revolutionary justice" by streamlining executions. This marked the Great Terror - a period when no one dared criticise the CPS. The government had transformed from revolutionary democracy into authoritarian dictatorship.
Key Point: The CPS eliminated opposition from both left and right, showing how revolutionary governments can become more extreme than what they replaced.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Sans-Culottes' Rise and Influence
The sans-culottes (literally "without breeches") gained power primarily through war and crisis. These working-class Parisians had shaped the revolution since 1789, storming the Bastille and forcing the king back to Paris during the October Days.
Their influence exploded when the National Guard opened to "passive citizens" (poorer men without property). The sans-culottes orchestrated the crucial journée of 31 May 1793, which brought Jacobins to power and changed revolutionary politics forever.
Sans-culottes ideology was straightforward but powerful: hatred of aristocracy and wealth, anti-clericalism (opposition to Church power), and belief in direct democracy. They controlled the Paris Sections - local administrative units that managed the National Guard and watched suspects.
The levée en masse (23 August 1793) called up all Frenchmen for military service, conscripting nearly half a million men. Factories were established to produce ammunition. This mass mobilisation proved successful short-term, delivering crucial military victories that saved the revolution.
Think About It: The sans-culottes show how ordinary people can drive massive political change when circumstances align with their demands.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Revolutionary Government and Crisis
The Convention had three clear objectives: identify, observe, and punish suspects. This systematic approach created the machinery of Terror through powerful new institutions that reshaped French government.
The Committee of General Security hunted down anti-revolutionary opposition, whilst the Revolutionary Tribunal (established 10 March 1793) tried counter-revolutionary suspects. Representatives-on-mission reasserted government authority in provinces, supported by surveillance committees in every town.
Two distinct Terror periods emerged. The first began with the attack on Tuileries Palace and September Massacres, ending at the Battle of Valmy. The second started with the 31 May journée and concluded with Robespierre's execution in July 1794.
The federal revolt spread across 60 of France's 83 departments, with serious disturbances in Marseilles, Toulon, and Lyon. Many regions resented the Convention's authority and Jacobin influence. The overthrow of the Girondins on 2 June saw 80,000 National Guardsmen with cannons demand their expulsion from the Convention.
The Montagnards aligned with sans-culottes whilst the Plain supported repressive measures. This political crisis forced the government to seek popular support against internal and external enemies.
Bottom Line: The Terror emerged from genuine political crisis, not just revolutionary extremism - understanding this helps explain why it happened and why it worked.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user