The French Revolution

The French Revolution was instigated to ensure all citizens rights were equal, it promised a more economic and just social infrastructure. The Reign of terror was an evolution of the Revolution, its was to rid France of the enemies of the revolution and protect the country from foreign invaders. Varying factors threatened the Revolution and influencing the Reign of Terror with these threats the government formed the Committee of Public Safety to act as the enforcer. With social and economic demands due to the hardship caused by food shortages and price rises, a central authority was required to control prices, rationing and distribution of food essentials. For its part we look at how strong an influence the counter-revolutionists and war had on the Reign of terror, or with the concentration of power in the hands of the extremists and factional conflict with the Revolution itself having a major influence in the justification of the Reign of Terror.

As the revolutionist gained control and implemented new reform in France they made many enemies. A large group of French counter-revolutionaries made up of nobles, ecclesiastics and bourgeois who deserted their country's turmoil and emigrated to bordering countries were a threat to the revolutionaries. Much of the violence associated with the Reign of Terror was the result of the governments attempt to stop these threats. The new formed "emigres" gathered armed forces to the northeastern frontier of France, and in the Vendee region counter-revolutionaries loyally stood by the church and strongly opposed Robespierre. They were raged by the movement he led to de-Christianise France and his persecution of the Church and its members. Priests were massacred and churches and religious images destroyed. Thousands of Catholic peasants armed themselves to overthrow the Republic and restore the monarchy. Federalist revolts and other uprising took place in Normandy and Brittany and many regional cities which include Bordeaux, Lyons, Marsailles and Toulon. The introduction of a draft to raise an army of 300,000 additional soldiers sparked off a rebellion in western rural areas of France. The Terror as a form of government used the state coercive power to ensure compliance with the demands of the government. Those who did not comply were tried "suspects" for treason and sentence to the guillotine. Therefor internal enemies of the revolution played a huge role in the pursuit of terror as