The terror

When was the First Coalition formed?

Early 1793

What was the First Coalition?

A unity of European countries, including Austria and Prussia, against the French Republic

What was the impact of the formation of the First Coalition?

• It led to the end of Frances’ military success

• Increased opposition to the Girondins who had supported the war

When did the San-Culotte attack the printing presses?

9-10th of March 1793

What lead to the sans-culotte attacking the printing presses?

• The war increased the militancy of the sans-culotte

• Opposition to Girondin ministers as a result of the war

When was the levee en masse?

August 23rd 1793

What did the levee en masse consist of?

• Conscription

• Labour draft into the food industries

• Push of women into working in hospitals

What was the impact of the levee en masse?

It lead to passive citizens thinking about ideas of universal suffrage

What was the role of representatives en mission?

Officials dispatched across France to supervise generals

What lead to the implementation of the representatives en mission?

Loss of trust in generals after the defection of Lafayette

Quote about the defeat of revolt in the vendee

“Defeat the Vendee the Prussians will not hold the Rhine”

In what year was the Law of 19 March implemented?

1793

When was the purge of the Girondins?

May 31st -June 2nd 1793

What was the impact of the purge of the girondins?

• The dominant Montagnard faction had to accept their reliance on the sans-culotte

• Uprisings in Lyons and Toulon had to be supressed

Why were set prices implemented?

• The value of the assignat had fallen significantly as the result of the war

• This affected the poorest in society the most

• So set prices were demanded by the Sans-Culotte

What led to increased tensions in Paris in August 1793?

• The value of the assignat had fallen to 1/3 its original value

• Drought and war had lead to a shortage of suplies

When was the General Maximum implemented?

August 29th 1793

What was the General Maximum?

It enforced wage and price controls across France

When was the assassination of Marat?

July 1793

What was the impact of the assassination of Marat?

It lead to the National Convention feeling after threat, especially after the murder of Lepeltier in January

When was the Law of suspects implemented?

September 17th 1793

What was the impact of the Law of Suspects?

• Widened the definition of a political crime

• For example, it lead to the prosecution of anyone who didn’t posses a certificate of Civisme from their local Watch Committee

When was dechristianisation at its peak?

August 1793

What did dechristianisation involve?

The shutting of churches and the destruction of bells and roadside shrines by sans-culotte

What was the impact of dechristianisation?

• It generated a lot of opposition

• This included opposition from Robespierre and among rural populations

When was the Law on General Police implemented?

April 16th 1794

What was the impact of the Law on General Police?

• Agents were sent out to identify suspects all over France

• Clergy, nobles and ex-Hebertists were sent to the Revolutionary Tribunal

When was the Law of Floreal introduced?

May 8th 1794

What was the impact of the Law of Floreal?

• Strengthened the dictatorship of the CPS and CSG

• Gave the RT complete jurisdiction over counter-revolutionary crimes

When was the Law of 22 Prairial Year II introduced?

June 10th 1794

What did the Law of 22 Prairial involve?

• Political crimes now included ‘criticism of patriotism’ and ‘perverting public opinion’

• Abolished defence councils and public cross-examination of defences

• Acquittal rate dropped to 20%, groups of defendants were tried for the same charge, so numbers guillotined rose rapidly

Who drafted the Law of 22 Prairial

Robespierre

What was the impact of the Law of 22 Prairial?

When was the Coup of Thermidor?

What did Robespierre say which contributed to the Coup of Thermidor?

What was the Cult of the Supreme being?

What was the impact of the Cult of the Supreme being?

What did the Law of 19 March allow?

What was the impact of set prices being introduced?

When was the Law of Frimaire introduced?

What was the impact of the Law of Frimaire?