The Reign of Terror
The reign of terror lasted from September 1793 until the fall of Maximilien Robespierre in 1794. France was governed by the committee of public safety, in which George Danton and Maximilien Robespierre were influential members. Robespierre began pointing an accusing finger at anyone who seem to be counterrevolutionary. Citizens who committed no crime but merely had social or political agendas that varied from Robespierre’s were beheaded at the guillotine. The terror was dreadful but necessary in order to protect the country and so in the course of nine months, about 16,000 people were guillotined including Marie Antoinette. In 1794, the armies of France were very successful against their enemies, which meant that the terror was no longer necessary. But Robespierre continued the terror because he wanted to purge France of everyone who was corrupt. Finally, the killing ended when Robespierre was executed on July 28, 1794.
Sources:
http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/07/13/marieantoinetteexecute-a8b7aa02f3a17f0904724853bbfc83dc2b9c738a-s6-c30.jpg
http://www.historywiz.com/terror.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/reign-of-terror
Researchers:
Wynette Ong
Savannah See
Sources:
http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/07/13/marieantoinetteexecute-a8b7aa02f3a17f0904724853bbfc83dc2b9c738a-s6-c30.jpg
http://www.historywiz.com/terror.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/reign-of-terror
Researchers:
Wynette Ong
Savannah See