Explain the reign of terror in france?

The Reign of Terror was a violent phase of the French Revolution from September 1793 to July 1794. Led by the Committee of Public Safety under Maximilien Robespierre, it sought to purge “enemies of the revolution” through mass arrests and executions by guillotine. Revolutionary tribunals, offering only “guilty” or “not guilty,” sent thousands—aristocrats, clergy, rival politicians, and dissenting revolutionaries to their deaths. Fear, repression, and political instability defined the period.

Key points

• Period: Sept 1793–July 1794
• Leadership: Committee of Public Safety; Robespierre prominent
• Aim: Defend the revolution, crush dissent, centralize power
• Methods: Revolutionary tribunals; large-scale executions
• Targets: Nobles, clergy, opposition groups, radical rivals
• Impact: Widespread fear, civilian suffering, mounting instability

End

The Terror ended with Robespierre’s arrest and execution in July 1794. The Thermidorian Reaction followed, shifting the revolution toward more moderate governance.