Reign Of Terror Research Paper

The Reign of Terror is an extremely controversial time period during the French Revolution because it shows France turning on its people with opposing political views that threatened the Revolution’s progression. At this time, the rebels were considered violent threats and the ways to deal with them became increasing violent and dictatorial. In 1792, the National Convention created fundamental changes in France’s government, drastically changing the political and social landscape. According to Popkin, “Some believe the assembly laid the groundwork for the basic institutions that make France a democratic society today, while others see the Convention as a violent and destructive regime comparable to the totalitarian dictatorships of the twentieth century (Popkin, 63).” Even though historians disagree, they cannot disagree on the radical policies that are no doubt some of the most radical moments in French Revolution history. They’re related specifically to their creation of democracy and the polices of terror, which also rose the questioned of whether the government was a democracy or a dictatorship because of the lack of political freedom and complete control over the people of France.

This led to radical policies being put into place without a balance of power, resulting in what some would say, a dictatorship.

In 1793, the execution of the king sent the government of France into a spiral of radical policies. It started in a struggle for power between the two parties of Montagnards and Girondins. The Montagnards ultimately took control, led by Maximilien Robespierre. The Montagnards were the more radical party. Due to internal and external rebellion, they created the Committee of Public