Toward the Terror

The French Revolution began in 1789 aiming to transform France into a more liberal, equal society ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Yet by 1793 it had generated something else entirely— a system of repression and violence referred to as the Terror. While some insist that the Revolution’s culmination at this point was inevitable, others assert that key events between 1789 and 1793 set the Revolution on this particular trajectory. Siding with the latter, I argue that King Louis XVI’s attempted flight in 1791 was an incredibly significant turning point in the Revolution, as its social and political consequences played a vital role in placing the Revolution on the path toward the Terror. While it is impossible to definitively say that another event may not have triggered the Terror before 1793, it is nevertheless entirely possible to imagine the Revolution having taken a different trajectory had Louis not attempted to flee. This will be proven through an examination of the flight’s most substantial consequences— namely, change in public opinion of the King, political division and newfound support for republicanism, conspiracy obsession among deputies, and responding measures prefiguring those of the Terror.

While France was undoubtedly facing difficult challenges in the summer of 1791, many people anticipated that the Revolution was finally nearing its end, and that some stability would return as France became a functional constitutional monarchy. The National Assembly was working to combat lingering problems and instability— most concerning religion, authority, and discontent— while promoting toleration and civil resolution. New administrative and judicial systems were generally operational, support for the new regime was high amon...

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