The Terror: Irrational Paranoia

To an extent, the period known as The Terror was a result of a combination of internal and external crises that forced the Committee of Public Safety to become increasingly authoritarian and ruthless. However, there were many contributions of irrational paranoia played a large part in the Terror, and which although may have been influenced by these crises, meant that these crises did not solely force the actions of the Committee, and in doing so, compromised the ideals which they had once regarded as the basis of their new society. External crises, such as the emergence of war with Austria and Prussia, and later with the First Coalition, created a need for coercion. Internal conflicts, such as resistance in the Vendee, and Federalist revolts also drove the Committee of Public Safety to become an authoritative presence. …show more content…
The fear of counter-revolutionaries within France was realized through the rebellion in the Vendee, which triggered by the Decree for a Levy of 300,000 men, broke into outright rebellion in March 1793. In Mauges, by April, 20,000-40,000 men had joined rebel forces. This was a major contributor to the creation of the Committee of Public Safety, and consequently the order on 1 August 1793 by Committee member Barere for 30,000 soldiers to subdue the Vendean rebels. The Fedealist Revolt, which was large part a condemnation of the Committee, also led to an aggressive retaliation, through mass guillotining and mittraillades shooting, which killed 360 people over 3 days in December 1793. The example of Lyon is one, which demonstrates the ruthless action of the Committee as a response. On 12 October 1793, the Committee declared a plaque should be set up in the near future to read ‘Lyon made a war on liberty; Lyon is no more.’ These internal crises led to an aggressive and ruthless response from the Committee of Public Safety, in the form of the