Reign of Terror facts for kids
The Reign of Terror was a time of great change and fear during the French Revolution. It lasted for about 11 months, from September 1793 to July 1794. During this period, many people in France who were thought to be against the revolution were arrested and often executed. The main leader of this time was a man named Maximilien de Robespierre.
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What Was the Reign of Terror?
The Reign of Terror began on September 5, 1793. It was a time when the new government of France tried to get rid of anyone they saw as an enemy of the revolution. They believed that strong actions were needed to protect the new French Republic from those who wanted to bring back the old ways.
Many people were put on trial, and if found guilty, they were often executed using a machine called the guillotine. This machine had a heavy blade that fell quickly to cut off a person's head. It was seen as a quick and "equal" way to carry out death sentences.
The Great Terror
The violence became even worse in June and July of 1794. This part of the Reign of Terror was known as la Grande Terreur, which means "The Great Terror." During this time, more people were executed than at any other point.
One famous event was on July 17, 1794, when sixteen nuns were executed. They sang a religious song as they went to their deaths, which got a lot of attention. They were accused of treason, meaning they were seen as betraying their country.
How Did the Terror End?
The Reign of Terror ended just ten days after the nuns' execution. On July 27, 1794, several important leaders of the Terror, including Robespierre himself and Saint-Just, were arrested. They were then executed by the guillotine, the same way many others had died.
This event is known as the Thermidorian Reaction. It was a turning point where people started to push back against the extreme actions of the Jacobins, the political group Robespierre belonged to. This reaction was a kind of "counter-revolution" against the most radical parts of the French Revolution.
The Reign of Terror caused the deaths of a huge number of people, estimated to be between 18,500 and 40,000. After Robespierre's death, the revolution continued, but with less extreme violence. Eventually, a new leader named Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power and became the emperor of France.
Images for kids
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Bertrand Barère by Jean-Louis Laneuville
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Maximilien Robespierre, a key figure during the Terror
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The Vendeans revolted against the Revolutionary government in 1793
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The execution of Olympe de Gouges, a writer who supported women's rights
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See also
In Spanish: El Terror para niños
