How Did The Reign Of Terror Affect The Radicalization Of The French Revolution

The Reign of Terror, spanning from 1793 to 1794 during the French Revolution, epitomized a period of profound turmoil and upheaval for the lower-middle class in France. Comprising artisans, shopkeepers, small landowners, and skilled workers, this socio-economic group formed the backbone of urban and rural economies, yet found themselves increasingly caught in the crossfire of revolutionary fervour and state repression. At its beginning, the Revolution had promised equality and justice for all, resonating deeply with aspirations for economic empowerment and social recognition among the working class. However, the escalating radicalization of the Revolution under the Committee of Public Safety, led by figures like Maximilien Robespierre, ushered in a period marked by stringent measures aimed at safeguarding the Republic from internal dissent

Furthermore, the enactment of the Law of Suspects in September 1793 epitomized the Terror's authoritarian turn, empowering revolutionary tribunals to arrest and prosecute suspected counter-revolutionaries without due process (Andress, 2006). This sweeping measure instilled widespread fear and suspicion within communities, fostering an atmosphere of uncertainty and distrust that permeated the daily life of the lower-middle class. Socially, the Reign of Terror sought to enforce ideological conformity and civic duty through revolutionary festivals and cultural reforms, such as Robespierre's Cult of the Supreme Being, which aimed to replace Catholicism with a civic religion centred on patriotic values (Guillemin, 1968). These efforts, while intended to unify the nation under revolutionary ideals, often alienated and marginalized diverse cultural expressions and religious practices within the lower-middle class, further exacerbating social