The Committee of Public Safety

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the Committee of Public Safety was created by the National Convention April 6, 1793 as a strong executive body to take control in post-revolutionary France. It looks at its reign of terror including its military victories and failures, its effect on the economy and its rule of the people through fear.

From the Paper:

"Once the Committee of Public gained its control over France it began to try to solve many of France's problems. Plans were being created on how to deal with persons who were suspect of counter-revolutionary actions. Many laws had already been passed against emigres and non-juring priests, yet there was no concise law describing how to deal with all suspect persons. The Law of Suspects, created September 17, 1794, was the first attempt to create a legal definition of 'suspects.' This law defined suspects vaguely. Suspects were described as persons who in any way have shown to be federalists or counter-revolutionary; those who could not give a good explanation of their civic duty to the revolution; former nobles and their families who have not shown complete support for the revolution, and those who have been denied the certificate of good citizenship. "

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