Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Organising the Terror: the Committee of General Security; the…
Full specification wording
The National Convention, the Jacobins and the Terror, 1793–94: Organising the Terror: the Committee of General Security; the Revolutionary Tribunal; the Committee of Public Safety representatives on mission; Watch Committees; the Laws of 19 March, Suspects and Frimaire.
The Terror was institutionalised through overlapping bodies and laws.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Terror was institutionalised through overlapping bodies and laws. The Committee of General Security handled policing, surveillance and revolutionary justice. The Revolutionary Tribunal, established March 1793, tried political cases, later with streamlined procedures. Representatives on mission from the Committee of Public Safety enforced policy in provinces and armies, often with wide powers. Watch Committees in each commune monitored suspects and issued certificates of civisme. The Law of 19 March 1793 decreed death for rebels and émigrés returning armed. The Law of Suspects, 17 September 1793, defined suspects broadly and enabled mass arrests. The Law of Frimaire, 4 December 1793, centralised revolutionary government, subordinating local authorities to the Committee of Public Safety. Together these created a system of surveillance, arrest, trial and execution.
What earns the marks
- Describes the role of the Committee of General Security in policing, surveillance and counter-revolutionary intelligence.
- Explains the function of the Revolutionary Tribunal in trying political offences and its evolving procedures.
- Analyses the role of representatives on mission in enforcing revolutionary policy and maintaining control in the provinces and armies.
- Evaluates the role of Watch Committees in local surveillance and the identification of suspects.
- Explains the significance of the Law of 19 March 1793 in targeting rebels and returning émigrés.
- Analyses the Law of Suspects of 17 September 1793 in broadening the definition of suspect and enabling mass arrests.
- Assesses the Law of Frimaire of 4 December 1793 in centralising revolutionary government under the Committee of Public Safety.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Committee of Public Safety with the Committee of General Security.
Put it right by distinguishing their functions, with the former focusing on executive government and the latter on policing and surveillance.
Assuming the Revolutionary Tribunal was created by the Law of Suspects.
Put it right by dating its establishment to March 1793.
Treating the Law of Frimaire as a law about suspects.
Put it right by identifying it as a law centralising revolutionary government in December 1793.
Overlooking the role of Watch Committees in local surveillance.
Put it right by noting their communal responsibilities for monitoring and denouncing suspects.
Exam tips
- Use exact dates for each law and institution to demonstrate precise knowledge.
- Explain how each body or law contributed to the system of terror rather than listing them separately.
- When discussing representatives on mission, refer to their dual role in provinces and with armies.
Try the lesson
The start of the The National Convention, the Jacobins and the Terror, 1793–94: Organising the Terror: the Committee of General Security; the Revolutionary Tribunal; the Committee of Public Safety representatives on mission; Watch Committees; the Laws of 19 March, Suspects and Frimaire. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which body was established in March 1793 to try political offenders against the Republic?
Listen
The Terror was institutionalised through overlapping bodies and laws. The Committee of General Security handled policing, surveillance and revolutionary justice. The Revolutionary Tribunal, established March 1793, tried political cases, later with streamlined procedures. Representatives on mission from the Committee of Public Safety enforced policy in provinces and armies, often with wide powers. Watch Committees in each commune monitored suspects and issued certificates of civisme. The Law of 19 March 1793 decreed death for rebels and émigrés returning armed. The Law of Suspects, 17 September 1793, defined suspects broadly and enabled mass arrests. The Law of Frimaire, 4 December 1793, centralised revolutionary government, subordinating local authorities to the Committee of Public Safety. Together these created a system of surveillance, arrest, trial and execution. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Describes the role of the Committee of General Security in policing, surveillance and counter-revolutionary intelligence. Explains the function of the Revolutionary Tribunal in trying political offences and its evolving procedures. Analyses the role of representatives on mission in enforcing revolutionary policy and maintaining control in the provinces and armies. Evaluates the role of Watch Committees in local surveillance and the identification of suspects. A common slip: Confusing the Committee of Public Safety with the Committee of General Security. Instead, distinguishing their functions, with the former focusing on executive government and the latter on policing and surveillance. Exam tip: Use exact dates for each law and institution to demonstrate precise knowledge.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Committee of General Security
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Revolutionary Tribunal
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Law of Suspects
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Law of Frimaire
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Committee of General Security
- Body that handled policing, surveillance and revolutionary justice.
- Revolutionary Tribunal
- Established March 1793, it tried political cases, later with streamlined procedures.
- Law of Suspects
- Of 17 September 1793, it defined suspects broadly and enabled mass arrests.
- Law of Frimaire
- Of 4 December 1793, it centralised revolutionary government, subordinating local authorities to the Committee of Public Safety.
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