Final answer:
The Committee of Public Safety, guided by Robespierre, enforced the Reign of Terror, which collapsed due to internal conflicts and economic struggles. This led to the establishment of the Directory and ultimately to Napoleon's rise to power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Committee of Public Safety played a significant role during the Reign of Terror, overseeing a period of extreme violence to silence perceived threats to the French Revolution. Under the leadership of Maximilien Robespierre, the Committee was responsible for the execution of King Louis XVI and thousands of other individuals, through the use of the guillotine, a device meant to execute people humanely and equitably. Disagreements within the revolutionary government, along with economic and religious policy conflicts, led to dwindling support for the Reign of Terror's draconian measures. By July 1794, opposition members successfully challenged Robespierre's authority, leading to his execution and the subsequent fall of the Committee's power.
The Reign of Terror's end paved the way for the establishment of the Directory, a more conservative five-man executive council charged with restoring political stability. However, this new government faced significant challenges, including internal conflict and economic hardship. The inability of the Directory to provide a smooth transition from the radical revolution to a stable republican government eventually allowed Napoléon Bonaparte to seize power, changing the course of French history.