a) Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror, which lasted from 1793 to 1794, was a period of extreme violence and political repression in France. It was led by the Committee of Public Safety, which was established by the National Convention to defend the Revolution against its enemies. The Reign of Terror saw the execution of tens of thousands of people, including many who were not actually enemies of the Revolution but were suspected of being so. The use of the guillotine as a means of execution became a symbol of the terror and brutality of the Revolution. This period of violence and repression showed that the Revolution had spiraled out of control and that the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity were being sacrificed in the name of political expediency.