This new edition of an established text has been thoroughly revised to reflect and incorporate the latest developments and research. It now features an updated historiography section and Bibliography, more detail on the workings of terror, and a new chapter on social and cultural policies.

We now live with the threat and the reality of political terror and terrorists. The French Revolution was the first occasion when a democratic government used terror as a political weapon, executing thousands of people for political crimes. What caused reasonable people to implement such a brutal regime? What did it achieve? What are its links with the terrors of the present day?

This established text examines a range of key issues, analyses the terror's background and traces the course from the fall of the Bastille in 1789 to the work of the guillotine during the terror of 1793-4. It puts the terror into context and shows how circumstances and ideas interacted to create an event that has haunted the political imagination of Europe ever since. Thoroughly revised in the light of recent scholarship and debates, this new edition of an essential introduction includes:

• an updated historiography section
• clearly set-out definitions of the 'terror' and more detail on its workings
• an entirely new chapter exploring the social and cultural policies of the Revolution
• an up-to-date bibliography, organised thematically for ease of reference.

An established text which offers students precise definitions of the 'terror' and how it was used in the Revolution
Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect latest scholarship
Provides a concise analysis of historiographical debates and includes a new chapter on social and cultural policies

Autorentext
HUGH GOUGH is Emeritus Professor of History at University College Dublin, Ireland.

Inhalt

Note on References.- Editors' Preface.- Preface to the Second Edition.- Historians and the Terror.- Prelude to Terror? From Revolution to Republic 1789-93.- Beginnings of Terror: March-September 1793.- Terror in Paris and the Provinces: September-December 1793.- Factions Liquidated: December 1793-April 1794.- The 'Great Terror': April-July 1794.- Creating New Citizens for the New Republic.- The Road to Thermidor and the End of Terror 1794-5.- Conclusion.- Chronology.- Bibliography.- Index.