| |
| 1794 |
| |
| Robespierre consolidated his power. Commune leaders (Hébert, Chaumette, Cloots) were executed on March 24. Dantonists (Desmoulins, Hérault de Sechelles, etc.) were executed on April 6. | 1 |
| |
| Feb. 5 |
| |
| The Convention decreed freedom for all slaves in French colonies ( (See 1794) (See 1794, Feb. 5). | 2 |
| |
| Feb. 22 |
| |
| A law on primary education provided free education for children between ages 6 and 13. This law was followed by another law (Nov. 17) that declared primary schooling was not compulsory and required that pupils be taught in French. It also included manual labor on the syllabus. This law was not widely implemented. | 3 |
| |
| June 8 |
| |
| Festival of the Supreme Being established, with Robespierre (having abolished the cult of reason) as high priest to provide ceremonies to replace Christianity. | 4 |
| |
| June 10 |
| |
| Law of 22 Prairial bestowed great power on the revolutionary tribunal. Juries were allowed to convict without hearing evidence or argument. Executions increased to 354 per month. | 5 |
| |
| June 26 |
| |
| Battle of Fleurus. French victory led to the evacuation of Belgium by the duke of Coburg. Marked the beginning of the decline of allied opposition to France and the spread of revolutionary laws to adjacent territories. | 6 |
| |
| July 27 |
| |
| A conspiracy by members of the Mountain and more moderate elements led to the fall of Robespierre. He, his brother, and St. Just were arrested. Released by friends, they were outlawed, surprised at the Hôtel de Ville, and executed. More than 80 of the party met the same fate over the next few days. The Paris Commune was nearly extinct. The objective was to remove Robespierre, not to end the Terror. Public opinion, however, forced Robespierre's successors to adopt more moderate policies. | 7 |
| |
| Nov. 12 |
| |
| END OF TERROR. Moderates dominated the Convention, and the Paris club of the Jacobins closed. The Girondists who had escaped execution were readmitted to the Convention (Dec. 8). | 8 |
| |
| Dec. 24 |
| |
| Maximum repealed. New issues of assignats increased depreciation. | 9 |
| |
| |
