The Committee of Public Safety

Palatka51 · Jan 9, 2009

The Committee of Public Safety was created by the National Convention in 1793. Originally consisting of nine members of the convention, it was formed as an administrative body to supervise and expedite the work of the executive bodies of the convention and of the government ministers appointed by the convention.

The revolutionary movement was menaced, however, by a coalition of European nations and by counter-revolutionary forces in France. As the committee strove to meet these dangers, it became more and more powerful. In July 1793, following the defeat at the convention of the moderate Republicans, or Girondins, the prominent leaders of the radical Jacobins--Robespierre, Saint-Just and Georges Couthon-were added to the committee. As a result, the committee became the real center of power in the country. In December 1793 the convention formally conferred the entire power of government on the committee. Robespierre eliminated his rivals and established a virtual dictatorship. To defend France and suppress internal uprisings, he and the committee raised 14 armies; to ensure supplies, the committee instituted a partial system of maximum prices and fixed wages; and to repress domestic opposition, it instituted the Reign of Terror.

After the overthrow on July 27, 1794, of Robespierre and his colleagues by their enemies at the convention, power in the government was restored to the convention. The Committee of Public Safety continued to exist until 1795.
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Your comments on Robespierre, this committee and his "Day of the Great Deity" are most welcome.

William Wordsworth said:

Domestic carnage, now filled the whole year
With feast-days, old men from the chimney-nook,
The maiden from the busom of her love,
The mother from the cradle of her babe,
The warrior from the field - all perished, all -
Friends, enemies, of all parties, ages, ranks,
Head after head, and never heads enough
For those that bade them fall.
William Wordsworth
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The Committee of Public Safety

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