What was the reign of terror in relation to Enlightenment ideas?

The reign of terror during the French Revolution was characterized by extreme measures taken by the revolutionary government to eliminate perceived enemies of the revolution. This period, which lasted from September 1793 to July 1794, involved mass executions, particularly through the use of the guillotine, and widespread fear amongst the populace.

While the Enlightenment promoted ideas of reason, individual rights, and the questioning of traditional authority, the reign of terror represented a stark departure from these ideals. The leaders of the revolution believed they were protecting the republic from counter-revolutionary threats, but the brutal tactics they employed contradicted the Enlightenment values of liberty and justice.

Rather than fostering a stable society based on reason and rights, the reign of terror created an atmosphere of paranoia and repression. Many Enlightenment thinkers would later criticize this period as a betrayal of the very principles they had championed, highlighting the complex relationship between revolutionary ideals and the violent realities of implementation.