The Reign of Terror

Imagine you are writing a study of “The Reign of Terror”. In the form of a short essay (not more than 900 words) answer the following questions:

What kind of primary source is this, and what strengths and limitations does it have as a source for a study of “The Reign of Terror”?

Identify any particular words and phrases in the document that require elucidation or special comment before you can make use of it.

What can you learn from this source with respect to “The Reign of Terror”? You should distinguish between the witting and the unwitting testimony.

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The document is a translated extract of the first two articles from the Law of Suspects, passed by the Convention on 17 September 1793. Article 1 declares that this law comes into immediate effect and that suspects, who are still at liberty, will be placed under arrest. Article 2 defines six categories of suspects and how they are to be identified. The document carries the authority of the Convention and all i...