An evaluation of the reasons for the Terror, 1792-95

The Threat of Counter-Revolution

The greatest fear during this time was a counter-revolution that could undo the work of the Revolution. This fear was substantiated by the actions of emigrants and refractory clergy.
Emigres, those who had left the country and were largely part of the nobility, posed a significant threat. Many had fled France and were agitating for foreign powers to invade France and restore the old regime.
The Refractory Clergy, who refused to swear an oath to the constitution, caused internal dissent, questioning the revolutionary ideals and thus provoking further instability.

The New Republic’s Political and Economic Challenges

The Republic’s political instability post-1792 increased the fear of counter-revolution. The abolition of the monarchy and creation of a Republic led to a power vacuum that different factions vied to fill.
Economic difficulties continued to plague France, especially with soaring bread prices and a depreciating assignat, increasing discontent and adding to the tense climate.
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) deeply divided the French society, as it brought the Church under civil control, which was unwelcome among many pious French.

Influence of the Jacobins

The Jacobin club, including Robespierre and Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, played a crucial role in implementing the Reign of Terror, believing it to be necessary to preserve the progress of the Revolution.
They leveraged the existing fear of a counter-revolution to push their radical agenda and took control of the Committee of Public Safety, a de facto executive government during this period.
The Jacobins implemented the Law of Suspects that defined anyone suspected of counter-revolutionary activities or undermining the Republic, could be arrested and executed, often without fair trial. This law greatly expanded the power of the Committee and intensified the Terror.

Role of the Sans-Culottes

The Sans-culottes, radical Parisian working classes, played a key role in demanding and implementing the Terror. Their influence was substantial, as seen in the September massacres.
They were ardent supporters of the radical Jacobins over the moderates (the Girondins) and contributed to the pressure on the government to adopt radical measures.

Foreign Wars and Internal Rebellion

The siege mentality brought on by foreign wars against Britain, Austria, Prussia and others was manipulated by the radical factions to justify the Terror in the interest of national security.
Internal rebellions such as the Federalist revolts and the War in the Vendée were seen as evidence of the need for harsh measures to preserve the new Republic and suppress counter-revolutionary sentiments.

Remember that the Reign of Terror was a complex time with many interrelated causes. While there was a genuine threat of counter-revolution, much of the violence was used to consolidate power by different factions rather than out of necessity. Consider the complex nature of the fears and threats that contributed to the scale of the Terror in your evaluations.