5. Revolutionary Tribunals and Show Trials
To root out “enemies of the Revolution,” the government established revolutionary tribunals, courts designed to deliver quick judgments with little regard for due process. These tribunals presided over high-profile show trials, sentencing thousands—including Queen Marie Antoinette and revolutionary leaders like Georges Danton—to execution by guillotine. The proceedings became notorious for their swiftness and brutality, fueling a culture of fear and suspicion. For more on these tribunals, visit Britannica.
