Cameron Miranda
The Law of Suspects, passed by the National Convention of the French First Republic in September 1793, ordered the arrest of persons suspected of opposing the revolution. The law was based on a proposal by Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai and Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès and supplemented an earlier law of 10 March 1793, which created the revolutionary tribunals. Between December 1793 and July 1794, the Committee of Public Safety, led by Robespierre, governed the country under his dictatorship. The committee was responsible for four major decrees, including the Law of Suspects, which contributed to the fear and paranoia that became the Reign of Terror.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date passed | 17 September 1793 |
| Territory | France |
| Passed by | The National Convention |
| Aim | To arrest persons suspected of opposing the revolution |
| Suspects | Those who have shown themselves as partisans of tyranny or federalism and enemies of liberty; those who cannot justify their means of existence and the performance of their civic duties; those to whom certificates of patriotism have been refused; civil servants suspended or dismissed from their positions; former nobles who have not demonstrated their devotion to the revolution; those who emigrated between 1 July 1789 and 8 April 1792 |
| Result | Over 200,000 citizens were detained under this law |
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What You'll Learn
The French Law of Suspects
The Law of Suspects empowered local revolutionary committees to arrest those who had shown themselves to be "partisans of tyranny or federalism and enemies of liberty" through their conduct, relations, language, or writings. Well over 200,000 citizens were detained under this law between 1793 and 1794. The Surveillance Committees, established in accordance with the law of 21 March 1793, were responsible for drawing up lists of suspects, issuing arrest warrants, and placing their papers under seal. Citizens were required to carry certificates of civism, attesting to their good citizenship.
The decree contributed to the fear and paranoia that became the Reign of Terror between September 1793 and July 1794. Anyone could be arrested, tried, and punished based only on the suspicion of being "notoriously suspected of aristocracy and bad citizenship". The definition of "bad citizenship" was a new label that expanded the scope of suspects beyond the previous focus on the aristocracy.
The Law of Suspects should not be confused with the Law of General Security (Loi de sûreté générale), also known as the "Law of Suspects", adopted by Napoleon III in 1858. This later law allowed for the punishment of any prison action and permitted the arrest and deportation, without judgment, of anyone convicted of political offenses after 1848.
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The Reign of Terror
The Law of Suspects, passed on 17 September 1793, is considered by some historians to be the beginning of the Reign of Terror. The law was a decree passed by the French National Convention during the French Revolution.
The Law of Suspects ordered the arrest of all avowed enemies and suspected enemies of the Revolution. It targeted unsubmissive former nobles, émigrés, officials removed or suspended from office, officers suspected of treason, and hoarders of goods. The decree stated that:
> "Immediately after the publication of the present decree, all suspects within the territory of the Republic and still at large, shall be placed in custody."
The law empowered local revolutionary committees to arrest those who, "by their conduct, relations, or language spoken or written, have shown themselves partisans of tyranny or federalism and enemies of liberty." The term "suspect" had been in common use by 1793, but it lacked a precise definition. The Surveillance Committees, formed under the law of 21 March 1793, were tasked with compiling lists of suspects, issuing arrest warrants, and sealing their papers. Citizens were required to carry certificates of civism, proving their good citizenship.
During this period, well over 200,000 citizens were detained under the Law of Suspects. The Reign of Terror ended in July 1794, bringing a close to the arbitrary arrests, trials, and executions that had characterised this tumultuous chapter in French history.
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Who was a suspect?
The Law of Suspects, passed in September 1793, was a decree that ordered the arrest of persons suspected of opposing the French Revolution. It was based on a proposal by Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai and Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès, and it supplemented an earlier law from March 1793, which had a narrower definition of suspects.
So, who was a suspect? The decree targeted those who had shown themselves to be "partisans of tyranny or federalism and enemies of liberty" through their conduct, associations, comments, or writings. This included those who had emigrated between 1 July 1789 and the publication of the decree on 8 April 1792, even if they had since returned to France.
The decree also targeted civil servants who had been suspended or dismissed from their positions and not reinstated, particularly those dismissed by the decree of 14 August. It aimed at former nobles who had not demonstrated their devotion to the Revolution, as well as their families and associates.
Those who were unable to justify their means of existence or the performance of their civic duties in the manner prescribed by the decree of 21 March were also deemed suspects. Additionally, the decree targeted those who had been refused certificates of patriotism or "good citizenship."
Surveillance Committees were established to draw up lists of suspects, issue warrants for their arrest, and place their papers under seal. Well over 200,000 citizens were detained under this law, with some estimates putting the number of accused suspects as high as 500,000. Most of those detained never stood trial but suffered in disease-infested prisons, where thousands perished.
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The decree's impact
The Law of Suspects, passed on 17 September 1793, was a decree that ordered the arrest of all avowed enemies and suspected enemies of the French Revolution. The decree had a significant impact, setting off a chain of events that led to the Reign of Terror and contributing to an atmosphere of fear and paranoia across the nation.
The law empowered local revolutionary committees to arrest anyone suspected of opposing the revolution. The criteria for suspicion were broad and vague, including those who had shown themselves to be "enemies of liberty" through their conduct, associations, comments, or writings. This ambiguity allowed for the detention of a large number of citizens, with over 200,000 people detained under this law between 1793 and 1794.
The decree also led to the weakening of individual freedoms and the rise of "revolutionary paranoia." Anyone could be arrested, tried, and punished based solely on the suspicion of being "notoriously suspected of aristocracy and bad citizenship." The definition of "bad citizenship" was particularly insidious, as it allowed for the punishment of those who had not actively supported the Revolution.
The Law of Suspects also had a significant impact on the political landscape of France. It granted broad powers to the Committee of Public Safety, which was responsible for governing the country under Robespierre's dictatorship from December 1793 to July 1794. The committee passed four major decrees during this period, including the Law of Suspects, which contributed to the climate of fear and suspicion.
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Similarities to Nazi Germany
The Law of Suspects, passed in September 1793, bears some similarities to the laws enacted by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945.
Firstly, both the Law of Suspects and Nazi Germany's laws enabled the detention and persecution of individuals based on vague and subjective criteria. The Law of Suspects empowered local revolutionary committees to arrest those deemed "enemies of liberty" or "partisans of tyranny," while Nazi Germany's laws targeted Jews, homosexuals, political opponents, and social outcasts.
Secondly, both legal frameworks involved the creation of surveillance and monitoring systems. The Law of Suspects established Surveillance Committees to draw up lists of suspects and issue arrest warrants. Similarly, Nazi Germany implemented a system of coordination (Gleichschaltung) to impose its ideology and control information flow.
Thirdly, there was a shift from traditional legal systems to ideological missions in both cases. The Law of Suspects prioritised revolutionary ideals over established legal norms, while Nazi Germany transitioned from the Weimar Republic's legal system to an ideological state, enabling the legalisation of subsequent atrocities.
Additionally, both the Law of Suspects and Nazi Germany's laws were enacted during periods of significant political upheaval and sought to consolidate power by marginalising and punishing dissenters. The Law of Suspects was passed during the French Revolution, while Nazi Germany's laws were enacted as Hitler rose to power and consolidated his dictatorship.
Lastly, the laws resulted in the erosion of civil liberties and the rule of law. The Law of Suspects allowed for the arbitrary detention of citizens, and Nazi Germany's laws enabled the persecution and eventual extermination of Jews and other minority groups, undermining the country's democratic foundations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Law of Suspects was passed on 17 September 1793.
The Law of Suspects was passed by the National Convention of the French First Republic.
The Law of Suspects ordered the arrest of persons suspected of opposing the revolution, including former nobles, civil servants, and émigrés.
The Law of Suspects contributed to the Reign of Terror between September 1793 and July 1794, during which anyone could be arrested, tried, and punished based on suspicion alone.
The Law of Suspects empowered local revolutionary committees to arrest those suspected of being "enemies of liberty." Between 1793 and 1794, well over 200,000 citizens were detained under this law.
