P. the period, from mid-1793 to mid-1794, when robespierre ruled france nearly as a dictator and thousands of political figures and ordinary citizens were executed

This period was known as the reign of terror

After the french revolution, Robespierre started killing anyone who was perceived as a political opponent, even if they weren't political opponents in reality. There were police spies everywhere who would tell on people and people would get a fake trial in which they would be found guilty and would be executed.