Which law, enacted on September 17, 1793, allowed for arrests based on mere suspicion?

The Law of Suspects, enacted on September 17, 1793, was significant in the context of the French Revolution as it allowed authorities to arrest individuals based solely on mere suspicion of counter-revolutionary activities. This law was part of broader efforts by the revolutionary government to maintain control and eliminate perceived threats to the Republic during a time of political turmoil and conflict.

The Law of Suspects enabled the revolutionary government to justify arrests, contributing to widespread paranoia and repression. In practice, this meant that anyone deemed potentially disloyal to the revolutionary cause could be detained, leading to a significant increase in the number of political prisoners. The law marked a pivotal turn towards more radical measures during the Reign of Terror, as it legitimized arbitrary arrests and heightened the atmosphere of fear and distrust within society.

The other options reflect different measures or events related to the revolutionary period but do not pertain to arrests based on mere suspicion. The Law of Frimaire focused on the organization of the government, the Law of 22 Prairial further codified judicial processes during the Reign of Terror, and the Levee en masse was a mass conscription law aimed at mobilizing the French populace for military service. None of these directly addressed the power