Which term describes the period of panic and destruction experienced by French peasants after the fall of the Bastille?

The period of panic and destruction experienced by French peasants after the fall of the Bastille is known as "The Great Fear." This term reflects the widespread anxiety and turmoil that gripped rural areas in France during the summer of 1789, particularly in response to rumors that the nobility was plotting to suppress the burgeoning revolution.

Peasants, fearing retaliation and reprisals from the nobility and other elites, reacted by attacking manorial estates and destroying records of feudal obligations. This collective panic was driven by a combination of real political pressures and exaggerated stories that circulated among the populace, amplifying feelings of insecurity. The Great Fear played a significant role in fueling the revolutionary fervor and leading to the eventual abolition of the feudal system later that year.

Other terms related to the revolutionary period, like "The Great Hunger" might refer to famines that triggered unrest but do not specifically capture the atmosphere following the fall of the Bastille, while "The Great Conspiracy" and "The Great Rebellion" do not uniquely connect to the phenomena of widespread fear and destruction attributed to the Great Fear. Therefore, this term is specifically tied to the chaotic conditions of that moment in the French Revolution.