Global Terrorism

The Rise of Terrorism

The word “terrorist” is, sadly, one that has become increasingly familiar around the world in recent years. It is, however, some two centuries old, and originally had a different meaning. It was first used to describe the “terror” of the years 1793–1794, following the French Revolution of 1789. This was a time of upheaval, and the new Words to Understand Anarchist: strictly speaking, an anarchist believes that all forms of govern- ment are unnecessary and could be replaced by voluntary cooperation; in the popular vocabulary, however, the word came to mean someone who attacked the ruling government by means of terrorist activities Fascist: someone who supports a political philosophy that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition Republican: a person who supports a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law

The origins of the word “terrorism” came in the years of terror that followed the French Revolution of 1789. By order of the Committee of General Security, anyone suspected of treason–including the imprisoned king Louis XVI–was sentenced to be beheaded by guillotine.

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